In case you haven’t been out recently—it’s cold outside! And since it is, Artists at Heart has the perfect remedy for the winter chill—gluhwein— or “glow wine” in English. It is a traditional mulled wine often associated with skiing and other outdoor activities. The tradition goes back over 500 years when people started adding spices and sugar to heated wine. The wine used is usually red, a claret or port, but any wine will do.
The Christmas City Village in Bethlehem, PA will once again be offering gluhwein to its thirsty, chilly visitors. But this year, it will be served in a beautiful hand crafted commemorative stoneware mug, made by Artists At Heart. The cup features a Moravian Star and makes a lovely keepsake of your visit to the Christmas City Village as well as a thoughtful gift.
The gluhwein at the Christmas City Village is provided by Franklin Hill Winery and sold by The Back Door Bakeshop – just behind the Sun Inn ot Main and Broad Streets.
Here are two recipes you might want to try at home when you are ready to refill your beautiful locally made mug.
Traditional recipe with wine
Serves 6
3/4 cup water (or orange juice)
3/4 cup white sugar (or less to taste)
1 cinnamon stick
1 orange
10 whole cloves
1 (750 ml) bottle red wine
Directions:
First, make a simple syrup by doing the following:
1. In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer.
2. Pierce the orange with the cloves and the cut the orange, squeezing out as much of the juice as you can into the water. and place peel in the simmering water. Continue simmering for 30 minutes, until thick and syrupy.
3. Add the wine, and heat until steaming but not simmering. Remove the clove-studded orange halves.
4. Serve hot in your commemorative Christmas City Village mug!
Non-alcoholic recipe
Serves 4
1 quart apple juice
1 pint tea
2 tablespoons sugar
1 lemon, peeled & juiced (reserve peel)
1 orange, peeled & juiced (reserve peel)
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
Directions:
1. In a saucepan slowly heat the apple juice and tea.
2. Peel the lemon and orange, reserve the peels and juice the lemon and orange.
3. Place the juice, the reserved peels, the sugar and the spices into the pan and continue to heat, being careful not to boil the liquid. Taste and adjust the spices.
4. Strain the heated mixture through a sieve and serve in your lovely Gluhwein cup.