Glühwein aka Mulled Wine
My husband has requested for many years that we have Glühwein at Christmas so this is the year he will get at least one of his Christmas wishes. This takes him back to the years he spent in Germany as a young teenager. He remembers the smells of pine boughs, candles glowing, and his Mom making this for the family to share. German for mulled wine literally translated means “glow wine”. Glühwein is wine, usually red, combined with different spices and served hot. Also called vin chaud in French and vin brulé in Italian, but glühwein is most popular in Germany.
The drink originated in older times when wine would often go bad or just didn’t come out right. It was discovered that when bad wine was mixed with spices, fruits and honey it was possible to drink again. Pick up an inexpensive bottle of red wine or if you have a bottle or two of wine that just doesn’t get finished…. if that is possible…..and brew up a batch of Glühwein, picturing yourself in the snowy German countryside at Christmastime. You will love the smell throughout your home!
Ingredients:
Serves 8-10
2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
5 cardamom pods
3 black peppercorns
4 whole cloves
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup brandy
1 (750-ml) bottle dry red wine such as Côtes du Rhône (inexpensive wine is perfect for this)
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
1 small orange, thinly sliced
1 small lemon, thinly sliced
Directions:
Wrap cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, peppercorns, and cloves in cheesecloth and tie with string. Bring sugar and water to a boil in a 5-quart heavy (non aluminum) pot, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then add spice bag, wine, vanilla bean, and fruit. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.
Directions:
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