There’s nothing more seasonal than vin chaud, a festive winter drink. This delicious hot spicy wine is served at Christmas markets and bars all over France during the winter.
Vin Chaud for Christmas
The smells of cinnamon, orange, cloves and star anise mixed with pungent red wine are redolent of the festive season and hard to resist. The first time I catch a whiff of the spicy winter drink each year instantly puts me in a christmassy mood. It wouldn’t be Christmas for me without vin chaud.
Vin Chaud a festive winter drink across the world
Vin chaud, a festive winter drink, exists in varying forms in many parts of the world, with local modifications depending on regional produce. It’s perhaps most well-known as the German/Austrian version glühwein, or British mulled wine. In Scandinavia it’s called glögg or gløgg and in Italy vin brulé.
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, the Baltic States, Romania, Croatia and Hungary all make their own versions of hot winter wines with similar spices as do Brazil, Chile and Canada. In Quebec maple syrup is added to hot red wine to make a drink called Caribou. Mmmm, that sounds good!
Vin Chaud at Christmas markets
Vin chaud is served at all Christmas markets “marchés de noël” in France. Cradling a mug of the aromatic beverage is the best way to keep your hands warm while browsing the market stalls. Most markets these days expect you to pay a deposit on a reusable mug/cup. You buy it with your first order and can get it refilled at different stalls throughout the market. When you’ve finished either you return it to get your deposit back or keep it as a souvenir.
photo credit: gajman via photopin cc
Vin Chaud the après-ski drink
Vin chaud, a festive winter drink, is however not only a Christmas drink, it’s also served in ski resorts as an indispensable part of the après-ski experience. There’s nothing so warming after a cold session on the slopes than a fragrant glass or mug of hot wine.
Vin Chaud party
Every year we have a Christmas party at home that has become known simply as our “Vin Chaud”.We started the tradition back in 1994 when we lived in Hanoi, Vietnam, and it has taken place in six different locations in France since then as we’ve moved house from central Paris, to the suburbs and south to the Côte d’Azur.
We make vat loads for all our friends and the quantities of the ingredients are fairly random but it always works out well (and ends up like the photo above!) The house is infused with a gorgeous christmassy smell. It’s very simple to make, especially in smaller quantities.
Recipe for Vin Chaud a festive winter drink
To make your own vin chaud, use the above ingredients. Place the sugar, water or OJ and all the spices in a pan on a high heat and bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Then reduce the heat to low and add the red wine and brandy, stir to combine, and bring back to a simmer (don’t let it boil). Slice the lemon and orange and add to the mix.
Keep at a very low heat for the whole time you are serving it – your house will be infused with delicious spicy aromas. Sometimes I stud the orange with cloves making a pomander in which case I don’t slice the orange. This version requires many more cloves than in the recipe above. I usually do this when making large quantities, not just a small amount. The choice of water or OJ is a personal preference and some people might like either more or less sugar. Start with a little and add to taste.
Vin Chaud maison
Walking around towns in France at Christmastime you might see cafés with signs advertising “vin chaud maison”. This means they sell homemade mulled wine, it does not translate as “house of vin chaud”! It’s sure to be good.
Order a glass and you may find it’s possible to sit out on the terrace with a fleecy blanket to keep you toasty, while sipping your spicy vin chaud and watching the world go by.
Or if the café has a fireplace, snuggle up warm in front of it to enjoy your vin chaud festive winter drink.
Do you like vin chaud? Is it something you drink at Christmas too? I’d love to hear from you.
Related Reading:
13 Desserts: Christmas in Provence
24 Reasons to Love Christmas in Provence
How to Make Galette des Rois, Traditional Epiphany Cake
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This post was originally published in December 2014 and has been edited and revised for 2023
I love your tradition of having a vin chaud party! That is one thing I would love to bring back to the US – as well as hosting a little raclette party! Thanks for including your recipe – I’m going to have to bookmark it and give it a try soon 🙂
Happy Holidays!!
I hope you give it a go and enjoy it Sara, Happy Holidays to you too 😀
Sounds yummy even though wine always gives me a headache. (Luckily, champagne doesn’t!)
Joyeux Noel Phoebe!
Luckily indeed!!! Best stick to champagne then!
It is a firm favourite here too. We made our first batch on Friday and then spent yesterday on a charity bike ride where every stop involved more mulled wine. One of my favourite festive treats.
cycling and mulled wine…now there’s a combination I haven’t heard of before but I bet it made the bike ride fun!!
Miam! The Christmas market has just opened here and I’ll have to stop by tomorrow and see if they have vin chaud. And thanks for the recipe – I’m not much good in the kitchen, but maybe my husband will make it for me. 🙂
The vin chaud at Nice market is so close to you Margo, no need to make your own!!
Just made some last night! Seems like everyone agrees, it’s a must for those cold winter nights. I like your recipe, I might have to try your version 🙂
Let me know how you get on GGG.
Ohhh this post is perfect for what I was looking for, a recipe of Muled Wine!!
And you reminded me that the first time I ever tried it was in Paris, when I lived there. Then now I don’t call it vin chaud anymore, but glühwein haha. 😀
glühwein, mulled wine, vin chaud, it’s all yummy!
Remember the original vin chaud party in Hanoi. We couldn’t find cinnamon, asked our maid to buy some for us and she came back with bark from a foot long branch. Turns out it is medicine!
Great memories Sally, we’ve just had our 21st I think! I think we’ve only ever missed one year…Pity you weren’t back in France for it. 🙁
Vin chaud MUST be delicious ~ the look of concentration on the face of the gal ladling a cuppa is intense! So there is a white wine version as well? Thinking it would taste sweeter (than the traditional red.) No matter . . . I’m up for trying both! 🙂
The white wine version just isn’t quite right for me, but then I prefer red even when it’s not spiced, but I like your attitude Melodie, you must try both!
I love that vin chaud is just basically a winter version of…sangria! No wonder we all love it so much! 🙂 Love the photos; brings back so many great memories!
you’re quite right Swags, it is very like hot sangria!
Great post. I had vin chaud in Nice:))
Great place to have it Tanja <3
I am slightly embarrassed to confess that the only wine I really enjoy is vin chaud. The photos have made my mouth water.
By happy coincidence we have all the necessary ingredients in the house. Mmm, you’ve given me an idea. 😀
That’s a perfectly good confession for this time of year, perhaps not so good in summer though!!! What about sangria? It could be your summer drink.
Delicious stuff – look forward to making a batch of this soon. Mulled cider is really good too. Cheers 🙂
I know lots of people like mulled cider but I can’t stomach it, I just don’t like cider in any form (nor apple juice!)
Love the festive pics and have seen vin chaud all over this time of year. I want to try it so bad but I have a citrus allergy (weird, i know) and it seems like they all contain oranges. Good things there are tons of other goodies for me to eat and drink! Have a wonderful holiday season!
what a shame to have a citrus allergy! You could make your own and leave out the orange….just a thought.
Great photos. As you know, I’m a vin chaud fan. Personally I like the more pure taste of the wine and spice without citrus etc, but I’m up to try any and all!
I love trying different versions too
Ah, I’ve had my share of vin chaud, but I’ve never actually thought about the recipe. Maybe I should make this at home. But I’d be missing the French ambiance.
Give it a go and play some French music for ambiance. Next best thing!
Yum! I love warming drinks like this and it makes me feel really Christmasy too!
Me too. Perfect for getting into the Christmas mood
oh that looks so good! x
Doesn’t it just!
This looks lovely for the winter months. I always like the smell of this but don’t like the taste, unfortunately.
It’s such a christmassy smell, I love it! All that cinnamon and orange, mmmmm :p
This looks perfect to warm the cockles after a winter shopping session
Oh yes Kara; PERFECT!
Oh wow, must try this, stunning!
If you try my recipe do let me know what you think
That sounds great and a fantastic reason to start skiing I think lol
I like your thinking 🙂
OOOh sunds ideal but I wouldn’t have the star anise.
offers glass more please
You can leave it out or swap it for nutmeg (pours another glass!)
I adore vin chaud! I had it pretty much on drip feed when I went skiing. Your tradition sounds lovely – a great way to get friends together.
Drip feed vin chaud, sounds perfect!!
That looks lovely! Yes, we have lots of gluhwein (or glow-wine as it translates to!) here, especially at this time of year and in ski season… As much as I like it, I have to say I preferred the Glogg in Denmark as that’s slightly sweeter! 😀
I love glühwein but I’ve never tried Danish Glogg. I prefer it when it’s not too sweet.
How I wish I was in France right now, sipping a nice mulled wine!
Wouldn’t that just be lovely!
I’ve never tried this but it makes me want to head for France right now to get some. I might actually try making some at home. Thanks for sharing the recipe x
My pleasure Lori, I think that’s a great idea to make some 😀
I haven’t drunk it, but I think perhaps I should! Sounds delicious. I also love your pictures – really get you into a festive mood. Have a wonderful festive period.
Thank you Sarah, you too!
Now this sounds right up my street! I have to have a go at making this. Not sure about the star anise though?
You can leave it out or swap it for nutmeg if you prefer
My parents always gave a mulled wine party on Christmas morning yonks ago, and it’s good to read that the same kind of tradition happens at Lou Messugo. I dare say the LM version is rather less staid than my parents’ one!
Ours is far from staid Richard!
What a beautiful tribute to mulled wine! It makes me really wish I could like it! Unfortunately, I just can’t take denatured wine, whether in France, Germany or elsewhere! 🙂
Thanks for your sweet words Betty!
I love the smell . It really means Christmas is coming. Your recipe sounds very good. Enjoy it!
Give it a go and see what you think Catherine. 🙂
We love it, too! In fact, I linked my mulled wine recipe, too to #TastyTuesdays. I love your addition of Brandy / Cognac. I will definitely have to try that!
Your recipe is quite different form mine Mel, might try yours for a change next time.
I love vin chaud and it’s ingredients are one of the few things I have already got ready for Christmas when much else is still waiting to be bought or finished! I make mine pretty much as you do minus the star anise which I am not keen on. Nice to see you have Calvados as a spirit of choice to add to your wine 😉
Sometimes I replace star anise with nutmeg, but I mainly like the look of the star anise, it’s so decorative. Calva adds a nice fruity touch!