Christkindl markets, or German Christmas markets, are street markets with various stalls celebrating Christmas time. Glühwein, literally “glow wine” or German mulled wine, is served at special stands at Christkindl markets throughout Germany and Austria. Mulled wine is a traditional warm beverage combined with different spices, red wine, citrus fruits and sugar. It fills your house with a wonderful aroma and warms you up on a cold winter night. Serve this festive drink during your holiday party!
For the wine, I used a Cabernet Franc, but any dry red wine should work just fine. I first made a sweet syrup using citrus fruits, spices like cloves, cinnamon and a vanilla bean. This way the flavors can infuse without burning off the alcohol of which is added towards the end instead. Depending on how strong you want your Glühwein, add liquor like rum or brandy along with the wine. For a lighter version you can also add the wine earlier along with all the spices.
Recipe below…
Peel large sections of orange, lemon and lime, then juice the orange.
Simmer orange juice, water, citrus peels, sugar and spices for up to an hour.
Add in bottle of wine and rum or brandy.
Glühwein – Mulled Wine Recipe
1 bottle of bold dry red wine (I used a Cabernet Franc)
1/2 cup of brandy or rum (optional)
1 cup water
1 large orange, peeled then juiced
1 lemon, peeled
1 lime, peeled (optional)
1/2 cup agave syrup or vanilla sugar
5-6 whole cloves
1 nutmeg, about 10 gratings
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla bean, halved
2 star anise
Peel large sections of skin from orange, lemon and lime. Over medium heat in a medium sized pot, pour in agave syrup and water, then add the peels and juice of the orange. Add the vanilla bean, cloves, star anise, cinnamon stick, and nutmeg gratings. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour. The liquid will reduce, so after around 30 minutes, add in about a half cup of wine. This allows the flavors to infuse and will create a syrup.
When your syrup is ready turn the heat down to low and pour in the bottle of wine and brandy. Bring back to a gentle simmer and heat for about 5 minutes or depending on how much alcohol you want to burn off you can simmer a bit longer. Ladle it into glasses and serve warm.
Total Time: 60-90 minutes
Yield: Makes 4-6 Glasses
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8 Responses to “Glühwein – German Mulled Wine”
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Wishful Chef is about cooking simple and healthy dishes. A fusion of different cuisines, my recipes are inspired by family, travels & cooking idols. Thanks for visiting!
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Silly memory, several years ago when I was an older teenager, I knocked over a bottle of wine in our laundry room (wine rack is in there). Of course, it broke and spilled all over. Mom helped me clean it up but the reason I remember is it smelled SO good. A couple years ago, I spotted the same bottle in the liquor store. As you prob ably guessed, it was Glühwein. Snatched that right up and I’ve been in love since. It warms you so nicely and the wine just smells like the holidays somehow.
Now this…. I absolutely must try making it from scratch now! Thank you for posting
What a great memory of Glühwein
Even if its silly, it’s those little moments you remember. Thank you for sharing, Stephanie! And you definitely should try making it yourself because the aroma it exudes in your house is so wonderful.
I’m going to try this for my Christmas party tomorrow. Would you double all of the recipe if you want to have two bottles worth of wine?
Hi Abbey – Yes, just double the ingredients and it should definitely work. Make sure you use a large pot. At the end, depending on how sweet you want it you may want to adjust and put in more sugar or for strength add more or less brandy or rum. Enjoy your Christmas party!
Hey nice recipe. It’s Christkindlmarkt actualy and it’s only Glühwein as long as there is only wine in it if you ad something stronger it becomes Punsch^^ (This has also to do with the fact that you are allowed wine and beer at age 16 in austria but nothing stronger)
I usually make my mothers recipe but I’ll try adding some vanilla the nexttime that sounds tasty.
Thanks Leoanna for the correction! I’ve fixed the typo. About the addition of rum/brandy, I know the traditional Glühwein is only made with wine so I’ve made the rum optional. We’re a little more flexible here in the States
This was absolutely delicious. I didn’t cook it quite as long as it says, but it tasted just the way it did at the German christmas market!
Awesome, I’m glad the glühwein turned out well for you! Thanks for the comment, Kate.