Crazy about wine
Cheers to Mulled Wine Season!
Time for Mulled Wine
The holiday season is upon us, which means it's time for… mulled wine! But what exactly is mulled wine, and how did it come about? And, perhaps more importantly, how should it be enjoyed?
Mulled Wine, Glögg, Glühwein, and Vin Chaud: A Drink with Many Names
A beloved child has many names
As the saying goes, "A beloved child has many names." And so it is with mulled wine, or as it’s called in various countries – gløgg in Denmark, glüwein in Germany, vin chaud in France, and mulled wine in the UK. This warming beverage has transformed over time and has many regional variations, but the core idea remains the same: a delicious, spiced, and heated wine perfect for winter celebrations.
Gløgg, or mulled wine, isn’t just the dull, sugary red wine mixed with muesli that you might have reluctantly sipped to warm up during a winter outing in places like Tivoli. Today, there are many varieties of mulled wine, from white wine versions to ones that can be served cold. And, of course, a splash of dark rum never hurts in giving it a little extra warmth and flavor.
The history of gløgg dates all the way back to ancient Greece, where sweet and spiced wines were common. Later, the French began warming their cognac and adding sugar. Over time, the cognac was replaced with wine, which is the version we recognize today. While many of us Danes might feel a special connection to gløgg as our own cozy holiday drink, it’s widely enjoyed in other countries as well. In Germany, it's known as glüwein, in France as vin chaud, and in the UK, it's simply called mulled wine.
As we celebrate this festive drink in all its various forms, it’s good to remember its roots and embrace the diversity of how different cultures enjoy this warm, spiced beverage. Whether you’re sipping it hot or cold, with or without alcohol, it’s a perfect way to make any winter gathering feel special.
Hot or Cold?
There’s no right or wrong recipe when it comes to making mulled wine, but since it’s most commonly enjoyed in December, it’s almost always made with those festive notes like cinnamon, cardamom, orange, apple, cloves, ginger, allspice, and star anise. The drink is often enhanced with almonds and raisins as well. While most people probably associate mulled wine with red wine, it can actually be made with white wine too, which gives it a fresher, more citrusy touch.
However, there’s general agreement that mulled wine should be served hot, and that makes perfect sense given the season. It’s also cozy to warm your hands on the glass while the alcohol warms you from the inside. But here at Wineandbarrels, we’d like to challenge the assumption that mulled wine must be served hot. There’s actually a lovely selection of mulled wines that can be enjoyed straight from the fridge, offering a fresher, more refreshing twist. Plus, there are even versions of mulled wine that can be mixed with tonic water, making for a fantastic Christmas cocktail before and/or after Christmas dinner.
At the end of the day, it’s all about diving in and finding an exciting mulled wine recipe that works for you. And, of course, you can always adapt it to your own taste, whether it’s by adding a generous splash of dark rum or serving it over ice cubes.