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When thinking of a German Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market), there will be many associations that come to mind: Stalls selling handcrafted goods that make for perfect Christmas presents, a plethora of tasty street foods, and Glühwein. But what is Glühwein, exactly?
In this article, we’ll explore the history, ingredients, and culture surrounding the German take on hot, spiced wine. Including a tasty recipe for you to try out as well as useful phrases to use at the Glühweinstand (Glühwein stall). With all this, you will be well-prepared for your next trip to Germany during the holiday season. Check out our list of basic German phrases for more useful vocabulary that will help you find your way around a Weihnachtsmarkt.
What does Glühwein mean and where did it come from?
Glühwein (pronounced “GLEUH-vine”) directly translates to “glow wine” with its name coming from the fact that it is glühend heiß (glowing hot). It’s one of many in the long history of hot drinks known as mulled wine in English. Even the Romans already had their own version of spiced wine, although it was served cold and reserved for the richest of society because of the exorbitant prices of spices at the time.
Today, there are many forms of mulled wine all across Europe, such as the French vin chaud or the Northern European glögg. All of them with their own little quirks and traditions tied to them.
Spices are more affordable these days and variants of mulled wine are found all over Europe. Examples for these are the more sweet and fruity French vin chaud (hot wine) or the Northern European Glögg (from the Swedish word att glödga, meaning “to glow”), which is served with a raisin and an almond in each cup.
The first modern-day German Glühwein that was titled and sold as such was produced by Rudolf Kunzmann in 1956. The city immediately fined him for it, as the current law forbade adding sugar to any wine sold commercially. The notice of this fine now serves as a historical record, letting us know exactly when the modern variant of German mulled wine came about in Augsburg, Germany.
Why do Germans drink Glühwein?
Glühwein has become an important part in German Weihnachten (Christmas) culture. This special version of mulled wine is not only enjoyed in Germany however. Considering just how many people speak German, it is popular across quite a few European countries. It is common to meet family or friends for a stroll at the Weihnachtsmarkt and enjoy a mug of hot Glühwein to warm up after perusing the stalls for hours. Or perhaps you’ll head out with colleagues for a warm drink at the end of a long day at the office.
A Glühwein stall is the winter equivalent of a traditional German Biergarten (beer garden), so it’s a perfect place to enjoy a hot alcoholic beverage in a social setting and soak in the atmosphere. Drinking Glühwein is all about staying warm outdoors while socializing. If you make it at home, then the same is true. You’ll stay cozy warm with a hot drink while playing games, singing Advent carols, or talking together.
Popular types of Glühwein
The most common form of Glühwein is made with Rotwein (red wine), but Weißwein (white wine) variants are also common. European law states that anything sold specifically as Glühwein needs to adhere to three rules:
- made with either red or white wine
- spiced primarily with Zimt (cinnamon) and Gewürznelken (cloves)
- contains at least 7% alcohol
- made without any water added to it
Other popular spices to use are Ingwer (ginger) and Sternanis (star anise) alongside orange and lemon juice. But the specific recipe and spices used can vary freely as long as cinnamon and cloves are present. They’re the magic ingredients. Additionally, you’ll often see Glühwein offered mit Schuss (with shot). This option includes a shot of rum or other strong liquors.
Alcohol-free options
Younger people and those who prefer an alcohol-free alternative can order a Kinderpunsch (kids punch). This non-alcoholic alternative to Glühwein is often made from fruit tea and mixed with juices before getting spiced and heated up.
Other beverages at the Glühwein stall
While the options at a Glühwein stall are limited to beverages, the menu isn’t limited to just the titular beverage. Other classic winter drinks are also often available, such as heiße Schokolade (hot chocolate) or Kakao (cocoa) and Apfelpunsch (apple punch), which is similar to hot apple cider and can also be ordered mit Schuss (with a shot of alcohol).
Alcoholic alternatives to enjoy on a German Weihnachtsmarkt include Jägertee (hunter tea), which is black tea with rum, or a hot cocoa with rum or cream liquor called tote Tante (dead aunt).
This moniker comes from an old legend about a woman from the northern German island of Föhr who emigrated to North America but wanted to be shipped back when her time came. The family did not have the funds to transport the woman back in style, so aunty was shipped over inside the cocoa transport headed for Hamburg. To celebrate her return at her funeral and to honor the circumstances of her travels, the guests toasted to the woman with hot chocolate and rum and a legend was born.
Collect all your Glühwein mugs
When you order a Glühwein or Kinderpunsch at a Christmas market, you’ll often receive your beverage in a small, colorful ceramic mug. The festive illustrations on these mugs are updated every year in some of the bigger christmas markets and depict the sights of the town you’re in. Visitors can keep the mugs for the price of the deposit they paid when ordering their mulled wine. These Glühwein mugs make for great collector’s items and unique souvenirs from a visit to Germany during the holiday season!
Useful phrases to order Glühwein at the Glühweinstand
Here are some phrases to help you order the right drink at the Christkindlmarkt. For even more phrases that might come in handy, check out our blog post about how to order German food.
| German | English |
| Ich hätte gerne einen Glühwein | I would like to have a Glühwein. |
| Ich hätte gerne zwei Glühweine mit Schuss | I would like to have two Glühwein with a shot. |
| Drei Tassen Glühwein, bitte | Three mugs of Glühwein, please. |
| Haben Sie auch Kinderpunsch? | Do you also have kids punch? |
| Was ist Ihr alkoholfreies Angebot? | What are your alcohol-free options? |
| Haben Sie weißen Glühwein? | Do you have white Glühwein? |
| Zwei Glühweine, bitte. Einen weißen und einen roten. | Two Glühwein, please. One white and one red. |
>> Pick up some basic but essential German words for your trip to the Christmas markets!
A traditional Glühwein recipe to make at home
If you want to enjoy the Deutsche Weihnachtsstimmung (German Christmas spirit) at home, here’s a tasty recipe for a white wine Glühwein. To be successful, don’t let the wine boil as you prepare it, since the alcohol starts to evaporate at a high temperature.
This recipe will serve four people.
1 bottle of dry Weißwein (white wine)
1 inch of fresh Ingwer (ginger)
1 Orange (orange)
1 Zitrone (lemon)
4 Gewürznelken (cloves)
2 Zimtstangen (cinnamon sticks)
2 Sternanis (star anise)
2 Kardamomkapseln (cardamom pods)
4 tablespoons Ahornsirup (maple syrup) or Honig (honey)
Step 1
Squeeze the juice from both the orange and lemon and cut the ginger into fine slices.
Step 2
Mix with the other ingredients into a pot and carefully heat up until the beverage is steaming. Be careful not to let it boil. Let everything simmer for 30-45 minutes with the lid closed.
Step 3
Pour the beverage through a fine sieve to remove the spices. You can sweeten the Glühwein with more maple syrup or honey, decorate it with orange slices, or add a shot of rum if you like.
Savor the flavors of the German holiday season with Rosetta Stone
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