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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.
What is a good substitute for brandy in mulled wine? ›
Brandy: Similar to sangria, it's also traditional to spike your mulled wine with an extra bit of liqueur. Brandy is the traditional choice, but Cointreau (or another orange liqueur) or tawny port are also delicious alternatives.
Is mulled wine less alcoholic? ›
The heat used in mulling encourages greater flavours from the citrus and the spices but also reduces the alcohol content, hence the common addition of a slug of spirit or liqueur just before serving.
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? ›
First of all, Gluhwein is spiced differently, traditionally with oranges, star aniseed, cloves, and cinnamon being mandatory, vanilla being optional, and ginger and cardamom not used at all. Second of all, it's lower in sugar content, with either very little sugar used or not at all.
What does Glühwein in German mean? ›
masculine noun. glühwein, mulled wine, glogg (US)
Can you get drunk mulled wine? ›
Mulled wine still has a high alcohol and sugar content, so you should be aware of how much you're consuming. 'People often think that because it's been heated it's less alcoholic, but only a small amount actually evaporates,' explains Dr Lee.
What's the difference between mulled wine and Glühwein? ›
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.
Is Grand Marnier a brandy? ›
The brand's best-known product is Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, an orange-flavored liqueur created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. It is made from a blend of Cognac brandy, distilled essence of bitter orange, and sugar, containing 40% alcohol (70 proof in the UK, 80 proof in the US).
The Spices
Ground spices are much easier to overdo, which can lead to a bitter mulled wine that tastes more like raw cinnamon than a delightful, warming beverage. Cinnamon is the most essential spice in mulled wine.
Can you buy ready made mulled wine? ›
A delicious ready made mulled wine, perfect for parties, or even just warming you up on these chilly evenings. Aromatic, fruity, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.
Can Muslims drink mulled wine? ›
Muslims are prohibited from drinking (or smoking) anything that will make a person intoxicated.
Can you boil off the alcohol in mulled wine? ›
Does the alcohol cook out when making mulled wine? In short, yes, some of the alcohol burns off when boiling mulled wine, but you should only be gently bringing up to the boil and simmering for around 15-30 minutes which isn't enough time to completely remove all alcohol traces.
Can you use cheap wine for mulled wine? ›
Just like with the best wines for sangria, the wines you choose for mulled wine don't need to be fancy (you'll be adding other ingredients to it anyway so there's no need to break the bank on an expensive bottle).
Is Merlot or Cabernet better for mulled wine? ›
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 is the best wine to drink when its hot? ›
Light-bodied reds, like Barbera and Pinot Noir, are a great alternative during the hot summer months. Light-bodied reds can take a chill and are best served at 55–64 degrees. Throwing your bottle in the fridge an hour before dinner ensures these wines are right in the sweet spot for your next backyard barbeque.
Is Glühwein different to 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.
Is dry wine good for mulled wine? ›
Generally speaking, you won't go wrong using a relatively dry, but fruity (or “fruit-forward”) wine for mulling. And, if the recipe you choose calls for a dose of brandy or other liquor, you'll probably want to choose a wine that's low in alcohol (unless, of course, you have a specific goal in mind).
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
