Glühwein

I grew up in a small town in the mountains, a little hill-billy town if you will. Tiny, and everyone knows everybody. But you know what was the best part? OCTOBER FEST BABY! Downtown at the celebrations you can find authentic fruit leather! When I was little, my mother would take me down there to check all the venders out. German beer, Swedish music, all types of Germanic stuff and some Nordic things thrown in as well. But what stuck out to me was this little woman who sold fruit leather. I used to beg my mom for five dollars so I could buy some of it. And when she would let me I was walking on sunshine! The fruit leather was huge, (Or huge as it could be for a little kid) and I can perfectly picture the fragrant scent of that fruity goodness. The scent of fresh berries, layered with cherries. Every bite was like heaven. When I smelt this fragrance for the first time, I saw that fair, I saw that little woman. And she lives on in this bottle. And so does the wonderful fruit leather this cute old woman sold.

This one is similar to Christmas wine but opens up with a sweeter and more rounded blend. Christmas Wine is much boozier and rum forward, and this one is less of that and sweeter. This opens with a warm cherry compote, like one that’s been freshly stewed. The raspberries add a tart sweetness too. The chocolate is a supporting note like the berries have been lightly dusted with cocoa powder. You get a sweetly floral and spiced champaca as well. The dry down has some earthiness that cuts into the sweetness. This is a very berry forward, smooth and sweet, earthy mulled wine sort of scent.

I don’t have the words nor the ability to be as descriptive as my fellow Pineward aficionado does below. Gluhwine to me is in the top 5 of my favorite pineward. The opening of dark and juicy cranberry, cherry, and raspberry is quickly joined by chocolate- powdery and dark. The champaca comes in along with resins and conifers to elevate and add complex nuances each carry that blend perfectly with the top notes that remain throughout the life of the fragrance. It’s a lovely fragrance with great linger and projection.

This smells like wild strawberries I used to eat as a kid. A distinct berry like sweetness. Amazing 🍓

If you’re German, you’ll love this. Thats all I have to say. Get your nose on this!!!!