Oma's Traditional German Mulled Wine (Glühwein)

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

Published: December 3, 2022, Updated: May 4, 2025

This German mulled wine (glühwein) is our holiday favorite. Makes us feel like we're at the Christmas markets in Germany.

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Make this easy Glühwein, German Mulled Wine recipe, to enjoy as a traditional German Christmas drink. It'll make you think you're back in Germany at the wonderful Christmas markets.

Glühwein is everywhere at the Christmas markets in Germany, served in those adorable little mugs that people love to collect. It just feels like Christmas in a cup.

Thankfully, it's so easy to make at home.

Yes, glühwein is German, and it means “glow wine”! (Maybe because you glow after a few mugs?) But its roots go way back to the Romans, who brought spiced wine with them as they moved through Europe.

Today, it’s not just a German favorite. It’s a holiday tradition across much of Europe. And honestly, it’s the perfect drink for cold winter nights and festive gatherings.

Top Tips for Best Results

1. Use Whole Spices: Whole cinnamon sticks and cloves infuse flavor without clouding the wine.
2. Gentle Simmer: Heat slowly and avoid boiling to preserve the wine's flavor and alcohol content.
3. Sweeten to Taste: Start with less sugar; you can always add more if needed.
4. Add a Kick: For an extra warming touch, add a splash of brandy or rum.

Not only is it a perfect drink for the festive season, it's also used in baking. An easy and quick recipe is for a Glühweinkuchen vom Blech (Mulled Wine Sheet Cake) to make these cookie bars. 

Go to Mulled Wine Cookie Bars recipe >

It's a great way to use up any leftover glühwein (unlikely, I know). More likely, it'll be something you make extra glühwein for, just because these cookie bars are a perfect addition to that special dessert platter you make for Christmas time.

Mulled Wine Around the World

Whether you call it mulled wine, glögg, vin chaud, or svařené víno, it’s that warm, spiced drink we all love at Christmas. Each country adds its own twist, but the idea’s the same: gently heated wine (or sometimes beer), sweetened and spiced to chase away the winter chill.

Of course, I’m a little biased. I think Germany does it best! Traditional glühwein is just red wine, cinnamon, cloves, lemon, and sugar. Simple, cozy, and so lecker. But wander through a few German Christmas markets and you’ll taste how every region adds its own flair, from the spices to the citrus to the wine itself.

Serving Glühwein at the Koblenz Christmas Market

What's in Glühwein?

1. Wine

• Red wine is traditionally used for the base (see below for best ones to use)
• Fruit wines, such as cherry, are an option
• White wine can be used, but it isn't that popular

2. Spices

• The list of spices added includes cinnamon sticks and whole cloves, that are required
• Including any of the following various spices, such as whole star anise, vanilla beans, cardamom pods, juniper berries, or whole allspice makes a delicious drink
• Always use whole spices and never ground ones, which will make the final drink cloudy

3. Citrus

• The citrus additions are usually lemon slices
• Orange slices or even orange peel adds a nice touch
• Some add orange zest or lemon zest

4. Sweeteners

• White cane sugar 
• Demerara sugar
• Brown sugar 
• Vanilla sugar
• Honey

Glühwein for Everyone

For kids (or anyone skipping alcohol), there’s kinderpunsch, made with juices like grape, orange, or apple cider. So lecker and warming!

I remember my Mutti simmering the glühwein gently to burn off some of the alcohol so we could enjoy a little, too. And if you like it stronger, just add a shot of rum or brandy. That’s called glühwein mit schuss.

The Best Wine For German Glühwein

Well, almost any, and it doesn't need to be an expensive wine!

A light red wine works well. There are differing opinions on using a dry wine versus a sweet wine. The following wines work well:

• Pinot Noir
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Zinfandel
• Rioja
• Grenache

Some say that one shouldn't use one with an alcohol content no higher than 12.5%.

If you'd like a less alcoholic or lighter mulled wine, then replace some wine with apple juice, apple cider, or orange juice. 

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Several Ways to make Glühwein

• My Mutti would have made it in the traditional way of bringing hot water, sugar, and spices to a boil over high heat and then letting it steep for about 30 minutes. The wine was then added, and the mixture brought ALMOST to simmer, but NEVER a boil. Lemon juice was then added to taste.
• Others make a tea with black tea, adding the spices and lemon peel to that. It steeps for about 20 minutes. The wine is then brought to almost a simmer and mixed with the sieved tea mixture. Lemon juice and sugar are to taste.
• For me, the easiest gluhwein recipe is to put bring the wine and water to almost a boil over low heat. Pour it, along with the sugar, spices, and citrus, into a slow cooker, set to low, and let it steep for several hours. Stir once or twice to make sure the sugar has dissolved. This is perfect to make when company is coming in the evening. You can get glühwein ready earlier in the day and enjoy the spiciness wafting through the house as you get ready for your party.

Bundling the spices in cheesecloth will make removing them easier. You can also strain the glühwein through a sieve.

Serve it hot in warmed mugs or heatproof glasses, the smaller the cup, the better. That way, it's easier to keep hot and have hot refills.

Garnish each cup with a lemon or orange slice, a cinnamon stick, or star anise.

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Oma's Traditional German Mulled Wine (Glühwein)

Make this easy German Mulled Wine recipe to enjoy as a traditional German Christmas drink. It'll make you think you're back in Germany at the wonderful Christmas markets.

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

60 minutes

Total Time:

1 hour 10 minutes

Servings:

6 (5-oz) servings

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle (25 fl oz or 750 ml) red wine (see above)
• ½ cup water
• 3 – 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 8 – 10 whole cloves
• 2 cardamom pods (optional)
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 orange, sliced (optional)
• 3 cinnamon sticks

Instructions:

1. Put into everything into a large saucepan and bring almost to a simmer over low heat, stirring to make sure that the sugar is dissolved. DO NOT BOIL.
2. Lower heat to very low. Cover and let it steep for at least 1 hour. DO NOT SIMMER OR BOIL.
3. Strain out the spices and serve.

Using a Slow Cooker:

1. Heat the wine, water, and sugar in a saucepan until almost to a simmer. Stir to dissolve sugar. 
2. Pour into a slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients. Set slow cooker to low. 
3. The glühwein is ready after one hour, but will keep hot until needed if kept on low. It will improve in flavor the longer it steeps.

Notes/Hints:

• Serve hot in pre-warmed cups and garnish with lemon or orange slices and cinnamon sticks
• Add other spices as desired, such as whole star anise, vanilla beans, juniper berries
• Add less or more sugar, depending upon the sweetness of your wine
• Replace some of the wine with apple or orange juice if you want a lower alcohol content
• Serve with a shot of rum or brandy if you want a 'stronger' drink

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Recipe updated on May 4, 2025

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.