If you have done at least some cooking in your life, you will know that there are a number of recipes out there that call for a splash of wine, beer or another type of alcohol. Not only does this add liquid to the dish, but it also changes the flavour dramatically. Wine is one of the most popular beverages used in the kitchen. Here are some tips to help you find the right cooking wine for your needs.

Types of cooking wine

  • Dry red and white
  • Dry and nutty (oxidized)
  • Sweet and nutty (oxidized)
  • Sweet fortified red wines (like Port)
  • Sweet white wines
  • Rice wine

Dry red and white

Dry red wine and dry white wine both make excellent cooking wine options. You can make a delicious, creamy sauce to serve with clams, mussles, beef and chicken. When using this type of wine, you should also serve a glass with the meal. It will really highlight the flavours of the dish. While dry white wine is perfect for creamy sauces, a dry red should be used for reduction sauces like Bourguignonne.

Dry and nutty

If you want to make the most delicious mushroom gravy to serve with chicken or pork, you can’t go wrong with a dry and nutty bottle of wine. Make sure that you research this cooking wine before selecting a bottle to ensure that you choose one that is of the appropriate quality. When cooking with wine, you don’t necessarily need the most expensive bottle. However, you do not want to ruin your food with a wine that is sub-par.

Sweet and nutty

A cooking wine can also be used in sweet dishes like when making syrups for desserts. Just imagine a delicious sauce served over some vanilla ice cream after a fulfilling meal. The wine that you will need for these sauces needs to be sweet and it is usually aged for at least 10 years. There are even 40 year old wines that are thicker and this means that they will be reduced to a thick sauce even quicker than younger wines.

Sweet fortified red wines

When it comes to chocolate sauces, chocolate cakes, a Port reduction sauce or syrup that you can pour over steak, you need a bottle of sweet, fortified red wine. While this type of cooking wine is also a delight to enjoy on a cool evening, it is flexible enough to be used in your main course and your desserts.

Sweet white wine

Sweet wines are not only red, you can find some lovely bottles of sweet white wine too. They are perfect for buttery sauces that you can serve with seafood like shrimp and lobster. These wines have more of a delicate flavour and higher acidity which is why they can be used in sweet and savoury dishes. You can even use this wine to poach pears for a unique and delicious after dinner sweet treat!

Rice wine

If you want the best type of wine to use in your next marinade, rice wine is it. It is also perfect for BBQ sauce and various glazes. There are two main types of rice wine on the market – Japanese and Chinese. The Japanese variety is called Mirin and it is loved as an aperitif. It is an essential ingredient when making Asian BBQ sauces. The Chinese variety is not exactly wine which is why it is mostly used in the kitchen and is a popular addition to stir fry recipes.

These are some of the different options to consider when selecting a cooking wine for your next culinary adventure. Remember, when cooking with wine or any type of alcohol, the alcohol content is reduced during the cooking process. The longer the dish is cooked, the more alcohol is released which means that these dishes are safe even for younger guests. Just make sure that you follow the cooking instructions and only add the amount of wine specified in the recipe.