5 Ways to Use Leftover Wine by Sommer

Leftover wine? Some of you might be asking, “What is that?”

If you are a natural at selecting good wines, or have several wine lovers in the house, you probably don’t ever have leftover wine lingering in your kitchen. However, if you are sometimes not so lucky with your wine selections, or you open a bottle of wine to enjoy just a single glass, you might be asking yourself, “What do I do with all the rest?”

I hate it when things go to waste. Especially items I enjoy that might be somewhat pricey. Even with special vacuum sealed toppers created to keep the wine from oxidizing quickly, an opened bottle of wine will only last so long.

 
 

Today I’m sharing my favorite ways to use up leftover wine—other than just drinking it!

Of course, some wines are beyond saving. If you buy a $3 bottle of wine that tastes like rubbing alcohol and grape juice, just cut your losses and pour it down the sink!

Often though, even if a wine doesn’t suit your personal drinking preferences, that doesn’t mean it can’t be repurposed. That same wine in a glaze or sauce could be fantastic. Maybe it just needs a little sugar, beef broth, or spice to make it shine.

These are my favorite ways to use leftover wine. You can do all of these things with both red and white wines!

 
 

Shake up tangy vinaigrettes

Adding a splash of wine to an oil and vinegar dressing gives it an elegant note that makes salads sing!

 
 

Make sweet wine syrups

Pour wine in a sauce pan and add sugar. Then boil down the wine into a thick sweet syrup. Wine syrup is lovely over pound cake, ice cream, and seasonal fruit.

I usually go with a three to one ratio: 3 parts wine to 1 part sugar.

 
 

Create rich pan sauces and mushrooms

When searing chicken, pork, or steak in a skillet, try deglazing the pan with leftover wine. This loosens up the little bits of flavor stuck to the bottom of the pan for the beginnings of a flavorful pan sauce. Depending on what else has been in the skillet, sometimes I whisk in a little flour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

I also love to do this with sautéed mushrooms. After they have cooked down and caramelized a little, I deglaze the pan with wine to amp up the rich earthy flavor!

 
 

Add depth to chili or soup

Feeling like your chili or soup tastes a little flat? Pour in a generous splash of wine to add depth and intrigue. Use white wines for creamy soups and red wine for chili and hearty stews.

 
 

Freeze wine cubes for cocktails or to use later

Finally, the most fun way to use up leftover wine is to freeze it into wine cubes! You can save them in the freezer to drop in sauces, soups, or dressings.

 
 

You can also add them to fruity cocktails like sangrias and spritzers!

 
 

So go ahead and try that interesting-looking bottle of wine you’ve been eyeing, open a bottle even if you only want a glass of wine, and don’t worry if you end up with a few half-filled bottles after a party. You can always repurpose that wine and give it new life!

Do you have any favorite ways to use leftover wine? Share your tips with us below!