German Mulled Wine | Glühwein {VIDEO}
This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mulled Wine, or Glühwein as it’s called in German-speaking countries, is a traditional beverage that is offered during the Christmas holidays. It’s a winter version of sangria that tastes like Christmas. If you’re entertaining a crowd, this mulled wine recipe can be made and served in a slow cooker, or simply make a small batch on your stovetop. Start a new family tradition with this belly-warming holiday punch recipe.
We love the holidays and if we’re not enjoying this mulled wine, you’ll probably find us serving Cran-Cherry Whiskey Sour, Rudolph’s Tipsy Spritzer, Cranberry Mulled Ale, or Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum during the holidays.
Be sure to sign up for my email… to get new recipes and ideas in your inbox!
Click HERE to save recipe to Pinterest!
What is Mulled Wine?
I’m serving mulled wine today for a Thanksgiving Cocktail Bloghop. It’s kind of like mulled cider……only better!
I recently learned about Mulled Wine at a wine tasting event at our local grocery store.
I was chatting and sampling wine with the fun lady at the yellow tail table when she told me about Glühwein or mulled wine. She said mulled wines have been warming people for centuries.
Typically mulled wine is made with red wine, the wine is sweetened, spiced and heated.
She assured me that the mulled wine is a delightful alternative to traditional coffee, cider or a hot toddy at holiday gatherings or just on a cold winter’s night.
I wrote down everything she told me to make German spiced wine, bought a bottle of yellow tail sangria and figured I’d make it for one of our holiday gatherings.
Table of Contents
The Secret To Making Mulled Wine
I was told the secret to a good mulled wine, is to toast the spices in a pan for a bit to intensify their flavors, and to add a little apple cider, honey and brandy to the wine.
Mulled wine is like a mix of a spicy mulled cider, sangria, and a punch. It’s sweet and tangy and tastes just like Christmas in a glass! Hot wine it’s guaranteed to warm you up on a cold winter day.
RELATED: CARAMEL APPLE MOSCOW MULE
I made mine on the stovetop, but it can also be kept warm in a slow cooker to serve at your next holiday party.
What Wine Is Best For Mulled Wine
Since mulling wine disguises a lot of the taste of the wine, don’t choose a delicately flavored wine such as pinot noir. Go for an inexpensive fruity full-bodied red wine that’s on the sweet side try Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel or yellow tail Sangria.
Homemade mulled wine is so easy to make, don’t be tempted by the overly sweet pre-mixed spiced wines you might see in the store.
How to Make Mulled Wine
(full printable recipe at the end of this post)
Mulled wine is cheap easy and forgiving.
No need to break the bank. Use a cheap red wine, that is fruity.
Whole spices – I picked mine up in the bulk section at Whole Foods, that way you can just buy a small amount. Heat/toast the spices in a pan for a bit, add them to the pot of wine, with a little honey and apple cider. And let it simmer.
How simple is that? I added some lemon, lime and orange slices before serving and just a little brandy. You could omit the brandy and add it to each glass if you’d prefer.
Now you’re ready to fill up your glasses and snuggle by the fire or party!
What To Serve With Mulled Wine
Party pleasing appetizers like a Fall Charcuterie Board with a Smoky Cheese Ball and Savory Shortbread Cheese Crisps would be wonderful severed with mulled wine.
Desserts such as Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Creme Brulee or Red Velvet Cookies are festive choices.
Like This German Mulled Wine Recipe? Pin It!![pinterest-image](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%2056%2028'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Be sure to check out more Holiday Cocktail Recipes from the other bloggers.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pie Cocktail – Home Stories A to Z | Pumpkin Pie Martini – Sand & Sisal | Low Calorie Hot Apple Pie Cocktail – The Picket Fence | Mulled Wine – TidyMom | Maple Cidertini Martini – Finding Home | Cranberry Fizz Mocktail – Thistlewood Farms | Quick Hot Apple Cider – Four Generations One Roof
Follow Along On Social Media
If you’re looking for even more inspiration check out the fun little group I created on Facebook, I’d love for you to join in! It’s a place where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, home tips, creative ideas and ask questions and see what’s new with TidyMom! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #tidymom so I can see all the wonderful TidyMom recipes YOU make and tips YOU use!
Connect with TidyMom!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Sign up to receive an email in your inbox for each new recipe:
Mulled Wine
Mulled Wine or Glühwein is a warm winter German version of sangria that tastes like Christmas. Start a new family tradition with this belly-warming hot holiday punch recipe
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine (750ml) - use an inexpensive fruity red that's on the sweet side try Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel or yellow tail Sangria
- 3 cups unsweetened apple cider
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean, cut lengthwise
- 4-5 star anise
- 1 teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon, fresh ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 lime, slice
- cranberries (optional for garnish)
- 1 small orange sliced
Instructions
- Combine wine, cider and honey into a pot or slow cooker and heat over low to medium heat.
- Place cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean, star anise, cloves and ground nutmeg in a small sauce pan and roast over medium heat for about 5 minutes, tossing occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add spices to wine mixture and continue to heat for about 25-30 minutes, making sure it doesn’t come to a boil and stirring occasionally to make sure the honey dissolves.
- When the wine is steaming and the ingredients have been well blended it is ready to serve.
- Just before serving add brandy and about 1 cup of the sliced fruit to the mulled wine(reserve remaining for garnish). Ladle the mulled wine into mugs (leave seasonings behind) and a cinnamon stick, a few cranberries and some of the sliced fruit to each glass for garnish, and enjoy!
- Mulled wine can be left on the stove to heat for many hours. It can also be stored in the fridge and reheated the next day.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 cups Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 344Saturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mg
Tidymom is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Please respect my work, recipes and photographs. If you do use a recipe in your own writing, please give proper credit and link back to the original post.
I love how Sangria-like this mulled wine is! I make mulled wine every year at Christmas, but without the fruit…definitely need to try this recipe this year! So cozy looking.
I’ve only read about mulled wine before in a romance novel. 🙂 Love the recipe and your photographs are OFF THE CHARTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
karianne
Stunning pictures and hello yumminess!!!
We drink this during the holidays too! Your recipe sounds even better than ours though! Can’t wait to try it.
I already knew you were amazing at so many things – but now this – you are amazing girl! Thanks for the recipe!
This recipe sounds yummy, but this way is not German. May I suggest to sweeten it less. This mix sounds like it will give you a major headache the next morning! Be careful with the nutmeg, since it brings a strong different tang to this drink. I would use cardamom instead. Limes are also not commonly used in Germany. And the secret really lies in the wine. You suggest to use cheap red wine which may be responsible for next day headaches…if you use quality wine (good quality, not your 20-year old $100 Bordeaux) the taste will be much more mature and not so sweet sangria-like. Prost!
This looks like such an easy fall drink recipe. I could go for a glass (or 3!). Love how the whole spices photographed too. Pinned!
We are on the same page, I have a recipe for this coming up next week — love your photos!
Wow. Your photos are amazing! Definitely makes me want a sip.
Have a great weekend!
I absolutely adore the pictures in this post – AND the recipe!!
absolutely stunning – wish I had some tonight
Happy Halloween
Cheryl, this looks amazing! I’ve actually just signed up to make this for our holiday family gathering. Cannot wait! xo
I added your drink to my roundup, I hope you enjoy!
This looks lovely.. I think I would use the Chocolate Shop wine, and leave out the clove
This looks so delicious! I didn’t know you could use cider in mulled wine… awesome! And your photos are just out of this world gorgeous… like reading a magazine! Very happy I found your website.
Do you leave the cover on or off of the crockpot?
What to use if cranberries are not available
Love this for holiday dinners and cocktail parties. Definitely giving this a try.
This is on my list for our holiday gatherings!
This will be PERFECT to make on Christmas Eve. I can’t wait to try it!
I can’t wait to try making this – I’ve never made it homemade before!
Just made it at home, I would probably go with 1/2 tsp of nutmeg since it really overpowered everything.
If you like vinegar, this is perfect for you. It taste exactly like unadulterated vinegar. I was expecting to be able to taste the wine and spices but needn’t have worried. The only flavor that comes through is the outstanding vinegar flavor. 3 cups of vinegar is not enough to enjoy the wonderful complex flavors, I suggest 6 cups instead.
??? there is no vinegar in this recipe
Your photography is absolutely gorgeous!!