Top Tips for Cooking with White Wine

White Wines for Cooking

When gathering together ingredients, spices, and sauces to cook most people tend to think of wine, but seldom which type of wine is the best to use. Red or white, dry or fruity, there are a number of different types of wines you can choose from, each of which will go best with a particular type of dish. If you’re looking to cook with a dry white wine and are wondering what types of dishes and varietals will work best, here are some options for you to choose from.

Dry, Crisp White Wine

By far the most versatile white wine and the easiest to cook with is a dry and crisp one, such as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc or Unoaked Chardonnay. Each one of these wines brings its own unique set of flavours to the table. Pinot Grigio tends to be quite neutral (not too sweet, rich, or acidic), making it the best to keep in the kitchen for general use. Sauvignon Blanc has the highest level of acidity which works especially well with richer seafoods, such as scallops. Chardonnay is by far the richest of the three, and is best used with white meats and cream sauces.

White Sherry

Another good option for cooking wine is white Sherry, which is an extremely versatile tipple in the kitchen, whether you’re deglazing, adding depth to a sauce, or simply looking for something to serve alongside an appetizer like oysters, clams, or mussels white sherry is good choice.

Sparkling Wine and Champagne

White wine is well known for making a perfect mignonette to serve with your oysters, but it can also be used in a pinch as a replacement for white wine, especially for use in beurre blanc.

Alcohol Content

An important thing to keep in mind when choosing any of your cooking wines is the alcohol content, which you want to keep low to moderate—look for wines with 10 to 13 percent alcohol content. The problem with picking wines with a high alcohol content is that the goal of cooking with wine is to allow it to reduce and add a tenderizing brightness to your dish. Whatever you’re making for your next meal, consider adding a bit of flavour with a dash of white wine.

Images by existangst and stefano lubiana wines used under Creative Commons License.

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