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If there’s one thing my parents instilled in me from an early age, it’s that you should never show up to a gathering empty handed. Even if your host assures you that there’s really nothing you need to bring, it doesn’t hurt to bring a little something to show your appreciation for the invitation or to share with your fellow guests. Once November and December roll around, party season is in full swing—which means there are Friendsgiving dinners, holiday parties, and cozy movie nights to attend practically every other day.
With a jam-packed social calendar scheduled for a time of year that’s a little bit stressful as it is, it pays to have a few gifts at home that are easy to grab on your way out the door. For dinner parties and fancier soirees, I typically consult my small stock of scented candles, but for more casual get-togethers, I almost always show up with a bottle of ALDI’s Winterliebe Glühwein Mulled Wine. Every fall, the minute temperatures drop beneath 80 degrees, I start thinking about this product. Lucky for me, it typically shows up on shelves in early October.
Credit:
Courtesy of Aldi
What Is Glühwein Or Mulled Wine?
Glühwein, also known as mulled wine, is a German alcoholic beverage that originated in the 1400s and is often served at Christmas markets and holiday events. Glühwein is essentially red wine that’s been punched up with traditional warm spices like cinnamon, clove, and star anise, and may also include citrus, sugar, and vanilla. If you’re thinking of a wintertime version of sangria, you wouldn’t be wrong. Another essential characteristic of Glühwein, or mulled wine, is that it’s always served hot. Glühwein roughly translates to “glow wine,” which refers to the fact that the drink must be served glowing hot. Every time I bring this drink to a get together, there’s at least one person who has never tried it or heard of it. And—knock on wood—every first-time trier has left a fan.
Why I Love ALDI’s Glühwein
I’m not a winter person, but one surefire way to find me warming up to the season is with a steaming mug of mulled wine in hand. You can absolutely make your own, and the smell of simmering baking spices wafting through your house will be divine, but premade bottles comes with their own set of benefits. For one, you don’t have to wait for all the flavors to meld—it’s already done for you. Second, if you don’t have company, you can warm up just a cup in the microwave and stash the rest in the refrigerator (the screw top makes this extra simple). And last, a bottled version makes mulled wine ideal for traveling to your friend’s house for a Christmas movie marathon or to a neighbor’s for a holiday-themed happy hour.
The $6.65 price tag is a pretty small ask for a full liter of wine that’s already flavored with all the special spices and additions that make it so yummy. When warmed, ALDI’s version has lovely nuttiness and warmness from nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove, but also a nice brightness from orange. For those who like their drinks extra fruity, there are also Cherry and Apple Punch versions of the same drink.
The winter scene on the bottle, featuring charming snow-covered buildings and a traditional German Christmas pyramid, only adds to its allure. And in case you weren’t aware, Aldi is a German company, so you can count on the quality of their German products being the next best thing to traveling to Bavaria yourself.
Dining and Cooking