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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
Dry red wine: You don't want to use anything too sweet (or expensive)! Chianti, cabernet Sauvignon, or pinot noir, would work all well here. Sugar: You can use granulated and turbinado sugar interchangeably in this recipe.
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.
Is glue wine the same as mulled wine? ›
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.
Can you use pinot noir for mulled wine? ›
I've used Pinot Noir before to success. Honestly, whatever red wine that you're stuck with and you don't want to drink, they'll work. Just don't mix varietals, like one bottle Cabernet and one bottle Pinot Noir. Sugar or honey.
What are the different types of Glühwein? ›
A variation of Glühwein is made with white wine, but it is less popular than its red counterpart. For children, the non-alcoholic Kinderpunsch is offered on Christmas markets, which is a punch with similar spices. Another popular variant of Glühwein in Germany is Feuerzangenbowle.
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.
Can you get drunk off of Glühwein? ›
Alcoholic hot drinks get you drunk faster, as their high temperature ensures that the alcohol enters the bloodstream more quickly and easily. Sugar also promotes alcohol absorption, so a cup of mulled wine will go to your head much more quickly than a glass of normal wine.
What does Glühwein in German mean? ›
masculine noun. glühwein, mulled wine, glogg (US) DeclensionGlühwein is a masculine noun. Remember that, in German, both the spelling of the word and the article preceding the word can change depending on whether it is in the nominative, accusative, genitive, or dative case.
Does alcohol burn off in Glühwein? ›
All ingredients are combined and heated to approximately 150-160 degrees. Be careful not to over heat or boil the mixture. Since alcohol evaporates at 172 degrees which is much lower than water you would be left with a non-alcoholic version of mulled wine and that defeats the purpose.
What do Germans drink in winter? ›
The German name for mulled wine, Glühwein, translates to “glow wine,” and there's nothing better than this traditional drink to make you glow with warmth on a cold night.
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.
Is Merlot or Malbec better for mulled wine? ›
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.
Why is my mulled wine 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. Slow and low is the way to go. And it shouldn't be served piping hot, just comfortably - and comfortingly - warm.
Does the alcohol cook off in mulled wine? ›
But no matter what you start with, and no matter all the other variables, if you're really keeping mulled wine warm for 10 hours, it's very likely some—but definitely not all—of the alcohol will evaporate. But the flavors of the mulled wine will also start to fade and get muddier after hours and hours of heat exposure.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon good for Glühwein? ›
The best wine for mulled wine is dry and full-bodied, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, or Syrah. These will stand up to the other flavors and ensure the spiced wine won't be too sweet. Use Whole Spices. I don't recommend ground spices, as they will float on top of the wine and not incorporate properly.
Is Merlot good for Glühwein? ›
Merlot is an ideal choice of wine for making mulled wine. Its bold, juicy fruit flavor has notes of red cherry, plum, and cranberry. Plus, this particular selection is made with fruits from California's central coast at an affordable price.
What wine is best for Yule? ›
Among the different options available, try the log with Muscat-Beaume-de-Venise, white Banyuls, Sauternes, Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume or sweet wine from Alsace, such as Vendange Tardive or Sélection de Grais Nobles. These sweet wines match the richness of the composition of the traditional Yule log!
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.
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
