November 21, 2022, 4:11 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

Glühwein is an essential part of the Advent season–whether with or without alcohol. Add some fitting music and a bit of pastry, and the Christmas spirit is sure to follow. Making Glühwein at home doesn’t require much. We present a few recipes and explain which ingredients make Glühwein taste like it does at the Christmas market.

Making Glühwein at Home–White or Red?

Glühwein can be easily made at home. Besides the right ingredients, you only need a sufficiently large pot, a ladle, and either a tea infuser, a small bag, or a sieve–to remove the spices from the drink later.

Before starting the preparation, you need to decide on a type of Glühwein. It is traditionally made with either red or white wine. For both versions, it’s best to use a dry or semi-dry wine. Additionally, a few spices are added to give the wine its distinctive Christmas flavor.

Note: Do not use copper or aluminum pots, as the surface reacts with wine. The substances released can not only alter the taste but are also harmful to health.

Red Glühwein–Recipe for Home

If you prefer your Glühwein with red wine, you can choose a more robust variety. For four cups, you’ll need one bottle of wine. The following wine varieties are suitable:

Suitable Wine Varieties

• Dornfelder
• Spätburgunder
• Pinot Noir
• Merlot

Additional Ingredients

• 3 cloves
• 3 star anise
• 2 sticks of Ceylon cinnamon
• one whole orange, sliced (organic)
• 3 tablespoons of white or brown sugar, honey, or agave syrup
• optional: vanilla bean and cardamom (amount to taste)

Preparation

1. Slowly heat the wine in a large pot, but do not let it boil, as the alcohol would evaporate. The best temperature is around 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Add the spices, remove the pot from the heat, and let everything steep for at least an hour.
3. Afterward, remove the spices and reheat the Glühwein before serving. The wine can be kept warm on low heat with a closed lid.

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White Glühwein–Recipe for Home

Just like the recipe for red Glühwein, you’ll need one bottle of wine for four glasses of white Glühwein. The following varieties are recommended:

Suitable Wine Varieties

• Müller-Thurgau
• Silvaner
• Riesling
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Grigio

Additional Ingredients

• 3 cloves
• 3 star anise
• 2 sticks of Ceylon cinnamon
• one slice each of lemon and orange (organic)
• 3 tablespoons of white or brown sugar, honey, or agave syrup
• optional: vanilla bean and cardamom (amount to taste)

Preparation

1. First, grate some of the peel from the orange and lemon.
2. Squeeze the juice from both, add it to a large pot with the white wine, and then warm everything–do not let it boil!
3. Remove the pot from the heat and add spices and sweeteners. Let everything steep for about an hour.
4. Afterward, remove the spices and reheat before serving.

Tip for both Glühwein types: If you want a bit more alcohol and a stronger taste, you can add a splash of white rum or orange liqueur.

Recipe for Non-Alcoholic Punch at Home

If you prefer to avoid alcohol altogether, you can also make non-alcoholic punch at home.

Ingredients for 4 Glasses

• 1 liter of grape or apple juice
• 1 stick of Ceylon cinnamon
• 2 cloves
• 3 lemon slices
• 1 small apple, diced
• optional: honey or sugar

Preparation

Combine the juice with all the spices in a large pot and then warm it up. Let it steep for a while and then taste. If needed, sweeten with honey or sugar. If you want it less intense, you can dilute the punch with fruit tea.

More drink ideas for the Christmas season can be found here: