Recipe: Glühwein, mulled wine for Christmas and wintertime

I have rather mixed feelings about Christmas markets (called Christkindlmarkt in German and March&ecute; de Noel in French), which abound in this part of the world at this time of year. On one hand, they are colorful and seasonal and everything. But unlike flea markets, which I'm addicted to, and crafts/artisan's markets, I don't find the merchandise to be that impressive. There's an awful lot of touristy junk being sold. They can also be horribly crowded - try going to the Nürnberg (Nurenberg) market on a weekend after 7pm and coming out alive!

What makes Christmas markets tolerable is Glühwein, which is a mulled wine. Hot, a bit sweet, and spiced, it warms you up nicely as you brace yourself for another round of stall-gazing with more enthusiastic friends and family members pulling you along.