Winemonger.com

My favorite time in Vienna are the weeks preceding Christmas, called Advent. And the best Advent season is one sprinkled with snow. This is the time when the Viennese drop their schadenfreude and pre-Christmas grumpiness and the whole city becomes the mecca of “Gemühtlichkeit”, which is a term describing a state of coziness and cuddly well-being that is tightly connected to ideas like warm ovens, comfortable chairs, good friends and great food and drinks. Interestingly, this term lacks an English counterpart.

The perfect example of something which brings on Gemühtlichkeit during this time is a drink called Gluhwein (translated Glow-Wine, AKA mulled wine, or in Sweden, Glogg).

Along the Christmas shopping markets on Graben and Kärntner Street in Vienna you will find a wooden stand selling this warming drink about as fast as they can make it. It is a custom amongst the Viennese to start a good shopping day with a little warmer–upper of the glowing sort, and to end it hours later without a single gift bought but a serious buzz instead (and a great amount of cheer.)

We at Winemonger recommend you do your holiday shopping (and all of your holiday entertaining) in the very same way! So here is a recipe to make your own Glühwein right at home (it’s quite easy). We recommend using a Blaufränkisch or Zweigelt red wine for both of these recipes:

Ingredients

• 1 Bottle of Red Wine
• 1/8 Liter water
• 50 grams sugar (approx 2oz)
• 1/4 stick cinnamon
• 3 cloves
• Peelings of half a lemon or two lemon slices

Preparation

Bring the sugar, spices and water to a boil. Then let this mixture steer for 30 minutes.
finally, mix in the red wine and carefully reheat to just under the boiling point.

The following is a special sort of Gluhwein. It is popular in alpine regions, especially after skiing.

Jagertee (Hunter’s Tea)

• 1/4 Liter black tea
• 1/4 Liter red wine
• 1/4 Liter orange juice
• 1/4 Liter Obstler (Schnapps - not the sweet American versions, but something like Kirschwasser or dry plum brandy)
• 60 - 80 grams sugar (2-3 oz)
• 1/4 stick cinnamon
• 3 cloves
• peelings of 1/2 lemon or two lemon slices

Heat all the ingredients until they simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Add sugar to taste.

If I had to recommend a Winemonger wine to make Glühwein with, I would suggest the Feiler Artinger Umriss Blaufränkisch ($19.99) or the Braunstein Mitterjoch Zweigelt ($12.99). Some people suggest to use a cheap wine for your Glühwein but I disagree. Why should your Glühwine be of lesser quality?