How to make Glühwein
When researching Glühwein, I found an overwhelming number of different mulled wine recipes, each one claiming to be the best. Doubtful of the authenticity of all these recipes, I asked for advice from my German friend Sarah and, after a few quick phone calls to her family, she got back to me with the simplest recipe instructions I have ever received – ‘cinnamon, cloves, lemon, a little bit of sugar, red wine and… never ever bring to the boil!’
All I added to the mix was star anise, a couple of cardamom pods and I finished it off with a slice of orange rind. This recipe was an absolute pleasure to make and even lovelier to drink – I now understand why ‘glow wine’ has remained such a treasured tradition for centuries. Download printable version.
Ingredients for four glasses:
1 bottle of red wine (750ml)
1 lemon
2 sticks of cinnamon
3 cloves
2 cardamom pods
1 star anise
3 tbsp of brown sugar (You can substitute the brown sugar with honey for a slightly different flavour)
4 thin slices of orange rind (optional)
Method:
1. Slowly heat the red wine in a large saucepan or pot (don’t bring to the boil at any point as this will cause the alcohol to evaporate).
2. Slice the lemon and add it to the wine along with the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise and sugar.
3. Stir slowly until the sugar has dissolved. Leave to simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes (again, don’t allow it to boil).
4. Remove the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise and lemon slices.
5. Pour into individual glasses (a ladle works well) and finish off by adding a thin slice of orange rind to each glass. Serve hot.
If you don’t have heat-proof glasses, you can prevent normal glasses from cracking by placing them in warm water for a few moments before filling them with the hot Glühwein.
Also delicious and surprisingly refreshing when chilled.
Prost!
Thanks to Karen Grandcourt for the pics.
Written by Renée Nesbitt
Renée Nesbitt is our Yuppiechef Online Visual Merchandiser. She spends her days surrounded by the latest and greatest kitchen tools and is a firm believer that the kitchen really is the heart of the home. She's passionate about the magic that can be created by simply combining the best ingredients that you can find with a little bit of love. View more articles by Renée Nesbitt.
Hello
I loved the Gluwein that The Real Juice Co used to make and have been looking for a decent recipe ever since
I’m breastfeeding at the moment so booze is out for now – Is there perhaps a ‘virgin’ version of this? Perhaps with some grape juice instead of wine?
Thanks!
Hi MissB
Grape juice could work, but perhaps leave out the sugar in the recipe, since fruit juices are already very sweet. Otherwise, you could give one of the Inah Superior Grape Juices a try. They’re made using pure cultivar grapes so you end up with a non alcoholic Cabernet Sauvignon. Quite tasty. And no added sugar so it could be just the thing for a virgin Glühwein.