Mulled Wine

The adding of spices to wine has a very long tradition in the world of wine. The Romans already flavoured some of their wine with sugar and spices to make it more pleasurable and longer lasting.

7 - 14,5

alcohol content by volume
from 78°C

heat causes the alcohol to escape

More and more German winegrowers offer home-made mulled wine based on individual recipes partly in organic quality. The very fruity red wines from the German wine-growing regions are well suited for aromatic mulled wine. By warming the wine, the aromas, which are reminiscent of red fruit, become even more expressive and are wonderfully harmonious in combination with the flavouring ingredients. White mulled wines, made from Riesling or Müller-Thurgau for example, are also on offer.

Since 2022, rosé mulled wine may finally be marketed as such by name. A new specification in the EU regulation now allows this. In terms of wine law, mulled wine is a flavoured beverage containing wine, made exclusively from red, rosé or white wine and sweetened and flavoured. The addition of alcohol as well as water or colouring is prohibited. The actual alcohol content must be at least 7% vol. and less than 14.5% vol.

Warming

When warming the mulled wine you should make sure not to heat it too much or even let it simmer, as otherwise delicate fruit aromas will be lost and bitter agents will develop. Additionally, from a temperature of 78°C, alcohol will evaporate.

Flavouring

Don’t add too many spices all at once, and only little amounts. Too many cloves spoil the mulled wine. Cinnamon, star anise and allspice in too large amounts can cover the fruity aromas of the wine as well. Sweeten cautiously. If you are already using a semi-sweet wine, you often don’t need much sugar or honey.

Pay attention to quality

Make sure to use fresh spices and a quality wine. Designations such as "Winzer-Glühwein" (vintner’s mulled wine), or "Weingut" (wine estate) on the label guarantee that the mulled wine was made only from the producers‘ own wines and on their own premises. The designation "Deutscher Glühwein" (German mulled wine) on the label means that only domestic base wines were used.

Have enough time at hand

After the first warming let the mulled wine steep for a few hours, maybe even over night, so that the aromas can fully unfold. Then use a sieve to remove the spices for better enjoyment.

Drink in moderation

You will have the greatest pleasure if you use high-quality ingredients and drink mulled wine in moderation.

Recipe tips

Recipe ideas for dishes to go with mulled wine in the DWI Genießershop: shop.deutscheweine.de

Does mulled wine always have to be red wine?

No! For some years now, white mulled wines have also been in greater demand. As a new trend, fruity rosé mulled wines have also developed as a light counterpart to the heavy red wines.

Varietals

the classic with a difference Franconian cider soup

the classic with a difference

500 ml Weißwein (Spätlese)
500 ml Geflügelbrühe
350 ml Sahne
30 Gramm Zwiebeln
30 Gramm Weißes vom Lauch
30 Gramm Sellerie
30 Gramm Karotten
30 Gramm Butter
180 Gramm Mehl
2 Lorbeerblätter
1 EL Butterschmalz
4 Scheiben Weißbrot
Nach Belieben Zucker, Muskat, Zimt, Salz

Sauté the vegetables in butter until lightly browned, dust with flour and then add the vegetable stock, wine and 250 ml cream. Add the spices and simmer for approx. 15 minutes.

Remove the crusts from the slices of white bread and cut into 1 cm cubes. Fry in hot clarified butter until golden brown and season with cinnamon, whip the remaining cream until stiff.

Strain the soup and flavour with nutmeg and salt.

Pour into deep plates, garnish with whipped cream and the cinnamon crusts.

Müller-Thurgau (trocken)
Silvaner (trocken)

with semi-frozen goat's milk Lavender waffles

with semi-frozen goat's milk

2 Stück Eigelb
60 ml Ziegenmilch
500 Gramm weiße Kuvertüre
125 ml Sahne
Abrieb und Saft einer halben Orange
2 cl Tresterbrand
8 Blatt Minze
125 Gramm Mehl

Semi-frozen goat's milk: Beat the egg yolks and goat's milk in a bowl over a hot bain-marie until creamy. Remove from the bain-marie and beat the cream until cold. Flavour with the zest of the orange and the marc brandy.

Liquefy the couverture in a bain-marie and stir into the lukewarm egg mixture. Whip the cream until stiff and carefully fold in. Line a parfait tin (triangular or gutter shape) with cling film. Pour in the mixture and smooth out. Cover well with cling film and leave to freeze in the freezer for at least 8 hours.

About 20 minutes before serving, remove the mould from the freezer and turn the parfait out of the mould. Remove the foil and cut the semi-frozen parfait into 8 slices.

Lavender wafers: Lightly mash the butter in a mixing bowl with a fork. Add the sugar and stir a little. Add half of the milk, the lavender sugar and the baking powder. Stir in the eggs and finally the rest of the milk. Mix everything well with a hand mixer for about 2 minutes to create a homogeneous, slightly liquid mixture. Bake the batter in batches in a waffle iron until golden brown.</p

Arrange 2 slices of semifreddo on each waffle on a flat plate and decorate with mint leaves.

Riesling (halbtrocken & feinherb)

to sweet selections Apple doughnuts with vanilla sauce

to sweet selections

5 große, säuerliche Äpfel
200 Gramm Mehl
2 Eier
250 ml Milch
2 EL Rum
Nach Bedarf Schmalz oder Öl
Nach Belieben Zimt, Zucker, Salz

Peel the apples and remove the core, cut into finger-thick, even slices. Drizzle with rum and sugar. Leave to infuse.

Stir the batter, it should be quite thick. Turn the apple rings in it and bake floating in hot fat until golden brown.

Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot with cinnamon and sugar.

Riesling (süß & edelsüß)
Scheurebe (süß & edelsüß)

Asparagus again at last Rocket salad with green asparagus and turkey breast fillet

A light, young Rivaner goes well with green asparagus.

400g Grüner Spargel
100g Rucola
400g Putenbrustfilets
200g Kirschtomaten
4 Eier
1 EL Basilikum-Pesto
1TL Butter
2 EL Olivenöl
2 EL Weißwein-Essig
etwas Salz, Pfeffer

Peel the lower third of the asparagus and cut off the ends. Cut the spears in half and cook in boiling salted water with 1 tsp butter for approx. 7 mins. Set the asparagus water aside.

Cook the eggs until almost firm (the yolk should still be a little soft), peel and cut into quarters. Cut the turkey breast fillet into strips.

Fry the pine nuts briefly without fat in a non-stick pan. Then add a little fat directly to the pan and fry the turkey breast strips. Then keep them warm.

Mix the pesto with the white wine vinegar, 5 tbsp of the asparagus water, the olive oil and salt and pepper in a salad bowl to make a dressing.

Wash the rocket and add to the dressing. Halve the cherry tomatoes and add to the bowl. Mix in the asparagus and turkey. Finally, garnish with the quartered eggs and pine nuts.</p

This goes well with freshly baked ciabatta bread.

Wine recommendation:

A light Rivaner from the last harvest, fresh as spring, with delicate flavours.