German Gluhwein - Mulled Wine

[Jackie]

I usually don't post messages that come to us at wines.com by e-mail. I always ask people to post their message themselves here, where they are going to get a better answer than anything I could say in reply to an email. But this time I'm making an exception. It's the spirit of the season, I guess.

Anyway, here is a question that arrived by email at wines.com:

Hello,
I am hoping you can help me. In Germany around the Christmas holidays there is a hot mulled "blue" wine that you can find from street vendors. My husband who served over there has forgotten the name and we wants to make some at home this Christmas. If you can would you please find out the name and possibly the ingredients.

Thank you so very much,

... Well, I looked at this a couple of times before I realized that the "blue wine" they are looking for is actually "Gluhwein" in German -- meaning "glow wine". Yes, Gluhwein is sold by street vendors in the winter in part of Germany. It's a popular after-ski drink in Austria and is sometimes fortified with rum or schnaps.

There are many recipes for Gluhwein or Gluehwein (there's an umlaut over the u). Here's one:

1. Place 1/2 cup water in a large saucepan with a piece of cinnamon, ginger, orange zest, 8 cloves, and 3/8 cup sugar.

2. Bring to a boil and simmer to a thick syrup.

3. Pour in 3 cups red wine.

4. Heat to just below the boiling point.

5.Pour the wine into individual glasses.

If you wish, add a cinnamon stick and orange slice to each glass. Serve hot. Walk, don't drive home.

In college I used to make this with Gallo "Hearty Burgundy" & it was always a hit.

It's also closely related to another German hot wine drink (more evil) called Feurzangenboule, lit. transl. "Fire Tongues Bowl"

Jackie