Wine traditions in Christmas

Christmas is a time when food and drink has a very important role. Among drinks, wine is one of the stars in every table around the world. But apart of common wines in their different types (red, white, rose) and aging degrees (young, reserve...), and of course sparkling wine, widely produced in many countries such as France (the famous Champagne), Spain (where it is called cava), Italy (spumante), Germany (Sekt)l or Hungary (pezsgő).

But there is no only common or sparkling wine drinking on Christmas tables. A clear sample ot this is the so called mulled wine, a very extended tradition during this time of the year in many countries. Its origin is simple: when wine wnt bad, by adding spices or honey, it was drinkable again. With the passing of time it became a tradition, especially developed in Christmas.

One of the main varieties of the mulled wine is that called glögg, typical in Nordic countries (Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Norway...) and it is a spicy wine offered to the visitors with ginger biscuits. There is a special instrument used to keep the temperature of the wine called glögg-flask. This wine heater is a kindly decorated bottle with a candle located below.

The German speaking countries version is the "Glühwein", also popular in the French region of Alsace. Made from red wine it is heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves and sugar.  The French name is vin chaud (hot wine)

Other language versions belonging to the same idea of "hot wine" are "vin chaud" in France, "vin fiert" (boiled wine, both red and white) in Romania, "izvar" in Moldova, "kastvins" in Latvia or "vino brulè" in Northern Italy.