Staff Report

Nine local businesses participated in the second annual “gløgg contest” during the 2018 Julefest Wine & Beer Walk Skål Stroll on Dec. 15-16, and the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau has announced the winners.

  • First Place: Wandering Dog Wine Bar, 1539-B Mission Drive
  • Second Place: Sort This Out Cellars, 1636 Copenhagen Drive
  • Third Place: Mad & Vin at The Landsby, 1576 Mission Drive

Also providing gløgg this year were Cali Love, Casa Cassara, D. Volk Winery, Lions Peak, Lucky Dogg and Royal Oaks.

Popular in Denmark around the Christmas holidays, Gløgg is loosely defined as mulled, spiced wine. It usually contains red wine, orange rind, cinnamon, raisins, blanched almonds, cardamom, cloves and honey as well as aquavit, rum or brandy in varying combinations.

“The 2018 Skål Stroll welcomed a record-breaking 550 guests who completed 187 ballots to vote for their favorite Solvang gløgg. Thanks to all 18 wineries, tasting rooms and breweries who participated in the Skål Stroll,” Solvang CVB Special Programs Manager Daniel Lahr revealed.

Solvang Julefest events are presented by the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) on behalf of the city of Solvang with sponsorship support from Visit Santa Ynez Valley, Chumash Casino Resort and other area businesses.