We’ve all done it – given a fond farewell to a half-empty bottle of stale, vinegared wine by pouring it into a sauce, soup or, when half-drunk desperation surfaces, a glass. We’ve all done it – but it’s wrong. If wine’s been opened in a cabinet for over two weeks, it’s total shit and doesn’t belong anywhere near your mouth. Instead, reach for a fresh bottle (or siphon from a decent boxed wine – that’s what I often do), one that you’d actually want to drink but didn’t pay out the wazoo for. You’ll be much happier with the end result.Think “garbage in, garbage out.” Would you use rotten, stinky tomatoes for a marinara sauce or smelly fish for sushi? When you reach for a rancid bottle of wine, you’re essentially introducing an equally undesirable component. Quality does make a difference in the end product. But you don’t have to spend $50 to find something appropriate to use for a recipe. An $8 jug wine is fine for marinating meat, but don’t choose anything too sweet or it might overpower the overall flavor. However, if you’re making a sauce that will define a dish (say, coq au vin), use only what you’re comfortable drinking. I’ve often used Yellow Tail Shiraz and Columbia Crest Chardonnay for my recipes.
Why cook with wine? The acids actually transform the composition of food, especially tough meats. They act as a tenderizer, penetrating the fibers and softening proteins to make chewy meat soft to the teeth. Only because of color, chicken and seafood are best marinated in white wine, while either can be used for red meats. But if all you have is red wine and a couple slabs of chicken, then feel free to indulge in purple, yet tasty meat. To achieve the best results, marinate meats for at least two hours or more in the fridge and soak seafood no more than one hour because the delicate flesh will actually begin to cook.
Sometimes it’s the wine flavor you’d like to emphasize. For instance, most mushrooms are fantastic when sautéed with garlic, butter and a sweet, brawny port wine. But don’t overdo it. Too much port and all you’ll taste is alcohol, even if you try to boil it all out. A light touch is best, and a few minutes of simmering will mellow any sharp tastes.
Normally, you’d want to use dry wines for savory sauces and marinades, using varieties like sauvignon blanc, pinot gris/grigio, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. But a sweeter wine like Madeira or late harvest riesling can add depth to a sauce for gamey meats like duck, and give a dessert sauce some added zing.
So stop yourself before reaching for that dust-encrusted bottle of merlot, and pour fresh flavor. And be sure to drink a glass while you work.
