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While on my Christmas Market Tour last I took the opportunity to taste all sorts of warm drinks... there was Red Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, Punsch, Eierpunsch, and WHITE Glühwein. White Glühwein? I’d never seen that before! And I love it! It’s warm and flavorful with the addition of Cinnamon, Anise and Allspice. But it also has more of a citrus kick, which appeals to my Southern California upbringing. (Added bonus! Spills are less messy!) I played with a few different recipes once I got home, and I worked up one that my whole family loves. This White Glühwein recipe leans heavily on Citrus, but the flavor of wine and spice still shine through. And it’s perfect for this time of year, when it’s not quite cold, but really not warm anymore.
White Glühwein Recipe
My father owned a wholesale nursery that grew and sold Citrus trees, so we had a LOT of Oranges, Lemons, and Mandarins while I was growing up (free fruit!). Sweet tart citrus flavors imprinted early with me. This recipe uses Orange juice and the juice from a few mandarins. I also sliced in a few oranges and a lemon. Face it, with all that Vitamin C, White Glühwein is practically a HEALTH Food! But then, I added Orange Liqueur, which isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered….
Cinnamon Sticks, some allspice berries, cloves and a couple Star Anise get simmered into the mix and add a punch of flavor.
All of this goes in with a bottle of White Wine. Which white wine depends on you. Go ahead and use a Riesling (but before you add any sugar…TASTE IT). My favorite German White is a White Burgunder (which translates to Pinot Blanc here in the US). Honestly though, when I make a Glühwein of ANY color, I use a less expensive vintage. It’s just too much of a shame to take an expensive wine and add all sorts of stuff to it. Don’t go with the cheapest (that’s a headache waiting to happen), find something near the lower middle.
And whatever you do, don’t let the Glühwein come to a boil! A nice simmer will blend up those flavors… a boil with cook off the alcohol and leave you with complicated juice.
To Serve
Add a slice of orange, and maybe a cinnamon stick to the serving mug before serving. It’s up to you if you want to strain the Glühwein when you take it off the stove… some people are less excited about getting an allspice berry in their glass than you would imagine. (And FYI…it’s good hot or cool)
Fair warning! This white Glühwein recipe will creep up on you!
Simmer, don’t boil… it may foam a bit, that’s ok
White Glühwein Recipe
White Glühwein is a "lighter" alternative to regular Red Glühwein.
Serve with a cinnamon stick or a slice or orange.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Advent Season in Germany, German Beer and Wine, German Foods and Recipes
Cuisine German
Ingredients
- 4 cups White Wine I used Chardonnay, but Riesling is good
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- Juice from 2 Mandarins
- 1/2 cup Orange Liqueur I used Triple Sec
- 1 Lemon Sliced
- 1 Orange Sliced more for garnish if you want
- 3 Cinnamon Sticks more for garnish, if you want
- 2-3 Star Anise whole
- 5-7 Allspice Berries whole
- 4-5 Cloves whole
- 4 Teaspoons Sugar or to taste
Instructions
In a medium saucepan
Pour in the white wine, juices, Orange Liqueur.
Add the sliced orange and lemon
Add the spices
Bring to a simmer.
Let it simmer for about 15 minutes. TASTE
Need sugar? add some.
Simmer another 15 minutes.
Taste
You can leave it on the stove for an hour or more.. just make sure the burner is on low. It will continue to get stronger.
Serve
Notes
You can make White Glühwein ahead of time!
Prepare according to the recipe.
Strain all the solids (citrus slices and spices out, leaving the spices in might cause a bitter flavor.).
Store the liquid in the refrigerator. You can also save the strained bits in the refrigerator
Reheat when ready to serve. (If you saved the strained bits, you can return them to the pot at this time)
Stock up on Spices!
I don’t buy jars of spices anymore, I buy bags and fill small jars. It’s economical.
Organic Ceylon cinnamon sticks 3The Spice Way Star Anise – whole | 3 oz | great for baking and teaNaturevibe Botanicals Organic Clove Buds, 100gm (3.53oz) | Non-GMO and Gluten Free | Indian Spice | Adds Aroma and FlavorThe Spice Way Allspice – Whole | 4 oz | a multipurpose berry for curries, sauces, soups and even pastries
Serve and enjoy!
FAQs
As we point out in the below directions, Glühwein is served hot and should be sipped slowly just as you would with a fresh cup of coffee. Of course, you do not have to splurge on crystal glassware to sip Gluhwein. A regular mug is a fine alternative.
What would you be drinking if you had Glühwein? ›
The word “Glühwein” roughly translates to “glow wine.” A traditional Glühwein typically includes a variety of spices such as cinnamon, clove, and star anise. This German mulled wine also features citrus, vanilla, and sugar. It is most often made with red wine, although you can use white wine if you prefer.
What wine is good for Glühwein? ›
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.
What is Glühwein more commonly known as? ›
The drink has many other monikers, you may know it as Mulled Wine, Vin Chaud, Glög or perhaps just spiced wine. Essentially it is wine and spices (usually sugar, cinnamon, grated nutmeg, cloves and oranges) heated to just before boiling point before drinking.
Should Glühwein be refrigerated after opening? ›
Make All of It Ahead of Time
Then let the mulled wine cool at room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge — it will keep well there for up to three days. When you're ready to serve the mulled wine, just pour it back into a large saucepan and rewarm over medium-low heat.
Can you drink Glühwein cold? ›
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.
Can you get drunk off of Glühwein? ›
Because Glühwein is warmed for so long—traditionally over hot irons, hence its literal name 'glowing wine'—it is barely alcoholic and, at least in Germany, totally fine for children to drink along with their Lebkuchen (a traditional German baked treat).
Does the alcohol cook out of Glühwein? ›
Some does, but not all. While alcohol does have a lower boiling point than water, even after hours of cooking some residual alcohol will not evaporate. Even after 2–1/2 hours, tests have shown that ~5% of the original amount remains. In many cases the amount of alcohol remaining is very slight.
What is the difference between Glögg and Glühwein? ›
Different versions of mulled wine in different countries
In Scandinavian countries this drink is known as gløgg and it often includes aquavit, cardamom (if you use the black kind it gives a lovely smoky taste) and dried fruit. The German version is glühwein (or 'glowing' wine) and that includes schnapps.
Why is my Glühwein bitter? ›
You need to infuse the wine long enough with the spices to take on their flavour but DON'T ON ANY ACCOUNT LET THE MIXTURE BOIL as you'll be left with a bitter taste.
This mulled wine recipe is for the German Glühwein, which literally translates to glow-wine, because of how you feel after you've been drinking tiny mugs outside in December.
When should I drink Glühwein? ›
It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas. It is usually served at Christmas markets in Europe, primarily in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Nordics, Baltics and eastern France.
Can Muslims drink mulled wine? ›
Muslim are prohibited to take khamr (liquor). Meaning the intoxicating substances from the fermentation process which consists of alcohol, sugar and water. The liquor is considered as Najs. So any food that in contact of liquor is HARAM.
What's the difference between mulled wine and Glühwein? ›
Mulled wine is hot spiced wine. Gluhwein is a German term for exactly the same. However, they might not necessarily taste the same way because there are so many different recipes, spice mixes and wines to choose from.
How long does Glühwein last once opened? ›
As mentioned above, mulled wine can only last 3 to 5 days after opening it. You can tell if a mulled wine has gone bad by smelling it. It will have a distinct sour smell.
How do you serve Gluhwein? ›
Let it barely simmer for at least 20 minutes but up to a few hours. Keep an eye out so that it doesn't reach a full simmer. Strain and serve in small mugs, adding a shot of rum or amaretto and garnishing with the orange peel and star anise if desired.
Are you supposed to drink mulled wine warm? ›
Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.
How warm should Gluhwein be? ›
Pour the red wine over everything. We recommend dry red wine, as it harmonizes well with the sweet spices. Heat the pot slowly, stirring every now and then, until the sugar and honey have melted. A temperature of 72-73° is optimal.
Organic Ceylon cinnamon sticks 3
The Spice Way Star Anise – whole | 3 oz | great for baking and tea
Naturevibe Botanicals Organic Clove Buds, 100gm (3.53oz) | Non-GMO and Gluten Free | Indian Spice | Adds Aroma and Flavor
The Spice Way Allspice – Whole | 4 oz | a multipurpose berry for curries, sauces, soups and even pastries
