🍷 Bowle
Also known as: German punch, wine punch, May Bowle
A cold German punch of wine, sparkling wine and fruit or woodruff.
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. It is close to Spanish sangria and to the fruit-and-wine punches known elsewhere, whether served from a punch bowl or a jug. 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.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Bowle → kind of → 🍷 Wine cocktails → kind of → 🍷 Types of wine → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Wine cocktails
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ German wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Sangria, 🍷 Wine cocktails
Frequently asked questions
What goes into a German Bowle?
A base of white or rosé wine with sliced fruit such as strawberries, peaches, apples and oranges, left to infuse for a few hours in the cold, then topped with sparkling wine or fizzy water.
What does woodruff do in May Bowle?
It is a fragrant herb with a light vanilla smell, dried and steeped in wine to make the classic May Bowle.
Is it true that Bowle is just the German name for sangria?
Not quite. It is close to Spanish sangria and other fruit-and-wine punches, but Bowle is a German cold punch served from a large bowl.
Similar
🍷 Wine cooler · 🍷 Kalimotxo · 🍷 Bellini · 🍷 Spritzer · 🍷 Mimosa · 🍷 Spritz
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.