What is the best way to warm your soul on a wintry evening? Embrace the age-old Alpine drink known as Glühwein.
In this festive post, we show you step-by-step how to make Glühwein that wows you and your guests. In addition, you’ll discover the how to drink this cozy libation (also commonly called mulled wine or spiced wine) to fully savor its aromas and flavors.
In a holiday hurry? Jump ahead to the recipe, click here: The Best Glühwein Recipe.
About Glühwein
Glühwein is an especially delicious treat during the holidays. It wraps its arms around you and gives you a big, warm holiday hug just like that mall Santa did years ago.
But you do not have to wait for the holiday season to enjoy Glühwein. You will cherish it anytime there is a chill in the air whether it be summer, fall, spring or winter.
So where did Glühwein’s heart-warming qualities come from? The ancient Romans are thought to have been the first to concoct Glühwein. As they conquered Europe, they didn’t just leave behind ruins and nifty hairdos. They also left wine’s enduring splendor. Glühwein included.
The hardy folks in the Alps of South Tyrol, Austria and Germany took quite a liking to the sweetly spiced goodness of Glühwein. Its warmth and cheer-inducing potency made it a must-have when facing the icy bluster of the mountains.
How to Drink Glühwein
Glühwein isn’t a drink that lights you up like a Christmas tree, but even the Ebenezer in your life can’t resist the merriment found in a steamy cup. The best way to savor spiced wine is from a porcelain ceramic mug or a glass crystal mug for a touch of holiday sparkle. Our recommendation is to use double-wall insulated crystal glass mugs to preserve flavor and warmth. Or you can select a vintage ceramic mug and let the world know you live like Santa is not watching.
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.
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How to Make Glühwein
Fortunately, you don’t need to raid Santa’s cellar to get your hands on this stuff. Follow these 6 simple steps to make Glühwein right in the comforts of your own home.
In less than 15 minutes, you can ease into your chair by the fire and mull over the wonders of mulled wine.
Step 1 – Find the Right Wine
Visit your local wine shop and pick up a bottle of red wine. Opinions vary on the best type with some opting for full-bodied reds like Malbec to others proclaiming bright and fruity reds like Pinot Noir work best.
We’re hopeless mountain lovers. We use Alpine reds from Alto Adige. A couple of our favorites include the lovely Lagrein from the award-winning Elena Walch and Nals Margreid wine estates. Not only do these wines make Glühwein fit for a king, but they also pair exceptionally well with the Alps’ most hearty dishes.
Step 2 – Set the Holiday Mood (Optional, but Highly-Recommended!)
Foster a festive holiday cooking mood to begin your new Glühwein tradition by playing a little traditional German Christmas music from South Tyrol, home to Europe’s most charming Christmas markets.
Of course, if you’re looking for something a bit more upbeat, you could always spin this little holiday classic from Germany’s most beloved singer. Nothing says Christmas like the Hoff!
Step 3 – Gather Your Sweets
Make sure you have the following Glühwein ingredients on hand at home: sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and oranges. Yes, oranges.
Step 4 – Prepare the Ingredients
Grab a pot and prep the ingredients that you will be adding to it.
Traditional Glühwein requires ½ cinnamon stick, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 5 cloves and peel of an orange (¼ to ½ of orange).
Step 5 – Make Stove Top Magic
Pour the entire bottle of wine into the pot (it’s okay to lick the cork), add the cinnamon stick, sugar, cloves and orange peel. Bring the wine to nearly a boil.
Note: For Santa’s sake, do not boil the wine! Doing so will reduce the alcohol content thus the amount of fun you’ll have by equal measure.
Step 6 – Begin Your Merry Journey
Remove the cinnamon stick and cloves with a fine strainer. Pour this conjuring of Christmas magic into cups and serve immediately.
Note: You can add rum or brandy to the Glühwein if you want to crank up the festiveness at your holiday gathering. But if sweetness is your greatest holiday weakness, honey is fine to add as well.
❄️Bonus Step
Repeat steps 1-6 as often as needed. Life is too short to deny sipping away holiday stress with ample amounts of Glühwein.
Feeling Fine with Glühwein
Enjoying Glühwein at home is an enticing way to the take chill out of any winter night. But more importantly, be sure to enjoy a cup or three while visiting a Christmas market.
Drinking anything else would no doubt upset the Krampus lurking in the corner. Not a wise move.
If the thought of laboring in the kitchen to make another holiday treat sucks the season right out of you…don’t worry. Glühwein can be purchased at your local wine shop. Just warm it up and serve the gift that will keep on giving.
The Best Glühwein Recipe – Tap to Save!
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Great and easy to prepare. Thank you for the recipe.
You’re welcome Cris! Enjoy the wonders of Glühwein!
This sounds like the perfect drink for a cold Christmas night! I’ll have to give it a try!
I had never heard of this and now I want to make it right now! Thanks for the inspiration!!!!
I’ve never tried warmed mulled wine, but it sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe and instructions, I can’t wait to mix up a batch to share with my family on Christmas Eve!
I’m not into alcoholic drinks, but I know a lot of my friends are, so I will tell them about this. 🙂
So I’ve been drinking a lot of gluhwein lately in Austria and I had no idea what all goes into it! I just knew red wine hit cinnamon, cloves and orange ? Really ? All I know is, I absolutely love it!
I want to drink the joyful tears of Santa’s drunkest elves!! Lol Glühwein does sound quite delicious, and it’s pretty cool that there’s a history associated with it right back to the Roman Empire. Thanks for sharing the recipe – off to the shops!
Mulled wine is my favorite in this season. Only a few days back I was in Switzerland and had my quota of Gluehwein. Thanks for sharing the recipe . I think I will try it out for sure. I hope I don’t spoil a good bottle of red 😉 😉
Seasons Greetings, Katelyn!
I make mulled wine all the time in winter. I like using a Merlot, and an inexpensive bottle is perfect for this. I actually use two cinnamon sticks in mine. Plus I bring the water to a boil first, then add the sugar and dissolve it along with the lemons. Then I finally add the wine, cinnamon and cloves and let it steep for about 20 minutes.
Such a great idea! I’ll have to try it your way also! Plus, you can never have too much cinnamon
Glühwein is a new drink for me. The detailed recipe seems doable. With winter on I must try this out.
Hey…this seems easy enough to try this Xmas. Am a little tired of the same old wine and this does add that zest to the wine. And the little citrus punch too. Have a hic…I mean Merry Xmas. Cheers
Thank you for introducing me to the Glow Wine. I love cinnamon and this looks like a perfect way to spice up your wine.
You’re welcome Anu! We hope you enjoy it and make it a holiday tradition in your home!
There’s no winter without mulled wine for me <3 I never tried to make it myself before, but thanks to your recipe I believe this will be my first time 😀
Oh my gosh! I totally love mulled wine. It usually doesn’t get cold enough in Texas so I just crank up the air conditioner in December and pretend! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
OMG I LOVE gluhwein!! Was in Germany for a Christmas Market hop press trip last year and wanted to drink it alllllll, but was pregs!! Now I can make it at home to make up for it lol. Thanks for sharing this!
My family are coming around this evening to celebrate Christmas as we are going skiing next Saturday. I’m so tempted to hop to the supermarket and put this receipt to the test. First I need to clean though…..
I love Glühwein! I only drink it at Christmas Markets but it makes my winter holidays oh so festive. I tried to make it at home once but failed to add the requisite amount of sugar so it was terrible. Much easier to have others do the heavy lifting and me stay oblivious to how many calories one glass has!
Wow this wine is something new to me.. Seems interesting. I liked the preparation, would love to try it out. Happy holidays!
Homemade glow wine is SO good. When I was in Vienna last year, I absolutely fell in love with their apple hot wines! <3
I didn’t know that Glühwein was mulled wine! “Made from the joyful tears of Santa’s drunkest elves.” Haha! I may not be licking the cork but I would take some Glühwein now that I know what it is, if anyone offered!
I don’t particularly like mulled wine, but I know my friends love it and I have to bring something to our Christmas dinner… Might give it a go!!!
I LOVE mulled wine and mulled cider! So festive, yummy and the whole house smells AMAZING when its brewing!
Happy Holidays!
xoxo Christie
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