DIFFERENT countrIES haVE THEIR own variationS, BUT some kind of spiced wine can be found across EUROPE DURING THE HOLIDAYS. SINCE WE CAN’T TRAVEL THIS YEAR, I THOUGHT WE COULD TRANSPORT OURSELVES TO CHRISTMAS MARKET WITH MY FAVORITE WARM, SPICY MULLED WINE!

STORY TIMe

A FEW YEARS AGO, I PLANNED A TRIP TO VISIT TONY IN EUROPE WHILE HE WAS ON TOUR DURING THE HOLIDAYS. I FLEW INTO GERMANY AND STAYED WITH HIM FOR A FEW WEEKS, TRAVELING AROUND EUROPE. WE TRAVELED ALL THROUGH THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM & GERMANY.

MY GOAL WAS TO FINALLY EXPERIENCE A EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKET. IT’S ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE AND HIGH ON MY TRAVEL BUCKET LIST.

A Christmas market, also known AS A “CHRISTKINDLMARKT” IS A STREET MARKET CELEBRATED DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON (DURING THE FOUR WEEKS OF ADVENT). THE MARKETS ORIGINATED IN GERMANY BUT ARE HELD IN MANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

THEY’RE USUALLY HELD IN A TOWN SQUARE AND HAVE FOOD, DRINKS & SEASONAL ITEMS FROM OPEN AIR STALLS. WITH TONS OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

well, i’m an idiot and didn’t double check the dates i was visiting. and literally every single christmas market we tried to visit was set up and ready to go, but not opening for a few days.

finally, on my last day in germany, tony was determined to give me the christmas experience and got a cab during the few hours he had before show time.

the christmas market in frankfurt was closed. but we walked around and tried to make the best of it. right before we left, a christmas miracle happened… we found one lone stand open selling Gluhwein!

even though everything was closed, it was still so magical. we got our mugs of gluhwein and walked around the square, peeking in windows and taking pictures. it was so magical.

even though it wasn’t quite the christmas market experience i dreamed of, i will never forget it. and gluhwein will forever hold a place in my heart!

• 

• 

• 

• 

so what exactly is gluhwein?

Gluhwein is a warm mulled wine. it’s usually made with red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, citrus, sugar and vanilla.

that’s right, you get to buy booze and walk around town with it!

it’s so warm and cozy. it definitely hits the spot when you’re feeling chilly, walking around in the rain or snow! and makes everything feel a little bit more magical!

• 

• 

how to make WARM SPICY MULLED WINE at home

i had a really fun opportunity recently when the albertsons family stores invited me to jump on a zoom call with the hostess with the mostess herself debi lilly!

she’s hollywood’s go to party planner. i mean, hello, she’s even oprah’s favorite party planning pro. she also designs florals, decor & gifts.

you can even buy her debi lilly design™ floral arrangements, candles & decor! i buy her flowers from vons all the time because they’re “ready to go” arrangements that make me look like i know how to make fancy arrangements.

during her zoom, she shared a syrup recipe that she uses for spiced cocktails, which inspired me to bring the magical christmas market experience to our home!

it’s literally so easy to make (you can make a huge batch too) and makes your house smell ahhhhmazing. you can leave it simmering on the stove all day and serve up a glass while you’re wrapping presents, watching holiday movies or baking cookies.

• 

• 

• 

• 

here’s what you’ll need:

• red wine (you don’t need anything fancy, any red wine will do)
• oranges
• cinnamon sticks
• sugar 
• ground cloves
• pure vanilla
• star anise

Directions:

pour your wine into a medium sized sauce pan.

slice one orange and add the slices to the pan.

then, add 2 cinnamon sticks, 1/2 cup of sugar, a tablespoon ground cloves (or 6 whole cloves), a half tablespoon of vanilla and 2 star anise.

Bring it to a simmer not a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently over low heat for 10 minutes. 

Serve warm and garnish with more orange slices and cinnamon sticks.