Creating Coziness
Bring Winter Market Magic Home | DIY Ideas & Recipes
Bring Winter Market Magic Home with DIY Ideas from RIEDEL
Winter markets have a special charm—fairy lights, the aroma of fresh treats, and the cozy warmth of gathering with friends and family. This season, why not recreate that magic in your own home? With a few simple steps, you can transform your space into a cozy winter market, perfect for sharing the festive spirit and crafting new holiday memories.
Winter Markets: A Brief History
Winter markets date back to medieval Europe, originating in Germany and Austria as early winter gatherings where villagers could stock up on seasonal goods, treats, and handmade crafts. Today, these festive gatherings are beloved holiday traditions, with cities worldwide drawing visitors to enjoy the holiday spirit. These winter markets offer handmade gifts, delicious foods, and festive decor—a cozy celebration of the season. Can’t travel to a winter market this year? Transform your space and celebrate the winter market history right at home.
Elevate Your Winter Market with Mulled Wine:
For many people, homemade mulled wine is the quintessential winter beverage. We've got you covered with a variety of mulled wine recipes to suit different tastes.
Enhancing the mulled wine experience with the proper glassware
Create the Charm of a Winter Market at Home
- Choose a Cozy Location: Select an area in your home or backyard to transform into your personal winter market wonderland. For an authentic experience, set up an outdoor area to capture that crisp, winter air, or create a warm indoor space that mimics the charm of a holiday tent in a bustling winter market.
- Set Up Your Own Stalls: Arrange small stalls or tables featuring homemade treats, artisan crafts, and holiday gifts. This adds a festive, market-like feel and is especially engaging for kids if you’re creating a winter market at home for the whole family.
- Decorate with Lights and Garlands: String fairy lights, place candles, and hang garlands to enhance the ambiance. Lighting is key to recreating the charm of a traditional winter market, where warmth and light create a welcoming winter escape.
- Play Seasonal Music: Choose holiday tunes that match the type of winter market you’re aiming for. Background music brings the market setting to life, immersing guests in the festive atmosphere.
- Offer a Selection of Festive Drinks: A winter market wouldn’t be complete without seasonal beverages. Prepare favorites like German beers, mulled cider, eggnog, hot chocolate, and of course, mulled wine. There’s no shortage of mulled wine recipes to choose from, making it easy to serve up this comforting classic. Here are some of our favorite winter cocktail recipes.
With these steps, you can enjoy the spirit of a winter market without leaving home. Add a few of these festive touches, and you’ll create a winter gathering to remember.
Gin or Vodka
Snow Globe Cocktail
- Place a spring of rosemary in the center of a RIEDEL O glass, add water and a few pomegranate seeds, then place it in the freezer until the water is frozen.
- Add 5 cl Gin or Vodka
- Top up with club soda
- Garnish with pomegranate seeds
- Cheers!
Enhancing Your Mulled Wine Experience with the Proper Glassware
At RIEDEL, we know that the right glassware enhances every drink—including mulled wine. For the perfect mulled wine we recommend the following:
Laudon Tumblers: The crystal-cut design adds a luxurious touch while the high-quality glass retains the warmth of mulled wine, showcasing its rich color and enhancing the festive atmosphere.
DSG Double Rocks Glass: With a sleek, modern aesthetic and thick base to preserve warmth, this glass offers a refined and cozy experience, perfect for savoring mulled wine or other seasonal drinks.
Important tips for Serving Mulled Wine: Both the Laudon Tumbler and the Double Rocks Glass are ideal for mulled wine, but remember to handle hot liquids with care. Pouring boiling liquids directly into glass can create stress within the material, increasing the risk of breakage. For the best experience, let your mulled wine cool slightly before pouring, so you can enjoy each sip in style and safety.
Traditional mulled wine
- One 750ml / 25,5 oz bottle of red wine (we recommend a dry, full-bodied red, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, or Zinfandel)
- One sliced orange
- Eight whole cloves
- A couple of cinnamon sticks
- Two star anise
- A quarter cup of sugar (use more or less depending on taste preference)
- A quarter cup of brandy (optional).
Add all ingredients to a saucepan, stir to combine, cover, and simmer on a low heat for 30-45 minutes to an hour. Once done, strain into your hot beverage glass of choice and garnish with fresh orange.
Non-alcoholic mulled wine
With the rise of zero-alcohol drink options, it’s now easier than ever to enjoy an alcohol-free version of mulled wine. This non-alcoholic mulled wine recipe keeps the comforting warmth and rich flavors of traditional mulled wine, perfect for a cozy evening or holiday gathering.
For a non-alcoholic twist, simply substitute the 750ml of red wine with a 750ml bottle of alcohol-free, full-bodied red wine. If you’d prefer to skip the wine entirely, you can use the same quantity of grape juice for a sweet, rich base. To add depth in place of brandy, mix in half a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
From there, follow the same process: combine the ingredients, simmer gently for 30-45 minutes, strain, and pour into a warm glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange slice and enjoy the classic flavor of mulled wine — without the alcohol.
Spiced cranberry mulled wine
As if mulled wine needed to be any more festive, this recipe introduces a hearty dash of cranberry into the mix. For this recipe, we include a half cup of cranberry juice and some fresh cranberries, and replace the sugar with honey.
Add 750ml full-bodied red wine, a half cup of cranberry juice, and a quarter cup of honey into a pan. Add one sliced orange, a half cup of fresh cranberries, eight whole cloves, two cinnamon sticks, and two star anise. Cover and simmer on a low heat for 30 minutes - three hours. Strain into your hot beverage glass and garnish with fresh orange and cranberries.
Pomegranate and orange mulled wine
Introducing pomegranate to your mulled wine brings a tart sweetness that enhances the depth and complexity of this festive drink. Add a splash of orange liqueur, and you’ll take your mulled wine’s vibrancy to new heights.
For this recipe, pour a 750ml bottle of red wine into a pan with half a cup of pomegranate juice and a quarter cup of orange liqueur. Add the classic ingredients—one sliced orange, eight cloves, two cinnamon sticks, and two star anise—that make mulled wine recipes so aromatic and flavorful. Stir well, cover, and simmer on low heat for 30-45 minutes, letting the flavors infuse.
Serve warm for a cozy, pomegranate-infused twist on traditional mulled wine.
At RIEDEL, we're all about utilizing the best glassware for your drinks, and that applies to mulled wine, too. The vessel from which you savor your mulled wine can elevate the experience to another level. Choose glassware or mugs that retain heat well, ensuring your mulled wine stays warm as you savor it slowly. The shape and material of the glass can also impact the aroma and flavor, while a crystal hot beverage glass brings brilliance to your mulled wine that will allow it to glisten as you sip it surrounded by your winter market's fairy lights and candles.
It's important to note that pouring boiling or very hot liquids into a glass can cause damage to the glass. The sudden temperature change can lead to stress within the material, which in turn increases the risk of breakage or cracking. To ensure your safety, avoid pouring boiling liquids directly into the glass.
Creating a DIY winter market at home and preparing homemade mulled wine lets you embrace the season's spirit while crafting cherished memories. Draw inspiration from winter markets around the world—fill your home with the scents of spices, the glow of twinkling lights, and the warmth of togetherness. This cozy celebration brings the joy of the season right to your doorstep, offering a festive experience that you and your family will treasure.
Embrace the magic of winter and create a holiday experience to remember.
For more inspiration on elevating your home with RIEDEL during the winter season check out our Cozy Evenings Blog.
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