Glühwein!

Glühwein…sigh. This warm, spiced wine based beverage truly is delectable and until two years ago we never knew it existed! In 2014 when Sparky and I were about to spend our 1st Christmas in Germany, we went to the Christmas Market in Munich city center. Wandering around the various stalls selling lovely decorations, candles and Creches, we noted the wonderful aroma of sausages being grilled and saw all these people standing about eating Bratwurst Semmel and holding steaming cups of ” something.” Of course we investigated closely, ’cause we’re nosy like that, and hungry, of course, and thirsty, of course. What we found were stands selling cups of this delicious fruity and spiced wine. They had big vats of Glühwein, both white or red wine based, but red is much more popular. Munich, and all other towns and cities has a commemorative cup or mug with a image on it and the year. The image is maybe a building unique to the city or a Church. The drill is you buy your cup of wine but you pay 2€ extra for the cup. If you return the cup you get the extra money back. That’s a good plan because you could end up with a 100 cups by the end of the season depending on how many Christmas Markets you attend, or how thirsty you are that day! If you wish you may also purchase a shot of Schnapps or Vodka or Rum to add to your Glühwein. We never indulged in that practice. I don’t know about you but we preferred to be walking upright through the Christmas Markets and not crawling :-).

So, how about we build us some Glühwein? It is so simple to make with very few ingredients. It will be ready in a snap for when you come in from Ice Skating, or Snow Shoeing or as Sparky said, “we can build a fire outside and just sit and drink!”

Sparky last year in Nurnberg enjoying a Bratwurst Semmel with a cup of Glühwein.

Glühwein!

Glühwein, a sweetened, fruity, spiced wine that is the perfect warmer upper on these cold winter days!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings 6 Servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 Bottle Red Wine I used a Malbec
• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Lemon Juiced
• 1 Orange
• 1/2 Cup sugar
• 4 Whole Cloves
• 2 Sticks Cinnamon

Instructions

 

• Just a handful of simple ingredients are needed to create this delicious nectar
  
• Just set everything out on your work space and we'll be done in a jiffy.
  
• Pour the wine and water into a good size sauce pan
  
• Chop the Orange into small chunks. Half and juice the lemon and measure out the sugar.
  
• Stir the sugar into the wine and water. Stir in the Lemon Juice
  
• Add the Cinnamon Sticks and the Whole Cloves
  
• Get the chopped Orange into the pot.
  
• Bring the mixture almost to a boil, then turn it down and let simmer for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off and let the mixture just steep for about 45 minutes. Remove the Cinnamon Sticks and Cloves with a slotted spoon and that's it.
  
• Best enjoyed on a cold winters eve at a German Christmas Market with a Bratwurst Semmel. But I'll tell you what. I am heading out right now on my Snow Shoes for some fresh air and exercise and when I come in, you better believe I will be enjoy a nice hot cup of Glühwein.
  
• Thanks for stopping by today. Wherever your journey leads you on this winter day, I hope you are warm, happy and healthy!
• Journey on!
• Hugs and much love from me, Karen, TJG

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!