Mother Nature is about to dump a whole lot of snow on us which means it’s time to gather up the tasty snacks, download a whole bunch of movies, and settle in for a snow day (or weekend.) Times like this call for adult beverages and projects that take up all the free time you now have because you can’t go outside. Good thing we found something that is the best of both of those worlds.
Enter Glühwein! This warm mulled wine is quite popular in the German-speaking world, as well as the Alsace region of France, especially around Christmastime and the winter holidays. It’s typically made with red wine that is steeped over heat with delicious spices like cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and vanilla. Some people add rum to it and in some parts of Germany, it’s made with fruit wines like blueberry or cherry.
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The word German word Glühwein translates to “glowing wine” in English which is derived from the method they used hundreds of years ago to heat the wine- red hot, glowing irons. Documented appearances of the warm drink go back to the 1400s when it was a nobleman’s drink and was consumed out of a shiny gold vessel.
There are similar beverages found across many cultures: Nordic countries have glogg, the British have mulled wine, and some might even say it’s related to the American cider, a warm, fruit-based alcoholic drink steeped with hearty spices.
If you’re looking to make your own, there are plenty of recipes online, however, this is a great time to get creative! You’ll want a big, bold red wine like a Syrah or Malbec, and you can experiment with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, star anise, and maybe even cardamom. You can also throw in some extra alcohol- brandy, port, or rum can each add a unique taste to your custom creation
