Red Glühwein Recipe from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

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Fans of mulled wine will love this German Glühwein recipe. It’s the best version I’ve tasted yet. Surprisingly, I didn’t try this recipe in Germany, but when sailing on a German cruise line in the United States.

Glass mugs of red liquid with cinnamon stick, star anise, and orange slice, with more spices on the counter along with Christmas greens.

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If you’ve been to the Christmas markets in Europe, you’ve probably tasted either the red or white glühwein at one of the many stands. In fact, you can even purchase a package of spices at some of the stalls to make your own glühwein at home.

Two glass mugs filled with gluhwein at a Christmas market in Germany.

You won’t need to do that, as it’s easy to prepare on your own. By the way, many people collect glühwein mugs, so if you’re a collector, be sure to plan how to bring them home, as most of them are glass.

What is Glühwein?

This gluhwein recipe is a German version of what we in the United States know as mulled or spiced wine. Best known as a German hot wine made with wine, juices, zest, spices, and garnished with fruit, it’s the perfect drink for Christmas parties. But don’t save this boozy beverage just for Christmas time, as it’s delicious any time temperatures start to drop.

Two hands holding glass mugs filled with gluhwein over a fire pit at a Christmas market in Germany.

I enjoyed this version on the high seas with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises in December of last year. Hapag-Lloyd is a German cruise line, and every year, on one of their December sailings, guests are treated to a German Christmas Market put on by the crew. It’s really worth booking that particular sailing because this is a truly special experience. Learn more about my experience on the Europa 2 Cruise Ship.

I thought I knew what to expect from the Europa 2 Christmas market as I’d just visited almost a dozen Christmas Markets in Germany and France two weeks before, but they really pulled out all the stops on the Europa 2.

The staff also gets to join in the fun and even have a drink or two. Games are set up for guests to play, and I had an absolute blast working my way through each stall. The food stalls were amazing, too, and I even found Santa making cocktails.

Santa Claus making cocktails at a party.

What You Need to Make this Holiday Wine Recipe

To begin, you will need a bottle of red or white wine to make glühwein. I chose a bottle of Pinot Noir.

Bottle of wine, glass bowl of orange and lemon zest, cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, and star anise, and glass bottle of orange juice and glass bottle of apple juice.

Along with the wine, you’ll need the following ingredients to make this red glühwein recipe:

Apple and orange juice
Orange and lemon zest
Cinnamon stick
Cloves
Star anise
Vanilla pod
Sugar

How to Make Red Glühwein

Step 1: Add one quarter of the bottle of wine along with all the other ingredients to a pan on the stove set on low. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Warm the wine mixture for 30 minutes. Keep the heat on low so the mixture doesn’t come to a boil.

Stainless pot with dark red liquid and spices on a white counter with two glass jars and dried spices on white counter.

Stainless pot with dark red liquid and spices on a white counter with a hand holding a cinnamon stick above the pot.

Step 2: Add the rest of the wine and heat the mixture until all the wine is warmed to around 70º.

Step 3: Taste the glühwein and adjust the sweetness and spices to your liking.

Step 4: Strain the mixture and put it back on the stove on low so it stays warm for serving.

Step 5: Garnishes are optional, but I think they make the drink festive. I like to garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.

Tips & Variations

Use whole spices and never ground, as it will make the wine hazy. You can stud the orange peel with a couple of cloves for a pretty garnish.
You can make glühwein ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. In fact, this gives the spices time to meld for even better flavor. Be sure to strain it before storing in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
A great way to keep the glühwein warm is to make it in a slow cooker. Just place it on a table with glasses and a ladle so guests can self-serve.

FAQ

Is it okay to use any variety of wine?

Yes, you can use any type of wine, though I recommend a drier wine as you are adding sugar. A sweeter wine will end up too sweet. I liked the pinot noir for this red glühwein recipe, but a cabernet sauvignon would be good, too. For white, I would choose a sauvignon blanc or even a chardonnay. Though I don’t recommend a really expensive wine, I also wouldn’t use a really inexpensive bottle. Choose a mid-priced wine. The best wine to use should be a variety you would drink anyway.

Can you use apple cider instead of apple juice?

You can! In fact, apple cider adds a deeper, more rustic flavor. As apple cider is a bit sweeter, you may want to reduce the sugar a bit. Remember, you can always add more sugar, but you can’t take it out. If you do find it too sweet, add just a few drops of lemon juice until the flavor is to your liking.

Can I use different spices to make glühwein?

Though I loved this combination, you could also add cardamom pods, nutmeg, black peppercorns, or juniper berries.

Holiday Cruises

Have you ever taken a cruise over the holidays? Maybe this is the year to try it. Whether your interest is a tropical escape or a polar expedition, there really is something for everyone. Not to mention those dreamy staterooms and fantastic food on Europa. See the holiday sailings below, including their expedition cruises. Book early for the best staterooms.

EUROPA: Christmas and New Year in the Caribbean, including Saint-Barthélemy and Barbados.
EUROPA 2: Advent through the Indian Ocean, visiting Mauritius, Madagascar, Zanzibar and the Seychelles.
HANSEATIC spirit: Expedition cruises from Mauritius to Cape Town or an epic voyage from Cape Town to Antarctica.
HANSEATIC nature: Winter sailings through the Baltic and Lapland, with the chance to experience the Northern Lights.
HANSEATIC inspiration: A Christmas and New Year expedition to Antarctica, featuring the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.