Best For Cooking Sherry Sauce: Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Sherry
Courtesy of Vivino
Region: Andalucia, Spain | ABV: 15% | Tasting Notes: Stone fruit, Almonds, Sea salt
Still havent explored the world of fortified wines? Refreshing, saline-driven expressions such as this bone dry sherry from Tio Pepe promise to blow your mind. Although this tasty wine makes a perfect base for the eponymous sauces that call for it, when sipped on its own, these sherries provide some of the most brilliant pre-dinner aperitifs out there.
Expect notes of stone fruit, marcona almonds, freshly baked bread, and sea salt to dominate the palate. If you love weighty, textured, and all around flavorful wine, this stuff is just the ticket.
Wine For Cooking Versus Wine For Drinking
When picking out a bottle of wine to cook with, first throw out your preconceived notions of what makes a vino great. Most of these are founded on your knowledge of drinking wine and when it comes to cooking, you’re going to burn off a majority of what can differentiate an expensive bottle from a less expensive one. When selecting a bottle to cook with, your dollar is going to go a lot further than it does with drinking wine. That said, there is a thing as too cheap. Avoid wines labeled “Cooking Wine” as the poor quality will diminish your dish.
Have half a bottle of white wine leftover from dinner two nights ago? Feel free to use that up instead of pouring it down the drain. Sometimes cooking is about using what you have in order to make a delicious meal that’s way tastier than the sum of its parts. That’s the magic!
Best White Wine For Cooking
Though most chefs prefer to use red wine, the best white wine for cooking is a dry, crisp white wine. This is because sweeter white wines can easily caramelize during cooking adding unintended flavors to a dish. They may even burn more easily ruining the dish entirely. However, if you stick to dry white wines, you’ll be able to avoid these issues while still adding a little bit of flavor to the dish. If you’re not sure what level of dryness your favorite wine has, you can consult our handy wine types chart.
You should also avoid using white cooking wines. Cooking wine is a kind of wine specifically formulated for cooking, so both the wine alcohol content and salt content are moderately high.
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How It Differs From Sweet White Wine
Using a dry white wine for a recipe is preferred over a sweet white wine because it adds acidity rather than sweetness. Moscato, sweet rieslings, and white ports carmelize quickly when used to deglaze a pan. Other white wines that are full-bodied will add intense flavors to the food, so its best to avoid oaked Chardonnays and the like.
Ravines Dry Riesling 2014
Mainly used for the finest dishes, Riesling is more versatile than one might think. Riesling has its origins in Germany, being a wine with a strong character and a delicious flavor of citrus and fruits.
Nowadays, Riesling is produced worldwide and the final character of the wine is influenced by the geographic area where it is made.
If I like to drink German or Italian Riesling, when it comes to cooking I recommend this Ravines Dry Riesling 2014 produced in New York. This wine is characterized by a delicate bouquet with intricate aromas of citrus, pear, apple, and flowers, being an excellent choice for the preparation of meat dishes, such as pork with Riesling sauce, veal scallop, or chicken with sour cream and Riesling.
If you wish to cook something more special, you could try a Riesling pudding with pumpkin mousse, grilled octopus with shrimp carpaccio and melon or stuffed seabass with mushrooms and shrimps served with beet hummus and stuffed pumpkin flowers.
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Best Fortified Wines For Cooking
Fortified wines, like sherry and vermouth, can also be dry, and work well in many recipes, thanks to their aromatics. Really, any aromatic, dry wine is a winner for a chicken dinner in Ojeda-Pons’ kitchen. Try adding another element to a roasted chicken by adding a big splash of aromatic pinot gris from Alsace or Roussanne from the south of France to the jus and letting it reduce, just before your chicken is at temp. You can also try this with any sherry or port you have sitting at homemaybe a gift or one purchased on a whim on vacation or on saleto give a unique flavor boost.
For another dry wine note, Ojeda-Pons is ready with the sides to go along with your chicken: He recommends sautéing a mix of mushrooms in butter, garlic, and an earthy Cabernet Franc with fresh savory herbs .
So You May Be Wondering Which Wines Would Work Best In A Chicken Recipe Such As This One
The best white wines that come to mind for this recipe are Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. I will explain.
Pinot Grigio is that light and refreshing white Pinot Grigio is a white wine that is lighter than other white wines. However, Pinot Grigio is also a dry yet flavorful thanks to the fruit in it. This is a nice taste for poultry such as chicken.
Fruits- Citrus such as Lemon, Pears, Green ApplesOther- Flowers
Sauvignon BlancSauvignon Blanc is possibly the most popular white wine available. It is know for its grassy taste.Also, Sauvignon Blanc is originally a French wine however, it is produced all over today.
Fruits- Lime, Grapefruit, Green ApplesOther- Grass, Jalapeno, Slate,
ChardonnaySome folks say that Chardonnay is the most popular white wine around the world. It is a dry white wine with origins in France but, grown around the world today. Thus, this is a nice choice for many folks to drink.
Fruits- PineappleOther- Spices for Baking, Caramel, Green Apples, Citrus such as Lemon,
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Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc 2015
Probably the less famous among the white wines is the Chenin Blanc. Despite being almost unknown, this wine is one of the oldest white wines in the world and has its origins in France.
Used in the past for the production of low-quality wines, Chenin slowly starts to regain its deserved position in the category of fine wines. It has a higher acidity compared to the most famous white wines and aftertastes of various fruits.
There are many wineries producing Chenin Blanc, but in my opinion, thisDry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc 2015 is the best choice for cooking. I usually use this wine when cooking Asian dishes. This wine from Creek Vineyard California has expressive aromas of pineapple, white pear and banana, with a fresh aftertaste of tangerine.
Chenin Blanc is an excellent choice for fish dishes and also for some desserts, such as Montblanc cake.
Madeira White Wine For Cooking
Madeira wine is made from the beautiful Portuguese island of Madeira . It is a fortified wine and comes in a number of different types. It is the type Sercial that is most favourable when choosing a Madeira wine to cook with though and is a perfect addition to a beef Wellington dish. It can also be used instead of sherry in almost any dish if you so happen to run out of sherry.
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Red Wines To Avoid: Beaujolais Nouveau Grenache Shiraz Zinfandel
Save your Beaujolais Nouveau and inexpensive Zinfandel, Grenache and Shiraz for the glass. When reduced in cooking, their punchy berry flavors can turn into perceived sweetness, especially if you dont have acidity to balance. Instead, look for high-acid Italian reds like Barbera and Chianti or crisp, fresh styles of Cabernet Sauvignon without heavy oak.
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What Is Dry White Wine
Basically it’s a wine which isn’t sweet, aka it has no residual sugar. If you’re not familiar with how wine is made basically it involves sugar in the grape juice, fermentation and yeast. If a winemaker stops fermentation before the yeast has time to munch on all the sugar, then there’s residual sugar in the wine. Obviously if the winemaker let’s the yeast complete its mission then the result is a dry wine. Sometimes there may be a small amount of residual sugar left in dry white wines, however it’s fairly minimal that it doesn’t make the wine taste sweet.
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Sparkling White Wine For Cooking
Not many people would think to use sparkling white wine to cook however you most certainly can. It is ideal for champagne vinaigrette if you truly wish to show off at your next dinner party. It is also great to make sorbets too. If you have any leftover sparkling white wine after a party then use it to cook rather than throw it out. The bubbles in the sparkling white wine will dissipate during the cooking process anyway so leftover sparkling wine is perfect.
How To Pick A White Wine For Cooking
In a nutshell, I always want to pick something with an alcohol content that is not too high, and wine with a good amount of acidity.
Usually a recipe calls for a generic white wine.
A Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Grigio, as well as unoaked Chardonnay are always a good bet.
Sometimes I will use Dry Vermouth which can be a good substitute, and will last longer than an opened wine.
Just note that Vermouth is a fortified wine, and therefore has a higher alcohol content.
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Splash Saute Sip: How To Choose The Best White Wine For Cooking
McKenzie Hagan | March 09, 2021
Whether you fancy yourself a full-fledged home chef or you’re just starting to sharpen your culinary skills, cooking with wine can truly make a splash and help your meals sing. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide to help you select the best white wine for cooking, including the do’s and don’ts of choosing a bottle. You’ll also get some top tips on what types of white wines to use with a variety of your favorite dishes. Let’s dig in.
What Does Cooking With Wine Do
Wine, like any ingredient, imparts flavor. The tannins of red wine or a white wine’s fresh acidity offer depth and complexity to marinades and sauces of all kinds. However, the chemical compounds in wine also offer textures you might not otherwise get either. For instance, red wine helps break down tougher cuts of meat over long periods in braises and stews. White wine helps fish and chicken retain moisture and delicate texture.
The astringency or tartness of a wine can also balance out sweetness or richness . This can make a dish more sophisticated and take your cooking to new levels. It’s also why, in general, you want to avoid cooking with sweet wines: the sugars in the wine might impart excessive sweetness.
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Perfect For Cooking And Drinking
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When I have a party on Friday night and have a leftover glass or two of white wine, I always use it to cook. How could I waste perfectly good alcohol? If you don’t want to throw away that crisp bottle of Pinot Grigio or sweet bottle of Resiling, then this is the right article for you. This list allows you to incorporate white wine, in your dishes. The next time you are wondering what is a good white wine for cooking, try a few of these.
Attems Cupra Ramato Pinot Grigio
As I already mentioned, Pinot Grigio is one of the most versatile white wines when it comes to cooking, so it is pretty obvious that I had a favorite one. I really enjoy cooking with theAttemsCupraRamato Pinot Grigio2014, this wine being perfect for fish and seafood, red meat or risotto dishes.
This wine, produced in Italy, is made according to a traditional recipe dating from the Republic of Venice. According to this practice, the skin of the grapes remains in contact with the must for 24 hours, giving the wine a distinctive coppery hue and a rich fruity flavor.
One of my favorite recipes is chicken with honey citrus glaze and pinot grigio. However, you could cook some spaghetti with seafood and pinot grigio too.
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The 5 Best White Wines For Cooking
Here are the five wines chefs recommend for everything from fine fish dishes to exquisite desserts.
When it comes to cooking with white wine, you dont want to grab just any ol bottle. So, we reached out to chefs to find out what white wines are best for cooking. Here are the five wines they recommend for everything from fine fish dishes to exquisite desserts.
What Is Cooking Wine
Like regular table wine, cooking wines comes in a number of different varieties, including dry and sweet reds and whites, fortified wines like sherry and even rice wine. Cooking wine tends to be higher in alcohol, coming in at around 16 to 17 percent. This is intentional, since alcohol burns off during cooking the higher the alcohol level, the longer it takes to burn off.
A cooking wine also contains salt, some preservatives and in some cases, a sweetener. This extends the shelf life of an open bottle of wine from hours to months. The extra shelf life is great for people who dont purchase table wine and only need small amounts of cooking wine from time to time. But since it does contain salt, a good rule of thumb is to reduce any added salt in a recipe, and then add small amounts of salt at the end if needed.
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I Would Suggest Any Of The Three Wines That I Have Mentioned Above
You can easily choose one of the wines based on the fruit. Each of the wines have their own kind of flavoring thanks in part to the fruit that is added to the wine.
You can also go by the other tastes that are in the wine.I am referring to the spices, grass, flowers and everything else that is listed under the classification of other.
Quick Tips For Cooking With White Wine
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What Is The Best White Wine To Use For Cooking
One of the most talked about things when it comes to wine is if it’s a dry wine or a sweet wine. It’s typically the first question asked or the first statement made, especially when it comes to white wine. But what exactly is a dry white wine?
Using my sweet SEO skills, I had a chat with Google over a vino or three and found out from him what are the most frequently asked questions about dry white wine. With this handy info I then grabbed my laptop, an extra large glass of wine and sat down to write this.
So without further adieu, let’s get stuck in
Is White Wine Good For Chicken
White wines with chicken, and particularly Chardonnay in various guises, tend to be go-to choices but the rule isnt as concrete as you might think. Lighter red wines with good acidity can make a delicious alternative, and even those with a little more body can work in heavier dishes, such as a casserole.
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Pour Something Else From The Liquor Cabinet
What’s a better substitute for white wine than another alcohol? Start with selections that have an equivalent amount of alcohol. Vermouth, a fortified white wine, adds even more complex flavor notes and botanicals. Champagne or sparkling white wines are a delicious and decadent substitute, and the bubbles will cook off along the way. For something in between, consider a bottle of lightly colored rosé, a very lovely light substitute for white wine.
Of course, red wine is a great substitute for white wine, but as with the vinegars, make sure the wine isn’t going to affect the final color of the dish in an unappealing way. Red wine works well in tomato sauces, but in butter or white sauces you might want to use vermouth or other light colored alcoholic beverages. Stronger proofed alcohols like vodka or gin could be an interesting swap, but reduce the amount used to account for their intensity.
Avoid Cooking Winesand Really Pricey Bottles
If you wouldnt drink it, dont cook with it. I recommend buying wines for cooking from a wine department in a grocery store or liquor store rather than off the regular grocery aisle, Broglie says, because the wines labeled cooking wine usually have a ton of added salt.
But that doesnt mean you have to go all out on a $100 bottle just for your braised chicken. The best wines to cook with are inexpensive, Beitchman tells us, but thats not the same as cheap. Use something under $15 a bottle and ideally that you enjoy drinking. When in doubt, you can always ask the salesperson at your wine store to point you in the right direction.
A recipe generally doesnt call for more than a cup of wine, so I like to choose a good, moderately priced bottle of Italian pinot grigio or French or Chilean sauvignon blanc, Broglie says. That way, I can pour into a pot guilt-free and enjoy a glass or two while it simmers.
If you have recently opened a bottle and have enough wine leftover to use in your recipe, by all means use it up youll do double-duty by avoiding food waste. Beitchman also suggests combining leftovers from multiple bottles into one container for a general cooking winejust make sure you label your concoction, so it doesnt accidentally get poured by the glass!
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