🍷 Bowle

Bowle is a German cold punch of wine, sparkling wine and fruit or woodruff herb. The name comes from the word for "bowl", because the drink is prepared in a large bowl and ladled out. It is made in summer, for festivals, garden parties and May days.

The base is white or rosé wine, with sliced fruit added: strawberries, peaches, apples, oranges. The drink is left to infuse for a few hours in the cold. Before serving, sparkling wine or fizzy water is added for bubbles. The classic version is May Bowle with woodruff, a fragrant herb with a light vanilla smell, which is dried and steeped in wine. There are also alcohol-free versions.

Bowle counts as a wine cocktail and is similar to Spanish sangria and other such drinks. Its strength is usually low, but it contains alcohol, so it is best drunk in moderation. Bowle belongs to German wine and to the country's table culture.