Learn how to make German mulled wine. A festive beverage, typically made with various mulling spices, sugar and red wine.
A steaming hot mug of spiced red wine is synonymous with winter festivities. Just like decorated Christmas trees and Advent wreaths, mulled wine is a deeply rooted German tradition that is now enjoyed around the world.
Tradition since the 15th Century
Since the 15th century, annual Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmarkt) have been at the heart of the holiday celebration in Germany – lighting up the historic town centers in every major German city.
Vendors set up colorful stalls to sell arts and crafts, local foods, and ceramic mugs of mulled wine. The German name for mulled wine, Glühwein, translates to “glow wine,” and there’s nothing better than this traditional drink to make you glow with warmth on a cold night.
Home Made with Quality
Many German winegrowers offer pre-mulled bottles for sale locally, but for those celebrating the holidays outside of Germany, you can easily make your own at home! Characterized by the perfect balance of red fruit and spice, German Pinot Noir is well suited for the festive drink.
Important: don´t fall for the prejudice that cheap wine should be good enough for mulled wine. It´s not. As always in the kitchen, what you put in is what you get out. I recommend a decent bottle in the $10 to $12 price range.
By warming the wine, the red berry aromas become even more expressive and are wonderfully harmonious with the spices and other ingredients. Choosing Spätburgunder as the base means you only need the minimum flavoring ingredients to make a magical brew.
Many German winegrowers offer pre-mulled bottles for sale locally, but for those celebrating the holidays outside of Germany, you can easily make your own at home! Characterized by the perfect balance of red fruit and spice, German Pinot Noir is well suited for the festive drink.
Important: don´t fall for the prejudice that cheap wine should be good enough for mulled wine. It´s not. As always in the kitchen, what you put in is what you get out. I recommend a decent bottle in the $10 to $12 price range.
By warming the wine, the red berry aromas become even more expressive and are wonderfully harmonious with the spices and other ingredients. Choosing Spätburgunder as the base means you only need the minimum flavoring ingredients to make a magical brew.
Ingredients
Consumation Hack
If you prefer a lower alcohol content let the mulled wine sim away in the pot. Part of the alcohol evaporates and a "Mulled Wine Light" is generated.
Now, experiment with the ingredients and enjoy some German holiday tradition with your home made mulled wine.
Reality Update
As this recipe comes to work for a limited time of the year only it needs a reality update with every holiday season. Our own preferences and the availability of ingredients may change and require adjustments.
Sugar
First of, we find it's important to be careful with the amount of sugar. Wine type and ingredients contain sugar and sweetness already and it makes sense to start with e.g. 50% of the recipe quantity.
Fine tune adding sugar spoon by spoon when the Mulled Wine is otherwise finished.
Ingredients
We did not find pieces of vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, anis stars and nutmeg in our local grocery store. They are replaced with extracts and powders which works just fine.
In addition, we added some orange flavored herbal tea (TAZO Wild Sweet Orange) which reduces the alcohol content and fits in well with the rest of the ingredients.
Dare to experiment!
Important Note
This beverage contains alcohol and is not to be served to anyone who is a minor, who is under the influence of liquor, who is disorderly, who is addicted to the excessive use of liquor, or who will likely consume in any vehicle.
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