For Germans, enjoying a hot mug of mulled wine at a Christmas market is just as crucial to the holidays as a Christmas tree and mistletoe. Since the wine is hot, it is absorbed by the body much faster. It’s amazing how revived one can feel after a small glass of warm, spicy red wine. Although usually made with red wine, a white wine version does exist. That doesn’t mean that it has to be overly expensive but it should at least have a glass bottle and preferably a real cork. Let this boil slightly for about 15 minutes, then reduce the heat. Let the sugar caramelize until it is medium brown. There is also a spice mix sold in Germany in sachels as if it was tea: Glühfix and Glühwein Gewürz – while the second one of these two in my opinion is the better one. This quintessential Christmas beverage is sold in ceramic mugs in all Christmas markets in Germany and is considered vital in beating the winter chill and spreading festive cheer. Here is a version I adapted from "Authentic German … Almost every street corner seems to boast Bratwurst and Glühwein stalls. This wine is served hot and added spices like cloves and cinnamon give it that Christmasy flavor. I mean, if you aren’t soaking in a tub of hot German wine at Christmas, is it even Christmas? Glühbier is a rarity at German Christmas markets. Crack open the festive fizz with our Christmas wine and spirits. My first tryst with the Glühwein was in December 2015 when I first experienced the German Christmas markets. Hot Mulled Wine (Glühwein) At Christmas many German town centers have street markets with stalls selling cookies, arts and crafts, wooden toys and other festive items. German Mulled Wine. Cut the orange and lemon into ⅛ and add all into the pot. German Christmas traditions have hugely influenced the way that Christmas is celebrated the world over. The wine should be low on tannins and not ripened in an oak barrel (Barrique). There's no better treat on a cold winter day than a glass of mulled wine, Germany's traditional Christmas drink. They both begin by preparing a bowl/pot of hot mulled wine (Glühwein). Thanks so much! If you think of buying Christmas wine in Germany for any of your near and dear ones, they sure will be happy. As this German spiced wine is typically reserved for Christmas, it is the perfect hot beverage to serve at your Holiday party. If the color of the mulled wine is more like a rusty or brown color, it usually means that it has been kept warm for a longer period of time in an open pot and has oxidized – don’t drink that! On the part of fruitiness, it is a great fit with the Glühwein recipe. German nouns always start with a capital letter, unlike English, where only proper nouns or nouns that begin a sentence are capitalized. It’s not just your life at risk …. Your email address will not be published. I don’t do that though. In order to get as much of their fruity taste, it is best if you can boil your liquid for a while. And though I might sound like your mom, the nurse in me needs to say it: Please don’t drink and drive! Barbara Glühwein is the name for our German mulled wine that one can buy at the Christmas market to stay warm. Christmas Wines and Spirits. I followed it precisely and it turned out fantastic! Advent in Germany always starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, the 25th of December. I love the tips on how to recognize the best gluhwein in a Christmas market! Pastina Chicken Soup — Italian Childhood Memories, 2 (750-milliliter) bottles dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Beaujolais Nouveau. Bottom line: You get more and faster drunk from mulled wine than from the same amount of wine just from the bottle. The festive season is started with the Advent celebrations in preparation to the arrival of baby Jesus on Christmas day. It is described as “bold, smooth, and fruity” and I can second that. There is something though, that sets mulled wines aside from a glass of wine or other alcoholic drinks that are served cold. Gluhwein is a traditional Christmas treat in Bavaria. German Christmas markets offer a variety of things to do and see: they usually have plenty of snack booths where you can get savory and sweet treats as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. I don’t know how to answer that. Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is reduced by about one-third, about 20 minutes. , « Apple Strudel — A Classic German and Austrian Recipe. It is usually advised to use a wine with not more than 12.5% if you want to add some alcohol with higher percentage like rum later. I am not using such and that is why I have used a wine with 13.5% in my video. Hot Wintertime Drinks: Feuerzangenbowle • Glühwein Below you will find recipes for two popular German wintertime hot drinks: Feuerzangenbowle and Glühwein. I use it anyway, probably because I am not a wine expert and my tongue is not trained enough to be bothered by that. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. These are so delicious and if you never had German Kaiser Rolls, let me tell you: The stuff you get... Glühwein – German Mulled Wine from Christmas Markets. Well, Aldi is a German company and has a very good reputation for really good wines at a reasonable price. Keep mulled wine warm in a slow cooker and let guests help themselves. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck. This mulled wine is served hot as an indulgent, warming drink. Your email address will not be published. Trust a German to explain in details all the steps and variations of a great recipe! So, I have this wine on my shelf and though it is my favorite wine, it is not the ideal wine for Glühwein since it is rather young and has “firm tannins” which means it has a lot of tannins. If the instructions are in German and you need someone to translate it, just send me a picture of the instructions and I will be happy help you. Typical foods to eat are Sauerkraut, fondue and lentil soup. Like many other countries, Germany has its own traditional style of celebrating the holiday with different regions having their own flavor of celebration. It holds actual health benefits. Christmas in Germany Typical Advent Traditions. Feuerzangentasse, German mulled wine served with a flaming cone of sugar! Pretzel Dumplings with Mushroom Cream Sauce, Nürnberger Bratwurst / Nuremberger Sausage, Dampfnudeln / Germknödel – Sweet Dumplings, Liver Cheese (German Meatloaf) – Leberkäse, Sourdough Rye Bread (with 100% Rye Flour), Authentic German Rolls – Berliner Schrippen, Berliner Krapfen or Berliner Pfannkuchen (Beignets). Mulled wine | © MurlocCra4ler / … “Glühwein,” which literally means “glowing wine,” is served at every Christmas market in Germany. Ever since visiting Germany during the holidays a few years ago, I’ve been craving Glühwein. This hot spiced wine punch is a staple at the Christmas festivites in Germany. The price is somewhere around $8/bottle here in Texas. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the lemons and oranges in wide strips, avoiding the white pith; place the zest in a large saucepan. Place the cloves and cardamom in a small piece of cheesecloth, tie it tightly with butcher’s twine, … Here are some wines that have the desired characteristics and are often used in a German mulled wine: The wine I used in the video is a wine from Aldi. mail (@) mygerman.recipes. The first Glühwein tankard still in existence dates all the way back to 1420 and was once owned by the German nobleman, Count John IV of Katzenelnbogen, who also happened to be the first cultivator of Rie… Place the cloves and cardamom in a small piece of cheesecloth, tie it tightly with butcher’s twine, and add the bundle to the saucepan. There are six levels in Germany’s ripeness classification, ordered from driest to sweetest: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein (ice wine). Additionally, the sugar content also increases the absorption of the alcohol so you pretty soon feel the effects of that drink. The Intermingle is a mix of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. I made it for my family, and they all loved it too! A lower acid is also better for the taste. Add the red wine and brandy, stir to combine, and bring just to a simmer (don’t let it boil). There are some standard spieces that we always put into Glühwein like Star Anise, Cloves, and Cinnamon. In my recipe, I am using regular white sugar. Christmas in Germany and the Christkindlesmarkt. German nouns are also generally preceded by an article, such as die or der, which means "the" in English.So, study the tables, and you'll be saying Fröhliche Weihnachten! Christmas in Germany (Weihnachten) is celebrated from December 1 to January 6. Sweet wines are too difficult to adjust with the amount of sugar for the recipe, for that reason they are usually not used in Glühwein. Serve hot in a mug, maybe add some honey and stir with a stick of cinnamon. Add the grape juice – careful it will steam and be loud for a moment. Other spices that can go into a German mulled wine are: Some people put the spices into a teabag to make it easier to take them out later. Your email address will not be published. This recipe hit the spot! A fruity taste though is great with my recipe. Add the wine, make sure the temperature of the Glühwein doesn't exceed 70°C / 158°F. Christmas season in Germany is not complete without mugs of steaming hot Glühwein. Required fields are marked *. Clever, huh? If you do this, fish them out before serving or make eating the wine-soaked fruit at the end part of the treat. The mulled wine recipe below is a variation of Glühwein, which is popular throughout Germany and the Alsace region of France (in fact, Glühwein is often the only alcoholic beverage served at the iconic Christkindelsmärik in Alsace). There are usually several places to get Glühwein on a market, just look for a better one. . Pour the sugar into a large pot and heat it until the sugar melts. Presenting someone a good bottle of wine delivery can mean the beginning of an even better relationship between the giver and the receiver because wine … Best, Technically adding those turns the Glühwein into what is called “Punsch” (punch). Spritz Cookies – the Best & Softest Recipe! Since it is not advisable to boil alcohol, my recipe comes up with a pretty neat workaround: I use grape juice as a base liquid, where I mix in all my ingredients and can boil it all together BEFORE I add the wine. No German Christmas market is complete without “Glühwein,” the hot, spiced mulled wine that warms holiday merrymakers from the inside out as they stroll through these charming little villages of cloth and wood with family and friends. A bowle of glühwein is flavored with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and orange peel and topped with a suspended rum-soaked sugar loaf (zuckerhut). The fruits are removed bevor serving but it can be nice to decorate the drink with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick. P.S. If the color of the mulled wine is more like a rusty or brown color, it usually means that it has been kept warm for a longer period of time in an open pot and has oxidized – don’t drink that! There are hundreds of different recipes but this one is my favorite and many people agree that it is the best. Matt, If I recall correctly one bag makes 500 ml of glühwein. (Merry Christmas) as well as many other German holiday greetings in no time. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Chopped Salad — Copycat Recipe is SO DELICIOUS!! You can stop at that point for a delicious winter drink, or … Unfortunately, they don’t always carry it and when they have it, I buy several bottles. To milden the effect of that, I would advise you to drink plenty of water and have a good meal before you go to the Christmas market or make a Glühwein at home. Hi Matt, Remove from the heat and remove and discard the spice bundle before serving. The Intermingle is such good wine. German wine is primarily produced in the west of Germany, along the river Rhine and its tributaries, with the oldest plantations going back to the Roman era. The sugar is set ablaze and begins to carmelize before dripping into the wine. Glühwein roughly translates to “glow-wine”, derived from the glowing hot irons that were used to heat up the wine in the early days, across the German landscape. Called Glühwein in German, which literally translates to "glowing wine," you can find it at every Germany Christmas market. Pour the red wine and white wine into the pot with the orange juice. Anyways, these are the German Christmas Market drinks you need to try: 16. There’s also the standard New Year’s champagne, die Bowle (German punch bowl) and der Sekt (German sparkling wine). Here is a creative option for you: German mulled wine (Gluhwein). Alcohol evaporates at 78°C / 172°F and therefore it is a good idea to keep the temperature below that. https://www.justapinch.com/.../gluehwein-hot-german-holiday-wine.html Juice the lemons and oranges and add the juice to the pan. Learn how your comment data is processed. As the mac daddy of all Christmas market drinks, Glühwein is THE Christmas market mulled wine that has become a beverage synonymous with Christmas itself. Christmas markets are a longstanding tradition in Germany, and they’re the perfect place to enjoy a mulled wine (Glühwein) or two with your friends. Add the sugar, water, and cinnamon sticks, place the pan over high heat, and bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When you go to a German Christmas Market and want to get a good mug of Glühwein without the headache afterward, here is my advice: Look for a wine in a good red color! If I have a mix (bought it in Austria), how much do I add per bottle of wine? The simmered wine infused with citrus and spices will warm you from the inside out. When you go to a German Christmas Market and want to get a good mug of Glühwein without the headache afterward, here is my advice: Look for a wine in a good red color! German Christmas Traditions And Customs. One of the most popular marzipan treats is realistic-looking marzipan potatoes.. Also popular for the New Year is gifting friends and family with little marzipan pigs or Glücksschwein.Traditionally, a prosperous German family would give a pig. Everywhere you go during the month of December, you will most likely find someone selling mugs of hot, steaming Gluehwein. One of the most important Christmas traditions in Germany is the Christmas market. And if you want an alcohol free mulled “wine” then you just stick to that without the wine or otherwise, if you want more alcohol, you simply add some rum or cognac, brandy, vodka, korn, … additional to the wine. Red wine is heated and simmered with cinnamon sticks, citrus slices, cloves and sugar to pick up the extra flavors. You can also use brown sugar. Now, you might wonder why I would buy a wine from a discounter after suggesting to use wine of good quality. I recommend a temperature slightly below 70°C / 158°F which is a good temperature to drink the mulled wine (careful though, that’s still hot!). Christmas in Germany: Read here about the best German Christmas markets to visit. Our range includes rich aromatic tipples from Argentina and elegant bottles from southern France. Glühwein (pronounced glue-wine) is sold on every Christmas market in Germany and all over Europe.Its spicy and sweet smell is associated with Christmas. What really matters is, that your wine has a certain quality. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. In general, all wines that are dry or semi-dry are suitable for Glühwein. Often prepared for Christmas and/or New Year's Eve , consuming this alcoholic drink is part ritual. Heidesand – German Shortbread with Browned Butter, Almond Crescents or Horns / Mandelhörnchen. That way I get all the great tastes of everything without losing the alcohol. I don’t know the mix you are using and haven’t used a mix ever in my life. We surveyed master sommeliers and wine experts around the country to find the best wines to serve at your celebratory Christmas meal. Mimic some German versions and use a fruit wine (raspberry wine or blueberry wine are good options) in place of dry red wine. Add dried fruit such as raisins, currants, or figs. I make my mulled wine in the slow cooker to keep it warm throughout the evening and make it … If you feel like you want to add some more sweetness to your mulled wine, adding some honey is a great idea to give it a smooth sweetness. Six-bottle cases include textured cabernets and light pinot grigios, with multi-buy discounts available. From Christmas trees to advent calendars, the Christmas Markets that are commonly found throughout European towns and cities, and the mulled wine we like to drink while we visit them. Blood circulation increases. Do you already know what drinks to serve on your Christmas dinner? Far from being just a festive novelty to be sipped at the fireside in the lead-up to Christmas, there are plenty of great health benefits that go along with a freshly brewed batch of Glühwein. Glühwein. Place the strips of orange zest, … I don’t need to tell you how alcohol affects the body and mind, right? Here … Always use organic fruits because you throw them in with their skin on it and you don’t want pesticides in your mulled wine! Stir for a minute to make sure the caramelized sugar dissolves in the juice. Seeking the best Christmas wines to go with your perfectly prepared holiday dinner? There is plenty of marzipan fruit on display in German specialty stores and Christmas markets at holiday time. 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