Posted by Ela on February 25, 2008
It’s still winter in many parts of the world and what better way to deal with the cold air and short days than a hot drink that will warm your body and please your soul?
This time we are extending our map and taking a trip to Japan with Tomonori Takenouchi through an article from Yomiuri Shimbun, one of the Japan’s most internationally distributed newspapers. He does a great job of showing us how multicultural this piece of Asia is. The amazing variety of places and hot drinks offered would melt anyone’s heart and make winter the favored season.
Starting with Japanese traditions, hot sake and hot shochu (Japanese grain alcohol), and continuing with an atypical serving of a beer, hot beer, and hot cocktails like hot buttered rum the author of the article ends with our favorite one: gluhwein or mulled wine. A special blend, just ready to be served is available for gluhwein lovers in Tokyo at Vom Fass shop.
We appreciate the information about the origins of the drinks, serving suggestions, names of the places, and prices.
In the honor of the traditional Japanese drink Sake World is a nice site where you can get more educated about the sake drink and the history and culture associated.
And if you want to try a special warm drink CocktailTimes.com offers an original suggestion.
Hot Yuzu Bath
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Hot Shoshu (Japanese grain alcohol)
- 1/4 oz Yuzu Juice
- 1/4 oz Orange flavored liqueur
- Garnish: Orange wheel
Pour hot shochu, yuzu juice and orange flavored liqueur into a Japanese tokkuri cup. Drop orange wheel and serve while hot. (Cocktail created by Yuri Kato, Author of Japanese Cocktails).
Get warm and enjoy the winter wherever you are.
Posted by Chris on January 24, 2008
der gluhweinbecher means “gluhwein mug” in German. 
I have always enjoyed the multitude of instances in which the German language combines multiple words together to make up word that describes the object. You can see what I mean and learn more German words at the CAPL (Culturally Authentic Pictorial Lexicon) site.
CAPL is an interesting project to help people learn and translate German words using text and “culturally authentic license-free imagery.” Here’s the page for wine.
Enjoy!
Posted by Chris on January 19, 2008
At Home with Kim Vallee is all about “Inspiration for Stylish Living & Entertaining” and we think the idea of gluhwein on Valentine’s Day hits the nail on the head - or the heart with the arrow? That just doesn’t sound right but you know what I mean.
Kim’s post about the Valentine’s mulled wine set put our thoughts into motion. It makes perfect sense to share gluhwein and mulled wine with those you love on Valentine’s Day. Here are some of the reasons why:
- It’s red
- Or pink (if you use white wine)
- It’s sweet (just like your sweetie)
- It is always best to drink with friends and loved ones
- It goes great with chocolates
- It is a great mood stimulator
- It’s romantic
If anyone knows where to get one of these mulled wine sets in the US, please leave a comment about it. I would love to post it.
Enjoy!
Posted by Chris on January 11, 2008
Maybe gluhwein should be called “GLUE-wine.” Gluhwein is such an integral component of the holidays in Germany and brings so many people together it has become a tradition in itself. It’s effect is spreading to other parts of the world as well. It has been popular throughout Europe for centuries and Americans are slowly being introduced to it as well.
I love this Rourke McNamara’s post about the German Christmas markets and gluhwein and the celebrations had when people bring them together.
Everywhere Gluhwein was sold there was also a crowd of people huddled together in warm coats sipping from steaming mugs.
You might say gluhwein is the glue that holds the Christmas markets together. Enjoy!
Posted by Chris on December 18, 2007
Courtney of Buffalo Rising describes Christmas markets and gluhwein and mentions Jodlers Gluhwein Mix’s but not where you can actually buy gluhwein mix in the United States, which is exclusively from Gluhwein.Net. She was almost there but not quite.
Here’s a basic glühwein recipe. Feel free to improvise and adapt it to suit your preference. Or take the easy route and purchase a prepared glühwein mix which requires you simply heat the wine, add the seasoning, and serve.
German Glühwein
1 bottle dry red wine · 1/2 cup sugar · 1 lemon, quartered · 2/3 cup water · 1 cinnamon stick, halved · 4 whole cloves
Stick cloves into lemon quarters. Combine water, sugar, cinnamon, and cloved lemon quarters in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add wine and heat. Do not boil; the alcohol will evaporate out. Strain spices and lemon out. Serve hot in mugs. Be warm and jolly.
Posted by Chris on December 7, 2007
This is a vin chaud recipe from Laudem Gloriae. Vin Chaud is the French version of gluhwein (mulled wine). The recipes are often completely interchangeable but this one includes a shot of Grand Marnier, making it a little special.
1 bottle Burgundy
2 oz powdered sugar
1 cinnamon stick
grated nutmeg
1 orange, halved
1 dried bay leaf
1 shot Grand Marnier
1. Put the wine in a saucepan with the orange, sugar, bayleaf and the spices.
2. Heat gently until the sugar is dissolved. Add more sugar if you desire your wine sweeter.
3. Take off from heat and add Grand Marnier.
4. Strain into heatproof glasses and serve tout de suite.
Enjoy!
Posted by Chris on November 30, 2007
We now sell our 750ml Jodlers Gluhwein Mix in Singles. You can purchase the 750ml singles or any of our other gluhwein mix packs from Gluhwein.Net or you can use the “Add to Cart” you see on the left side of this blog.
Posted by Chris on November 29, 2007
Vicky of Fancy Cologne comments on the little things to appreciate (namely Gluhwein) about the Christmas Markets in Cologne, Germany.
At the markets it is traditional to try a little Glühwein - hot spiced red wine. This tradition is taken quite seriously: I visited at 11 am and the wine stand was already fairly busy…Mind you, it can get very cold here in December, so it seems like a pretty practical way to warm up frostbitten toes.
If only she would list Gluhwein.Net and our gluhwein recipes at the bottom of her post - now that would be great. 
Posted by Chris on November 24, 2007
This is a lemony recipe for mulled wine from Group Recipes. It’s a very basic mulled wine recipe except that it calls more slightly more than the usual dash of lemon or even just some lemon peel. Mulled wine comes in a million flavors, though, and lemon is one of the best ingredients.
- 1-1/2 cups boiling water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 lemon sliced
- 3 sticks cinnamon
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 large bottle red dinner wine
- Nutmeg
- Combine boiling water, sugar, lemon, cinnamon and cloves then stir until sugar dissolves.
- Add wine and simmer 20 minutes but do not boil.
- Strain well.
- Serve hot with a sprinkling of nutmeg.
Group Recipes is a pretty cool blog/site where members add their own recipes to create a place where you can find recipes for just about anything.
Enjoy!
Posted by Chris on November 23, 2007
yum! This one has cognac in it.
John Frizell of Bon Appetit (the BA Blog) waxes historical and shares his warmth with this hot spiced wine recipe that includes cognac. Give it a shot (no pun intended). I think the strangest thing about the recipe is that he suggests bringing the spiced wine to a boil, which is generally a no-no as it causes the alcohol to evaporate. What is this? Is it all about flavor now?!
Vino Caliente del Refugio (adapted from chef Marcel Oliver, Refugio del Montaña—Ushuaia, Argentina)
Juice and zest (peeled in strips) of one orange, plus extra orange juice
5 oz. brown sugar
1 750 ml. bottle Malbec (or other hearty red wine)
5 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
4 oz. cognac
Combine 1 cup orange juice and sugar in a large saucepan and stir to combine. Add wine and bring to a boil. Remove pot from heat and add cloves, cinnamon, and orange zest. Let rest for 30 minutes. Add a splash of Cognac, and strain. Reheat and serve very warm, or bottle—the wine will be better if it’s left to rest for five days or more.
Enjoy!
