What is Glühwein? – Wilhelm (2024)

FAQs

What kind of wine is Glühwein? ›

Ingredients in Glühwein

Dry red wine: You don't want to use anything too sweet (or expensive)! Chianti, cabernet Sauvignon, or pinot noir, would work all well here. Sugar: You can use granulated and turbinado sugar interchangeably in this recipe.

Glühwein is usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star aniseed, orange, sugar and at times vanilla pods. It is sometimes drunk mit Schuss (with a shot), which means that rum or some other liquor has been added.

Gluhwein is the German term for a hot spiced wine (It is actually spelled gluehwein, or there are two dots, (an umlaut) over the letter 'u'). Mulled wine is an English language term for hot spiced wine. They may not taste the same because there are many recipes that people have to make hot spice wine.

Glühwein is usually made with spices and served hot, sangria is served cold and uses fruit. Nonetheless they have the same ancestor. So is sangria typically Spanish, it's arguable. But when done well it makes for refreshing summer aperitif.

Officially speaking, the drink is defined by the spices used in it, namely cloves and / or cinnamon. The base also needs to be either white or red wine and have an alcohol content of at least 7%.

But what if you're looking for a bit more refreshment and you want to enjoy this drink cold instead? Is it not going to taste as good as it does when warm? The answer is that you can absolutely serve mulled wine chilled, and there are quite a few recipes out there for cold versions of this iconic sipper.

Glühwein Mulled Wine 1l | ALDI.

Aldi Gluhwein

It felt thin yet it had an ABV of 8%, making it one of the strongest wines we tried. I didn't feel the high price tag of 60p per 100ml was justified.

Glühwein is amongst the must-have-at-least-once treats at German Christmas markets. It is hot, sweet, tasty – and possibly more caloric than a Thuringian Sausage and a chocolate covered ginger bread combined.

Using grape juice instead of wine makes this drink flavorful without being bitter or boozy. Anyone can enjoy this drink, even those who don't drink alcohol. This mulled wine recipe will make you feel all warm and toasty, without getting toasted. Plus, the warm mulling spices will make your kitchen smell incredible.

What do Americans call mulled wine? ›

Mulled wine goes by many names—spiced wine, hot wine, glögg, glühwein, and vin chaud are a few I hear used interchangeably.

Festive Sweets: Traditional Christmas treats like gingerbread, mince pies, or stollen are an excellent pairing. Their spices harmonise with the wine's own blend of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Savoury Snacks: Try a glass with some pigs in blankets, sausage rolls, or even a simple bruschetta.

It contains high levels of polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Additionally, cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties that may assist in lowering inflammation in the body. The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits.

Zinfandels, Merlots, Syrah/Shiraz, or Garnache tend to work best. Avoid red wines high in tannins or have an oaky flavor, and avoid light reds. Sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to have a full-bodied, fruity flavor, can work in a pinch, as can Malbec, which tends to have a bold, spicy flavor.

The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache). These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we'll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”

Like ice-cold Spanish sangria, warm mulled wine is essentially red wine that is slightly sweetened, flavoured with citrus, lightly spiced and, usually, finished with a spirit or liqueur.