“I cook with wine,” W.C. Fields once said. “Sometimes I even add it to the food.”
We all know cooking with wine is something that gourmands and foodies enjoy. But what does wine add to a recipe?
Check out Z&M wines for a diverse range of options, so whether you are cooking with wine or looking for a suitable pairing, you can likely find something to go with whatever dish you are preparing.
Here’s an exploration of cooking with wine that you can use in your own kitchen!
Why Cook With Wine?
Wine adds something special to food. Whether it’s flavor, moisture, or aroma, depending on the effect you are trying to create, the result is unmistakable.
The effect of wine on a particular dish depends on the kind of wine you’re using.
Cooking with Red Wine
This option creates a flavor that is bolder and more tannic.
Some red wine varietals recommended for cooking include:
- Merlot
- Sangiovese (used in Chianti)
- Pinot Noir
- Lighter Cabernet
For a dry Z&M red, we recommend our Chambourcin, made with native Kansas grapes. For some added heat, try our Hellfire Jalapeno Wine in your taco meat!
Cooking with White Wine
When you want to add a certain acidic crispness to a dish, cook with white wine. The white wine varietals best-suited to cooking tend to be dry. Some examples are:
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Grigio
- Sauvignon Blanc
Now, if a recipe calls for a specific varietal, try to stick to the recommendations. However, if you know your palate or feel like experimenting, feel free to try a Cabernet Sauvignon if the original recipe calls for Tempranillo.
If you want to get really Twisted, try one of our whites! Vignoles, also made with native Kansas grapes, is our semi-dry white.
Is There a Difference Between Cooking Wine and Regular Wine?
This question is very common among novice cooks. A recipe that specifies “cooking wine” usually refers simply to a common table wine.
Now, you can purchase a liquid labelled “Cooking Wine” at most grocery stores, but be advised that it’s not really wine by any true definition. While alcoholic, it contains added ingredients to remain shelf stable, including salt and other spices, so please, respect yourself and don’t drink it.
One crucial difference between cooking and regular wine is the quality of flavor in the dish. Any time you use actual wine, the end result will be more flavorful. However, cooking wine is definitely an acceptable option, especially if you are trying to stay on a budget!
How to Choose a Wine to Cook With
Don’t overthink this one. The general rule is to cook with a wine that you already like to drink, either a bottle that’s been open a few days, or a generic version you picked up at a convenience store.
The reason for this is that when you’re cooking with wine, you’re rarely using very much in a given recipe. What’s more, that delicate bouquet you love to savor in your favorite top-shelf bottle will get lost in translation when you cook with it.
Save that bottle to drink with the meal, while using its cheaper, less-fancy cousin in the actual meal.
Cooking with Fortified Wines
When you hear “fortified wines,” it refers to a category, wherein distilled spirits are added to a wine base, thereby fortifying it. Fortified wines include:
- Sherry
- Vermouth
- Madeira
- Port
- Marsala
Cooking sherry is a familiar term, and many of us have heard of chicken marsala. As you might imagine, these wines have a higher alcohol level. This means that cooking with fortified wines can lend some interesting, subtle flavors to your dishes.
Substitutes for Cooking Wine
Of course, there might be any number of reasons you might want to substitute cooking wine in a recipe. You or someone you’re cooking for might not drink, you might be out of the kind of wine you need, or you might simply not feel like it.
Never fear!
There are plenty of acceptable substitutes for cooking wine.
- Vegetable stock
- Chicken broth
- Grape, cranberry, or pomegranate juice
- Apple juice or cider
- Ginger ale
- White or red vinegar
Dessert Wines
Dessert wines are a separate category all their own. They’re meant to be savored slowly in small glasses after a meal while you enjoy your dessert and chat with friends.
Wines in this category can include:
- Riesling
- Italian Vin Santo
- Ice Wine
- Lambrusco
- Zinfandel
- Petite Sirah
Seasons of Aspen is our Riesling, a crisp white with notes of pear and apple.
Preserving Wine Leftovers
Once you’ve opened a bottle of wine to cook with it, what do you do with the leftovers? Unless you’ve got a fancier version of the same wine in reserve to actually drink with the meal, the short answer is–drink it with your meal!
However, if you aren’t fan of the varietal, wine, or don’t drink, how can you save it for later or for someone else?
First of all, make sure you re-cork it correctly, first of all. Use the stained side, not the “clean” one!
Next, refrigerate wine instead of leaving it on the counter. It won’t stop the wine from going bad, but it will preserve its flavor longer.
Finally, you can use a half bottle to keep the wine from getting too exposed to air, which is what flattens wine.
Get Chocolate Dessert Wines, Pairing Wines, and Wine Leftovers at Z&M
Whether you’re an experienced chef or a nervous first-time cook, Z&M would love to introduce you to something new and delicious.
For a truly original dessert wine, shop our Burlesque chocolate dessert wines. Are you a wine lover who also enjoys coffee with dessert? Then try a glass of our Blacked Out Coffee Wine with your brownie a la mode.
If you’re not sure what to pair with your main course for a special meal, stop by our Lawrence vineyard or winery in Leavenworth for a tasting. It doesn’t even need to be a particularly special meal–we’re partial to a glass of Hellfire Jalapeno Wine with a thick Angus burger!
And if you’re curious about what to do with your wine leftovers, you need to see what we’ve come up with. Our Bella Vino soaps, scrubs, candles, and lip care are made with repurposed ingredients from our Twisted Wines. You can also check out our Twisted Jellies, also made from Z&M wine!Food and WineItalian foodRed winewhite winelocal winewinery near me