While you could say glögg (which is pronounced “glug”) resembles it, the history goes back thousands of years, and the process is long and particular. Mike Sjöblom of Sjoeblom Winery should know. The Swedish winery owner, whom we previously featured, makes the holiday beverage and even has a club dedicated to it.
Glögg is something Sjöblom’s not only passionate about, but he’s also spent the entire year prepping and producing, and he’s very excited to what he calls real Swedish glögg. According to Sjöblom, his winery is the only one in the States that he knows of that is creating the kind of glögg that is sold in Scandinavia.
The IT entrepreneur-turned-vintner gave us his take on glögg, the great lengths he went into perfecting it and more.
So, get cozy, sip on some glögg and enjoy.
You’re passionate not only about making wine, but also more specifically glögg. For those who don’t know, can you explain what it is and why it’s so important to Scandinavians, especially at Christmas?
Glögg is a tradition that goes back 3,000 years, to the old Greeks. “The Iliad” mentions soldiers enjoying spiced wine with goat cheese.​ ​Another precursor to glögg was “hypocras,” which was considered a health drink, or medicine. In writings from the antiquity, there is mention of healing spices and herbs added to heated wine, too.
Why was it so important for you to bring “real” glögg here to the States?
I kept hearing that people were looking for a good glögg but couldn’t find one. People love the glögg I do and therefore this year, I took charge of the situation and decided to make sure to offer a TRUE Swedish glögg to the 4 million Swedes with U.S. residency in this country.
What makes Sjoeblom Winery’s glögg stand out from the rest? We see a lot mulled wine and glögg options on the market.
On Sjoblom’s glögg site, he elaborates that glögg’s “taste and aroma [is how] we connect with Christmas in Scandinavia,” as notes of cinnamon, ginger, dried fruits and a few “special spices” lend to the experience.
We don’t know about you, but the holidays can’t come any sooner. If you want to learn more about Sjöblom’s glögg, need to buy some for your next holiday party or want to become part of the glögg club, head to his website.