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.
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 whiff of the year instantly puts me in a christmassy mood. It wouldn’t be Christmas for me without vin chaud.
photo credit: dierk schaefer via photopin cc
Vin chaud 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 hot 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 is 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.
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 down to the Côte d’Azur. We make vat loads for 100 or so people and the quantities of the ingredients are fairly random but it always works out well and the house is infused with a gorgeous christmassy smell. It’s very simple to make, especially in smaller quantities.
Using 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 and need a lot more than a pinch of cloves. I usually do this when making large quantities, not just a small amount like in this recipe. The choice of water or OJ is up to personal preference and some people might like either more or less sugar.
Walking around towns in France at Christmastime you might see cafés with signs like the above. It means homemade mulled wine (not house of vin chaud) and it’s sure to be good. It may be possible to sit out on a heated terrace while sipping your mulled wine, warming your hands around the hot mug. Or else you can get a disposable cup of takeaway wine to savour as you walk around the market.
photo credit: gajman via photopin cc
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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Give it a go and see what you think Catherine. 🙂
Thanks! I’m all for trying all sorts of versions too.
what a shame to have a citrus allergy! You could make your own and leave out the orange….just a thought.
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!)
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.
Great place to have it Tanja!!!
you’re quite right Swags, it is very like hot sangria!
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!!!
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. 🙁
glühwein, mulled wine, vin chaud, it’s all yummy!!!
ohh….la la!
Let me know how you get on GGG.
The vin chaud at Nice market is so close to you Margo, no need to make your own!!
cycling and mulled wine…now there’s a combination I haven’t heard of before but I bet it made the bike ride fun!!
Luckily indeed!!! Best stick to champagne then!
I hope you give it a go and enjoy it Sara, Happy Holidays to you too 😀
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!!
Sounds yummy even though wine always gives me a headache. (Luckily, champagne doesn’t!)
Joyeux Noel Phoebe!
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.
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. 🙂
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 🙂
Ohh… #AllAboutFrance 😀
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. 😀
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!
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! 🙂
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!
Great post. I had vin chaud in Nice:))
I am slightly embarrassed to confess that the only wine I really enjoy is [i]vin chaud[/i]. 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. 😀
Delicious stuff – look forward to making a batch of this soon. Mulled cider is really good too. Cheers 🙂
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!
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!
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.
I’ve actually never had it… I may make some next year #tastytuesdays
Yum! I love warming drinks like this and it makes me feel really Christmasy too!
oh that looks so good! x
I love glühwein but I’ve never tried Danish Glogg. I prefer it when it’s not too sweet.
Drip feed vin chaud, sounds perfect!!
I like your thinking!!
Oh yes Kara!
give it a go Agata I’m sure you’ll like it!
It’s such a christmassy smell, I love it! All that cinnamon and orange, mmmmm :p
I’ve never tried it but it sounds amazing and I would really like to try it.
This looks lovely for the winter months. I always like the smell of this but don’t like the taste, unfortunately.
This looks perfect to warm the cockles after a winter shopping session
ding dong merrily on high…..let’s all drink vin chaud!!!
Oh wow, must try this, stunning!
That sounds great and a fantastic reason to start skiing I think lol
OOOh sunds ideal but I wouldn’t have the star anise.
offers glass more please
My pleasure Lori, I think that’s a great idea to make some 😀
Thank you Sarah, you too!
You can leave it out or swap it for nutmeg
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.
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! 😀
How I wish I was in France right now, sipping a nice mulled wine!
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
Rrrrr yes I am sure in the festive mood now with all this.x
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.
Now this sounds right up my street! I have to have a go at making this. Not sure about the star anise though?
Ours is far from staid Richard!!!
Thanks for your sweet words Betty!
Thanks Catherine
Your recipe is quite different form mine Mel, might try yours for a change next time.
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!
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!
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! 🙂
I love the smell . It really means Christmas is coming. Your recipe sounds very good. Enjoy it!
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!
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 😉