Having a bottle of white wine is extremely handy! You can sip, splash, or drizzle it over your favorite dish. But wait, did you just realized you are out of it, don’t worry. This article will tell you about the best white wine substitutes you can use in such situations.
White wine is a must-have ingredient in all kitchens. It can be used in soups and salads and even can be added to certain creams to increase its flavor. Moreover, if you are too tired from cooking, you can also sip it a little!
Most of the recipes don’t call for a lot of white wine. You will only need a spoonful or two. But you need it! If you skip this ingredient, your recipe will be just incomplete! If you are in such a difficult situation, you only need a good white wine substitute.
Leave it to us if you are confused about what to use as a white wine substitute. Some of the best white wine substitutes you can try are red wine, vermouth, apple juice, white wine vinegar, chicken broth, and vegetable stock.
White wine must not be a new ingredient to many! Even though you haven’t used it in cooking, many might have tasted it at least once. However, there might be a lot of my readers who are new to this ingredient. If you are one of those, the next section is for you!
Quick Peek: White Wine
In this section, let’s understand white wine in all its aspects. We will look into taste, texture, uses, and health benefits. If you are someone who hasn’t used white yet, this section will be of great help.
What Is White Wine?
White wine is simply fermented grape juice. But what makes white wine different from other grape-based wines is that white wine is fermented using grape pulp alone; it doesn’t use any skin.
Mainly white wines are produced using white grapes. However, some winemakers also use other kinds of grapes for this process. White wine mainly comes in two forms – dry and sweet. Out of which dry white wine is the most common one.
White wine has been in use for a very long time. Its color and flavor profile made it stand out from the rest. White wine brings a sour and sweet flavor to the recipe, enhancing the dish’s overall flavor.
Describing White Wine: Flavor and Texture
The flavor profile of white wine is very distinct. It has a light fruity flavor with a hint of sweetness and sourness. Unlike red wine, white wine doesn’t have any bitter taste, making it a chef’s favorite!
White wine has a yellow to golden color. The color may vary slightly depending on the grape type and the fermentation process. Due to its light flavor profile, white wine works well with meat, fish, and vegetable dishes.
Uses of White Wine
White wine has multiple uses to it. Primarily it has been used as a drinking wine for ages. People thoroughly enjoy the crisp, dry, fruity flavor of this wine. It can be used as a before drink, after a drink, or even between meal drinks.
Secondly, white wine works great as an ingredient in cooking. The mild taste of white wine brings so much flavor to the recipe. Most French and Italian meat cuisines call for white wine as one of their main ingredients.
This is because, along with enhancing the flavor, the acid content in white wine softens the meat. Aso white wine pairs well with most spices, making it an ideal ingredient for soups, sauces, and dips.
White Wine On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope
You must have heard a lot about red wine and its health benefits. But what about white wine? White wine, when it comes to its health benefits, is not behind red wine. In this section, we are going to see some of the health benefits of white wine.
- Aids in weight loss: White wine has many antioxidants in it. These antioxidants help better absorption of food and make you feel fuller. Thus, a glass of white wine is not only just a treat for your taste buds but will also help you achieve a slim fit body.
- Build immunity: White wine, as we have already discussed, has many antioxidants. Not just that, certain compounds like flavonoids in white wine are said to resist the cancer-causing cells in our bodies.
- Keeps Your Lungs Healthy: Certain nutrients in white wine are good for lung tissues. It helps in the better working of your lungs. Thus while sipping a glass of wine, take a deep breath and enjoy the drink!
- Won’t give you many hangovers: A drinking party is all cool until we have work the next day! Thus if you want to enjoy the drink without the fear of a hangover, try white wine. Congeners are what cause hangovers, and white wine has fewer congeners in it. Does that make white wine a cool drink!?
Why Use A Substitute For White Wine?
A splash of white wine is all you need to brighten up the flavors of your dish. After reading so much about white wine, I’m sure you might not want to switch it with anything else. But there could be some situations where you will need a good white wine substitute.
First is its availability. Red wines are the “oh-so-popular wines,” but white wine is so underrated that it is sometimes hard to get. Thus if your nearby store doesn’t have white wine, try a good white wine substitute.
White wine, like most wines, is a little costly. Thus if you are not a fan of white wine and only need a spoonful for your recipe, it will be better to use a white wine substitute rather than spend money on white wine.
White wine does have alcohol content in it. Thus if you are preparing a meal for your kids, then it will be good to avoid any alcohol. But skipping white wine will affect the taste of the dish; in such a situation, go for a non-alcoholic white wine substitute.
Now that I have given you enough situations where you’ll need a white wine substitute let’s get into the crux of this article: white wine substitute. White wine is great to have, but sometimes we can work well even without white wine!
Best White Wine Substitutes
In this section, we are going to explore some of the best white wine substitutes. Most of the substitutes we gathered here are easy to get and taste, just like that white wine.
1. Red Wine
Red wine, we can say, is the cousin of white wine! Both are made from the same ingredient and undergo a similar process of making. Red wine has a more distinct flavor profile and can work well as a white wine substitute.
However, red wine is a bit more bitter than white wine. It also has a very cherry smell rather than the fruity smell. However, red wine works really well as a white wine substitute in meat as well as vegetable cuisines.
If you aren’t bothered about the red hue carried by white wine, you can also use it in sauces and shrimp. While using red wine as a white wine substitute, follow the 1:1 ratio.
2. Vermouth
Dry vermouth has a fruity floral flavor profile similar to white wine. Therefore, vermouth can work well as a white wine substitute in many dishes. Vermouth, just like white wine, adds a lot of flavor to the recipe.
However, when choosing vermouth, always stick to the dry rather than the sweet one. Sweet vermouth has a much different flavor profile and might alter the entire taste of your recipe.
Also, vermouth is a fortified wine and has a high amount of alcohol content in it. Thus if your recipe calls for so much white wine, don’t go for vermouth, as it can make you a little boozy! Besides, follow the 1:1 ratio while using vermouth as a white wine substitute.
Non Alcoholic Substitutes
3. Apple Juice
Apple juice is one of the easiest available white wine substitutes. It has a mild sweetness to it, along with some tanginess. It can be added to all kinds of salads and soups as a white wine substitute.
However, if you think you are missing the sour kick, without much thinking, squeeze some lemon juice into your recipe. Apple juice and some lemon juice can bring a similar flavor profile to that of white wine.
4. Chicken Broth
You might need clarification by reading the name of the substitute. But let me tell you, chicken broth works very well as a white wine substitute in many dishes, especially in soups and seafood.
If you are preparing your favorite bowl of seafood and realize you are out of white wine, try adding some chicken broth to your dish. This could enhance the flavor of your dish. However, if you miss the sourness, add a teaspoon or two of lime juice or any vinegar to the recipe.
5. Vegetable Stock
If you are a vegetarian, chicken broth might not be your thing, but I understand! But fret not; if you cannot use chicken broth, go for vegetable stock. It will work just fine as chicken stock as a white wine substitute in any recipe.
Add some vegetable stock to your soups and pasta if you are out of white wine. I bet you the taste won’t let you down. However, if you miss the tangy floral note of white wine, add some lemon juice to the recipe to compensate for the sourness.
6. White Wine Vinegar
Many get confused between white wine and white wine vinegar. White wine vinegar has a sour taste with floral notes. It has a flavor profile similar to white wine and can be used as a white wine substitute.
White wine vinegar has a strong sour taste to it. However, it can work well as a white wine substitute in a pinch! Try white wine vinegar if you need a white wine substitute to deglaze your pan or soften your chicken.
Since white wine vinegar has a very sour taste, it could affect the overall taste of your food when used in large amounts. Therefore while using white wine vinegar as a white wine substitute, dilute it with some water or apple juice before adding it to your dish.
7. White Grape Juice
White grape juice has a sweet taste to it. However, it works well as a white wine substitute in many recipes. White grape juice brings the fruity floral taste without the booze.
If you are making a salad or pasta recipe for your kids and need a white wine substitute, use white grape juice. It is sweet and tangy and enhances the overall flavor of your dish. If you need a little sourness, add a dash of lemon juice or vinegar.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar, commonly known as ACV, is an ideal white wine substitute. Apple cider vinegar has a sweet and sour taste and can be used in most recipes to enhance its flavor.
Apple cider vinegar is one of the easily available white wine substitutes. It can be used in most recipes, just like white wine. It can be added to salads, soups, and dips or can even be added to meat dishes.
Apple cider vinegar has a very mild flavor profile. It has little sourness, nor does it complicate your dishes. While using apple cider vinegar as a white wine substitute, follow the 1:1 ratio.
9. Ginger Ale
Ginger ale has a sour and citrusy taste that tastes similar to that of white wine. If you need white wine in a pinch, try using ginger ale as a white wine substitute. Ginger ale works very well in most recipes that call for white wine.
However, ginger ale is a little different than that white wine. Therefore if your recipe calls for white wine as a main ingredient, try another substitute.
10. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice has a strong sour taste to it. It brightens up the flavors in a recipe and has a similar flavor to that of white wine. Therefore, lime/ lemon juice can work well as a white wine substitute if you have some lemon in your hand.
Lemon juice can work well in almost all dishes, just like that white wine. Lemon juice might not bring the fruity flavor as that of white wine. However, lemon juice could bring some sourness and some citrusy notes to your recipe.
Lemon juice, like white wine, could soften the meat dishes and add a little sourness to your pasta sauces. If you think the sourness is too bright, add some water and lighten the overall sourness of lime juice before adding it to any recipes.
11. Beer
Who would think a beer could be a good white wine substitute? But it is! Beer easily brings an earthy, sweet, and sour taste to your dishes, just like white wine. Therefore, when in need, use beer as a white wine substitute.
Beer does have some alcohol in it. Therefore if you are looking for an alcoholic substitute for white wine, go for a beer. It enhances the flavor and adds a touch of sourness to your recipe.
Even though the initial flavor of beer might be too strong for some people, it will settle down while cooking. Beer can be added to soups, sauces, and meat dishes as a white wine substitute.
12. Canned Mushroom Liquid
If you are looking for a vegan, non-alcoholic substitute that could be used as a white wine substitute, go for canned mushroom liquid. Canned mushroom liquid, as you can imagine, is extremely delicious and is perfect for adding flavors to your dishes.
Canned mushroom liquid has a lot of flavor in it. Therefore it can be added to many dishes, especially soups and sauces. The canned mushroom liquid is the perfect white wine substitute for cooking some dishes for your kids.
If you need a kick of sourness, add some lemon juice to the recipe, using canned mushroom liquid as a white wine substitute.
13. Rice Wine Vinegar
Rice vinegar, just as its name suggests, is obtained from fermented rice. It has a sweet acidic flavor and thus has a flavor profile similar to that of white wine. Moreover, it also looks similar to white wine.
Rice vinegar has a very mellow flavor to it. It can be added to soups, sauces, as well as meat dishes, just like white wine. Since rice wine vinegar doesn’t have much color, it doesn’t affect the color of your final product like some other substitutes.
However, rice wine vinegar does have a sweet taste to it. Thus if you are missing the sourness provided by white wine, add some lemon juice and rice wine to give your dish a perfect finish.
14. Tomato Juice
Tomato juice has a tangy flavor with a sweet undertone. It brings a tangy taste, just like white wine, and hence it can be used as a white wine substitute.
Tomato juice will work just fine if you are looking for a white wine substitute for your soups or salad dressing. Next to lemon juice, it is one of the most easily available white wine substitutes. It can be added to most dishes.
But if you think your recipe lacks strong sourness, add lemon juice or vinegar to the recipe to balance the overall flavor.
15. Water
If you cannot find any of these things to substitute white wine, fret not! Use water as a white wine substitute whenever you need it. Water might not add a lot of flavors to your recipe, but it doesn’t alter any taste, either.
Therefore, we can say that water is one of the most easily available and safe white wine substitutes. If your recipe calls for a teaspoon or two of white wine, you can safely use water as a substitute for white wine.
However, as you may know, water won’t add any flavor to your recipe. Therefore if your recipe calls for a distinguished amount of white wine, try to find a better substitute than water which could add some flavor to your recipe.
Short Recap Of Best White Wine Substitutes
Now that we have talked so much about white wine and its substitute, I hope your search for a good white wine substitute ends here. White wine is a great drink ingredient and adds flavor to your recipe. But if you are out of it, try any of the substitutes mentioned above and continue cooking.
If you are in a hurry to choose a white wine substitute and don’t have much time in your hand to go through the entire article, I’m here to help. Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.
Best White Wine Substitutes That Are Non-Alcoholic
- Chicken Broth
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Best White Wine Substitutes That Are Alcoholic
- Vermouth
- Red Wine
Best White Wine Substitutes That Are Easily Available
- Water
- Lemon Juice
White Wine Substitutes That Should Be Least Considered
- Apple Juice
- Ginger Ale
How To Use White Wine Substitutes In A Recipe
15 Best White Wine Substitutes You Can Try!
Ingredients
- Beer
- Lemon Juice
- Red Wine
- Vermouth
- Apple Juice
- Chicken Broth
- Vegetable Stock
- White Wine Vinegar
- White Grape Juice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Ginger Ale
- Canned Mushroom Liquid
- Rice Wine Vinegar
- Tomato Juice
- Water
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Conclusion
Now that we are at the end of the article, I hope you found the perfect white wine substitute for your recipe. White wine is an excellent ingredient that could bring a punch to your recipe. But if you are out of it, try any of our white wine substitutes according to your convenience.
Next time you are puzzled about whether to drink the last few drops of white wine or save it for your recipe, drink it and find a good white wine substitute from your pantry and use that for cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can I substitute for white wine in a recipe?
white wine substitutes you can try are red wine, vermouth, apple juice, white wine vinegar, chicken broth, and vegetable stock are some of the best white wine substitute.
What alcohol can you substitute for white wine?
Red wine and vermouth are two of the alcoholic white wine substitutes you can use in your recipes.
What does white wine do in cooking?
White wine increases flavor in a recipe. While used in meat dishes, it makes the dish more juicy and tender.
Can apple cider vinegar replace white wine?
Yes. Apple cider vinegar is an ideal white wine substitute. It works well in vegetable and meat dishes.
