An overhead shot of a table draped in a blue tablecloth with bright orange cloth napkins and four dishes each cooked with wine as two diners extend their wine glasses across the table in a toast.

A Comprehensive Guide to All Your Cooking with Wine Questions

Stories
6 minutes reading

Cooking with wine is a time-honored tradition that can enhance the flavor and complexity of a variety of dishes. Incorporating wine into your culinary mastery can transform your meals into gourmet experiences. The guide below explores how to cook with wine, including tips for wine selection, techniques, and recipes that highlight the benefits of using wine in your cooking.

4 Ways Cooking With Wine Elevates the Meal

Using wine in cooking serves multiple purposes:

  1. Flavor Enhancement: Wine can elevate the taste of your dishes. It adds a depth and richness that other ingredients simply cannot replicate.
  2. Tenderizing Meat: The acidity in wine can help tenderize meat. This will make the meat tender, juicy, and more flavorful.
  3. Deglazing: Wine can be used to deglaze pans. Deglazing allows you to incorporate those delicious browned bits left behind after cooking meat into a rich sauce.
  4. Aromatics: The aromas of wine can infuse your dishes with a more inviting and complex flavor profile than when using the other ingredients alone. 
A studio image of three wine bottles with black labels and a wine glass and glass decanter filled with Pinot Noir, the most versatile wine for cooking and pairing.

Choosing the Right Wine

Selecting the appropriate wine for cooking is crucial, but do not feel intimidated. As a wine enthusiast, you instinctively know the basics already.

Cook with what you drink

Always use a wine that you would enjoy drinking on its own. If the wine tastes good in a glass, it will taste even better in your dish. Plus, this way there are fewer ingredients to fuss over for a more enjoyable and cohesive meal. 

Consider the style of the dish

  • White Wines: Ideal for light dishes, such as seafood, poultry, and creamy sauces. Varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay (oaked or unoaked), and Pinot Gris/Grigio work well.
  • Red Wines: Best for hearty dishes, such as beef, lamb, and tomato-based sauces. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese are popular choices. Pinot Noir is by far the most versatile red wine for cooking, and therefore an excellent staple to have in your cellar.
  • Fortified Wines: Use fortified wines like Marsala for enriching sauces. Fortified wines have the addition of a distilled spirit to enhance the flavor, alcohol content, and ageability. Try a sweet fortified wine like a Port to elevate desserts. 

Avoid “Cooking Wines”

Stay away from wines labelled as “cooking wines” in the grocery stores. Surprisingly, they often contain added salt and preservatives that can alter the flavor of your dish. Instead, choose a bottle from the wine section that is intended for drinking. Following this one tip will put you at the top of the class. 

A sauce is spooned over seared duck breasts and steamed bok choy by a chef after being made by deglazing a pan with wine as a cooking technique using wine.

5 Techniques for Cooking with Wine

1. Marinating

Marinating meats in wine can infuse them with flavor. Combine wine with herbs, spices, and a bit of oil, and let the meat soak for a few hours or overnight. This technique not only adds flavor, but also tenderizes the meat.

2. Deglazing

After sautéing meat or vegetables, pour a splash of wine into the hot pan. Scrape up the browned bits with a wooden spoon and allow the wine to reduce to create a delicious, rich sauce. This method adds complexity and depth to your dishes.

3. Braising

Braising is a slow-cooking method that involves cooking meat in wine along with broth and aromatics. This technique allows the meat to absorb the wine’s flavors while becoming tender and juicy. A particularly excellent route for tough cuts of meat like short ribs or chicken thighs. 

4. Reducing

Simmering wine over low heat allows it to reduce and intensify its flavors while reducing or eliminating the alcohol. Use reduced wine to create sauces or glazes that can be drizzled over your finished dish.

5. Finishing Dishes

Adding a splash of wine at the end of cooking can enhance the final flavor. This technique works well with soups, sauces, and risottos to provide a fresh, vibrant note.

A rustic wooden table prominently displays multiple glasses of wine and a white bowl filled with yellow polenta, kale, and red wine-braised short ribs as well as a black plate carrying thick noodles cooked in white wine with cheese and fried sage leaves.

Classic Recipes to Try When Cooking With Wine

1. Chicken Marsala

This is a classic dish featuring wine. Chicken breasts are cooked in a savory Marsala wine sauce with mushrooms. The wine adds depth and sweetness, making it a perfect pairing with pasta or rice.

2. Red Wine Braised Beef

Yet another classic example of cooking with wine is braised beef. This is a hearty meal of slow-cook beef in a mixture of red wine, beef broth, and aromatics. The wine helps tenderize the otherwise tough meat while imparting rich flavors. Try applying this principle to less common cuts of meat to truly surprise and delight your guests. 

3. Pasta with White Wine Sauce

Sauté garlic and shallots in olive oil, then deglaze the pan with white wine. Toss with cooked pasta, fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for a quick and flavorful dish. An excellent example for those who prefer plant-based meals. 

4. Mussels in White Wine

Steam mussels in white wine, garlic, and herbs for a quick, elegant appetizer. The wine infuses the mussels with flavor, creating an incredibly complex broth for dipping bread. Make it a meal by serving with a salad dressed in a tangy vinaigrette or a side of lightly steamed greens with citrus. 

5. Chocolate Wine Cake

For dessert, bake a rich chocolate cake or torte and use reduced red wine for a glaze. The wine adds moisture and enhances the chocolate flavor while elevating the decadence of the entire course. 

Person using photo to photograph a table covered in dishes prepared by cooking with wine at Brooks Wine in Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Tips for Cooking with Wine

  • Balance Flavors: Use wine to enhance, not overpower. Start with small amounts and adjust to taste. As with haircuts and cooking with salt, you can always add more, but it is near impossible to undo the work of a heavy hand.
  • Pairing: If you are serving wine with the meal, consider using the same wine in your cooking for a cohesive flavor profile. Again, this also has the added benefit of fewer ingredients to fuss over, which enhances your own enjoyment of the meal.
  • Storage: Once opened, store leftover wine in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Use it in cooking or enjoy it as a drink. This suggestion applies to both white and red wine. Cooler temperatures slow down chemical processes such as oxidation that can otherwise mute or alter the wine’s characteristics. 

Cooking with wine is a fantastic way to enhance your culinary creations. By selecting the right wine, using effective techniques, and trying delicious recipes, you can bring depth and sophistication to your meals. Gather the knowledge shared in this guide and do not hesitate to incorporate wine into your cooking for casual dinners, festive meals, and everything in between. Cheers!