May wine
Encyclopedia
May wine, also known as Maitrank, Maiwein, Maibowle and Waldmeisterbowle, is the name of a German
beverage that uses aromatized wine as a base (see sangría
). May wine is served in the spring, traditionally on the May Day
holiday. The base is made by taking sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum, sometimes called Asperula odorata, known in Germany as Waldmeister), a fragrant creeping herb
that grows in the forests of Northern Europe
, and steeping it in a white German wine
. Since woodruff is slightly poisonous, some common sense should be applied in its use; 3 grammes of woodruff per liter of may wine is completely safe.
, sparkling wine
(or carbonated water
) and sugar
may also be added to the mixture to flavour the drink and create a punch
- hence another common name for the beverage is Maibowle (May bowl). Since strawberries are in season at that time of year, they are often floated in the drink.
such as Frankenmuth, Michigan
. Commercial May wine produced in Germany has been made with artificial flavoring and coloring agents since the 1980s. The use of woodruff in commercial preparations of wine was made illegal in Germany.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
beverage that uses aromatized wine as a base (see sangría
Sangría
Sangria is a wine punch typical of Spain and Portugal, also consumed in Argentina and Uruguay. It normally consists of a wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy. To be specific, a wine is a light, dry, young, high acid, unoaked, inexpensive wine, usually red wine due...
). May wine is served in the spring, traditionally on the May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
holiday. The base is made by taking sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum, sometimes called Asperula odorata, known in Germany as Waldmeister), a fragrant creeping herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
that grows in the forests of Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
, and steeping it in a white German wine
German wine
German wine is primarily produced in the west of Germany, along the river Rhine and its tributaries, with the oldest plantations going back to the Roman era. Approximately 60 percent of the German wine production is situated in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where 6 of the 13 regions ...
. Since woodruff is slightly poisonous, some common sense should be applied in its use; 3 grammes of woodruff per liter of may wine is completely safe.
Production
Ingredients such as brandyBrandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
, sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
(or carbonated water
Carbonated water
Carbonated water is water into which carbon dioxide gas under pressure has been dissolved, a process that causes the water to become effervescent....
) and sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
may also be added to the mixture to flavour the drink and create a punch
Punch (drink)
Punch is the term for a wide assortment of drinks, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice. The drink was introduced from India to England in the early seventeenth century; from there its use spread to other countries...
- hence another common name for the beverage is Maibowle (May bowl). Since strawberries are in season at that time of year, they are often floated in the drink.
Commercial production
May wine is also produced commercially. The bottled beverage is meant to simulate the drink described above. It consists of the white-wine base infused with the woodruff herb. Individual variations might include strawberry flavoring or fermentation techniques to make it lightly sparkling. It is produced in German culture regions of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
such as Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth is a city in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,838 at the 2000 census. The 2009 census estimate places the population at 4,619. The city is located within Frankenmuth Township, but is politically independent. Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, which bills...
. Commercial May wine produced in Germany has been made with artificial flavoring and coloring agents since the 1980s. The use of woodruff in commercial preparations of wine was made illegal in Germany.