flipMoselle Mulled Wine with Honey and Spices (Glühwein vom Mosel-Riesling)
Moselle Mulled Wine with Honey and Spices (Glühwein vom Mosel-Riesling)
Why this dish? Marx was born in Trier, on the banks of the Moselle, land of Riesling. One of his very first journalistic battles, at the *Rheinische Zeitung* in 1843, was to defend the Moselle winegrowers ruined by poverty and taxation. This mulled wine pays homage to his native region and to that first commitment.
Riesling white wine gently heated with honey, cinnamon, cloves and a citrus zest. Tangy and spiced comfort for London winters.
I was born on the banks of the Moselle, and Riesling flows in my memories as in my veins. As a young man, at the Rhenish Gazette, I took up the pen for the Moselle winegrowers who were being squeezed to the blood. In the London winters, we used to heat this wine with a little honey and spices, and the whole house was warmed for an evening. Drink it slowly — and drink to the health of those who harvest it but never drink it.
- •Riesling white wine from the Moselle — one bottle (base)
- •Honey — a few spoonfuls (sweetness)
- •Cinnamon stick — one (spice)
- •Cloves — a few (spice)
- •Lemon zest — from one fruit (citrus, freshness)
Moselle Mulled Wine with Honey and Spices (Glühwein vom Mosel-Riesling)
Riesling white wine gently heated with honey, cinnamon, cloves and a citrus zest. Tangy and spiced comfort for London winters.
Why this dish? Marx was born in Trier, on the banks of the Moselle, land of Riesling. One of his very first journalistic battles, at the *Rheinische Zeitung* in 1843, was to defend the Moselle winegrowers ruined by poverty and taxation. This mulled wine pays homage to his native region and to that first commitment.
I was born on the banks of the Moselle, and Riesling flows in my memories as in my veins. As a young man, at the Rhenish Gazette, I took up the pen for the Moselle winegrowers who were being squeezed to the blood. In the London winters, we used to heat this wine with a little honey and spices, and the whole house was warmed for an evening. Drink it slowly — and drink to the health of those who harvest it but never drink it.
Ingredients (period version)
- Riesling white wine from the Moselle — one bottle (base)
- Honey — a few spoonfuls (sweetness)
- Cinnamon stick — one (spice)
- Cloves — a few (spice)
- Lemon zest — from one fruit (citrus, freshness)
Ingredients
- Dry Riesling white wine — 750 ml (base)
- Honey — 3 to 4 tbsp (sweetness)
- Cinnamon stick — 1 (spice)
- Cloves — 4 (spice)
- Untreated lemon zest — 1 (citrus, freshness)
- Star anise (optional) — 1 (spice)
Method
- Pour the wine into a saucepan and add the honey, cinnamon, cloves and lemon zest.
- Heat gently over low heat, never letting it boil (the alcohol would evaporate and the acidity turn bitter).
- Let infuse for 15 minutes at a very gentle simmer, tasting to adjust the honey.
- Strain and serve hot in heat-resistant glasses or mugs.
How it was made : Spiced mulled wine is an ancient Germanic tradition, attested since the Middle Ages and firmly established in the 19th century, especially during winters and Christmas markets. Although mulled wine is more often red, white wine regions like the Moselle willingly prepared it with their Riesling. Honey, more accessible than sugar for many households, was commonly used to sweeten it.
The contemporary twist : Serve in a warm glass with a thin apple slice and a hint of freshly grated ginger — an elegant *Heisser Riesling* for December evenings.
Sources : Karl Marx, "Justification of the Moselle Correspondent", Rheinische Zeitung, 1843 (MEW) · Jonathan Sperber, Karl Marx: A Nineteenth-Century Life, 2013
Karl Marx · Charactorium
