Wine is commonly used in cooking. Adding wine to a recipe not only enhances the aroma but also the taste of your dish/recipe. Both red wine, as well as white wine, is used in cooking to enhance the flavor. If you are cooking stews, sauces, or particular meat and vegetable recipes, adding wine to it can change the game.
Burgundy wine is the most common for drinking and kitchen purposes. If you don’t have it right now, you can use a burgundy wine substitute. Before going ahead to know its substitute, you have to know about burgundy wine.
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What is Burgundy Wine?
Burgundy wine is made in the Burgundy region of France. Both red wine and white wine are made from the same region. The difference between red wine and white wine made in Burgundy is the type of grapes. The red one is made from pinot noir grapes whereas the white one is made from chardonnay grapes.
Health Benefits of Burgundy Wine:
- Burgundy Wine is rich in antioxidants.
- It keeps our hearts healthy.
- It also helps to lower bad controls.
- Having burgundy wine regularly can keep your memory sharp.
- It keeps you slim and reduces the risk of cancer.
What can I Substitute for Burgundy Wine?
If you are cooking particular meat, stews, or sauce using burgundy wine, you don’t need to panic in absence of the main ingredient. You can use burgundy wine alternatives. We have a huge list of burgundy wine substitutes that you can use in a recipe without ruining it.
1. Merlot:
Merlot is another type of red wine which is the most popular. Merlot gets its name from a special grape variety. It is usually dry, medium, or full-bodied with only moderate acidity levels. That’s why the taste of Merlot won’t overpower the other ingredients used in a recipe. You can use it in equal amounts in a recipe to replace burgundy wine.
2. Cabernet Sauvignon:
Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep dark red color. The most variety of Cabernet Sauvignon contains 13.5% alcohol. Due to its high alcohol content and its deep color, it’s perfect for use in cooking. It often has notes of green pepper and dark fruits.
3. California Pinot Noir:
Not all Pinot Noir varieties are from the Burgundy region. So, the taste of Pinot Noir may vary from region to region or manufacturer to manufacturer. It doesn’t mean you can’t use it as a replacement for burgundy wine. It totally depends on you, if you are willing to compromise with the originality of Pinot Noir.
A quality bottle of California Pinot Noir is an excellent choice to replace burgundy wine in cooking. You’ll get a very similar profile to the original Pinot Noir.
4. White Wine Vinegar with Grape Juice:
Using a combination of white wine vinegar and grape juice in a recipe, especially in meat marinades works perfectly. The acidity level of the combination of white wine vinegar and grape juice helps to tender meat easily. Apart from that, it also helps to enhance the flavor and aroma of the resulting dish/recipe.
When using it as a substitute for burgundy wine, you should mix equal amounts of both white wine vinegar and grape juice. On the other hand, if you prefer a less acidic taste and a fruitier taste, you should add more grape juice.
5. Viognier:
Viognier belongs to France. The strong fruity aromas of peach and tangerine make it a unique burgundy wine substitute for cooking. Some viognier varieties contain nutmeg and vanilla base which is perfect if you prefer a deeper, richer aroma. This wine is typically softer and less acidic than chardonnay.
6. Riesling:
Riesling may available in the market in a wide array of styles. Usually, it has strong, fruity notes with hints of floral aroma. An aromatic and refreshing aroma makes it a better choice among other burgundy wine replacements. This wine has a high acidity level that works pretty well with ingredients and recipes.
7. Red Grape Juice:
Red Grape Juice is the most convenient choice for those who want the same fruity aroma with the same acidity level. This is the best burgundy wine alternative for those who don’t like alcohol. Make sure to use an unsweetened version of red grape juice. If you feel like you are lacking some acidity, you can add vinegar to achieve this effect which also helps the flavors develop.
8. Red Wine:
This is the most common wine as well as the most common replacement for burgundy wine that comes to everyone’s mind when you need to replace burgundy wine. You won’t notice much difference after using red wine in your recipe and you’ll end up saving your dish. It will be a good habit for many other cooking recipes to add wine to your cooking.
9. Broth:
If you are cooking a meat recipe, using broth in the recipe will be a good option. Make sure you won’t get the same taste after using broth in a recipe. As you know broth doesn’t have any acidity level, so you can add some lemon juice or vinegar to get almost similar results.
10. Rice Wine Vinegar with Chicken Stock:
If you are making a creamy sauce and deglazing pans, we suggest using red wine vinegar with chicken stock or broth. You can also use red grape juice in place of broth. The red wine vinegar will add some acidity and tartness so be careful when adding it to a recipe.
11. Cranberry Juice:
If you don’t have any wine around, this type of fruit juice can be an ideal replacement. As you know it’s a non-alcoholic substitute. You can still add a bit of vinegar to add acidity. Yeah! we know that cranberry juice is too sweet in nature, so it’s better to use an unsweetened version. Be careful when adding it to your recipe otherwise, you may ruin your whole dish.
12. Pomegranate juice:
If you don’t find cranberry juice, or red grape juice nearby, you can use pomegranate juice instead. It’s a mixture of sweet, sour, fruity, and other aromas mixed in one. Pomegranate juice is enriched with a different taste and smell. Every bite of your food will fill your mouth with an irresistible taste that you’d want to try again and again.
13. Beef Bourguignon:
Beef Bourguignon is basically a slow-cooked beef stew. It’s made with red wine and other types of veggies and can be good for many combinations. The taste and richness of beef bourguignon are perfect for your next dinner.
FAQ:
Is Red Wine the same as Burgundy Wine?
No, all the red wines are not same as Burgundy wine. Red Burgundy is made from pinot noir variety of grapes in Burgundy region.
What does Burgundy Wine taste like?
The taste of burgundy wine is a little combination of raspberry, blackberry, cherry, and some other spices. It becomes very aromatic and tasty when used in cooking.
Now, you know the best Burgundy Wine Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also purchase from Amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
