Glögi, the European traveler

This bottle of Glogi traveled from the north of Europe to the south of Europe and to the center of Europe cashing in a total of 5,600 kilometers in her passport before she was opened and consumed.


Glogi is the Finnish (or Scandinavian) version of Mulled wine or boiled wine. It is a spiced and hot red wine mostly drank during the cold winter season in northern Europe. This sweet alcoholic drink is very popular in this part of the world that each northern European country has its own distinct local adaptation.

My very good client from Finland gave this to me when we met in Barcelona, Spain last November. He said the bottle should warm me up during the holiday season. I told him -- If I don’t get to open his bottle during the holidays, I will for sure bring it with me in January to the Alps for my winter sport holiday.

Glogi’s miles:

To Helsinki Airport, Finland – 21 KM
Helsinki, Finland to Barcelona, Spain - 2,929 KM
Barcelona, Spain to Amsterdam, Netherlands – 1,553 KM
Amsterdam to Utrecht, Netherlands – 47 KM
Utrecht to Saint Jean D’Arves, French Alps – 1,050 KM

Total traveled: 5,600 Kilometers

In mainland Europe, the drink is commonly called Gluhwein and is popularized by the Germans. They are usually drank under the freezing temperatures in the city or town’s square during the Christmas Markets season. France, Belgium, and the Netherlands embrace the same holiday tradition with the mulled wine.

They are also very popular during winter sport in the Alps. Bars, cafes, and restaurants offer the drink at après skis, or even during a lunch or afternoon break. So that’s why I brought the bottle with me to the Alps ;-)

Travel Period: January 2008
Destination: Saint Jean D’Arves (Savoie - Rhone-Alpes), France

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