Where Does Mulled Wine Come From?

That’s it—the holiday season is over, and 2020 is already well underway. Don’t get too sentimental as you put away your tree and decorations, because even though Christmas is over, the little joys of the holidays can still carry over into January.

The Origins of Mulled Wine

The Origins of Mulled Wine

Mulled wine: the recipe and spices

The earliest records of mulled wine date back to the Roman Empire, in the year 20 AD, when it was known as Conditum Paradoxum. To make it, the Romans would boil honey in wine, then add spices (pepper, bay leaves, saffron) and dates. This mixture was then blended with higher-quality wine to mellow the drink. Finally, the method of keeping it warm involved placing hot coals in the mixture, a process common at the time. This beverage was quite different from those we drink today, but it can be considered the ancestor of mulled wine.

In the 12th century, a drink called “spiced wine,” made using the same process, was very popular in France and Spain. Arnaud de Villeneuve, a physician and theologian from

At the time, he wrote down recipes for this drink in his works *Tractatus de Modo* and *Régiment de Sanitat*. In the 13th century, it was thanks to the spice port of Latte, located near Montpellier, that this way of drinking wine spread. Mulled wine became so famous that even the King of England at the time, Henry III, drank it at his table. It is, in fact, thanks to his orders that historians were able to trace the recipe for this drink. Mulled wine then became popular in Germany, via Count John IV, around 1420, as well as in Sweden, where King Gustav I was particularly fond of it.

The Rise in Popularity of Mulled Wine at Christmas

It wasn’t until the 1890s that the tradition of mulled wine during the Christmas season really took off, particularly at Germany’s traditional Christmas markets, where each vendor offered their own homemade mulled wine, each with its own unique label design. This friendly competition among vendors added to the festive atmosphere at these markets and during the holiday season, which only served to heighten consumers’ desire for mulled wine and their visits to these markets.

Regional and international variations

Today, every country adds its own specialties, resulting in mulled wine with a wide variety of unique flavors.

For example, you can prepare it:

– The Latvian way: by adding Black Balsam, a black liqueur from Riga.

– Hungarian-style: using local wine, Egri Bikaver, along with cinnamon and cloves.

– Bulgarian-style: with honey, apples, and citrus fruits

– Moldovan-style: known as Izvar, the main ingredients of this drink are local red wine, pepper, and honey.

– The Swedish way (and more broadly throughout Scandinavia): the main ingredients are red wine, sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves. Vodka, aquavit, or brandy are sometimes added as well.

– Alsatian-style: Alsatian mulled wine is traditionally made with white wine, such as Riesling or Pinot Blanc.

– Polish-style: Piwo Grzane, as it’s called there, is made with hot beer and includes the traditional ingredients of mulled wine (fruit, spices).

– Brazilian-style: served during the Fiesta Junina in the southern part of the country, it is enjoyed at the start of winter with cachaça.

– Turkish-style: known as Sıcak Sarap, it is served with sugar, oranges, and lemon.

Who drinks the most mulled wine?

A staple drink at Christmas markets, mulled wine is primarily consumed in Europe. Depending on the country, it goes by different names and is consumed in varying quantities. This drink is extremely popular in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Sweden and Denmark, where it is known as Glögg and Gløgg, respectively (terms meaning “heated wine” in each language). In Germany, as in most Germanic countries, it is primarily known as Glühwein. This word derives from the German “glühen,” meaning to glow, and “wein,” meaning wine. In France, it was once called “vin à la Française” and was made with cinnamon. This drink was served in many inns in the 19th century and even crossed the Alps, where it spread to Italy under the name “vin brûlé” (pronounced in the French style). The countries mentioned above account for the majority of mulled wine consumers, although the drink has become popular in most European countries.

Our tips for making your own mulled wine

To make good mulled wine, you need to be careful about the wine you choose. You should avoid tannic wines like Malbec or Mourvèdre, as it will be harder to soften the astringent sensation in the mouth with sugar. The best wine to use for mulled wine is a young, fruity, and round red wine, such as Merlot or Gamay, whose smoothness will complement the other ingredients used. To accompany your mulled wine, Christmas treats like gingerbread and shortbread cookies will pair perfectly with the drink—and with the festive atmosphere.

Ingredients:

– 1.5 liters of red wine

– 150 g brown sugar

– An orange

– A pinch of lemon and orange zest

– Spices: cinnamon, star anise, cloves – Grated nutmeg

Heat everything in a saucepan over low heat until it comes to a boil, then let it simmer for 5 minutes. Don’t forget to strain the wine, then serve it!