Six splendid usesfor your leftover wine
The winter season may leave you with a problem shared by millions across the world; leftover wine. Perhaps a houseguest brought it over, you had one glass and won’t be having another. But now it’s open and can’t be regifted! We say, ‘Waste not, want not.’
Here are a few Chief Wine Officer approved solutions for using up leftover wine.
Marinade and tenderise meat
A meaty feast is the perfect way to finish off a bottle. Braising beef in red wine makes a prime cut even more succulent. And why not try marinating chicken in a light red or white wine with some garlic and rosemary for a couple of hours? If you’re patient enough for an overnight soak, then you’ll be sure to inject a barrel of flavour into your dish.
Frozen treats
If you can’t drink ‘em, freeze ‘em. Leftover wine goes a long way when poured it into an ice tray. And these ice blocks will keep a wine-based cocktail cool without watering down. You can also blend your wine with a fruity combination of your choosing to make a boozy lolly that’s perfect for warmer days ahead. It’s easy. Simply:
- Choose a fruit-forward red, rosé, or fruity white
- Blend with a fruit juice of your choice
- Add some lemon juice to taste if the sweetness of your juice overpowers the wine flavour
- If you’d prefer your lolly as a sweet(er) treat, add a dollop of honey and blend
- Add to your moulds and wait 4-6 hours
Reheat leftover pasta
Next time you’ve got a Tupperware full of pasta, why not ditch the microwave and opt for the stove? Add your leftover pasta with a generous splash of last night’s white wine, cover over heat to steam, then remove the lid to cook out the remaining alcohol. Just remember that wine is acidic, so you may need to reseason before enjoying.
Salad dressing or wine vinegar
With a wine-based vinaigrette, even the most basic salad can be elevated to new heights. This requires some patience, as making a red-wine vinegar takes eight weeks. But the results are worth it. Here are two ways to transform your wine into something else entirely:
Red wine vinegar
- Mix 1.5 cups of leftover red wine with ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
- Pour into a jar of your choosing
- Cover the jar with a double layer of cheese cloth and secure with an elastic band
- Wait eight weeks and enjoy
Red wine vinaigrette
- Add 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar to a bowl
- Mix in a ¾ cup of extra virgin olive oil
- Mix in one teaspoon of Dijon mustard
- Add one clove of minced garlic
- Add salt and pepper to taste
Dye fabrics
Red wine is something many of us will have accidently used to dye our clothes, carpets, and tablecloths. But did you ever use it intentionally?
All you’ll need is white fabric or a garment you’d love to enhance with a splash of colour. Just add it to a pot of heated red wine. Use however much you’ll need to submerge the fabric and no more. Stir for 10 minutes, then remove and rinse in cold water once cooled. Be sure to fully dry before wearing!
Make a wine-based skin serum
Flavonoids, resveratrol, and tannins found in red wine all encourage collagen production and help protect your skin from UV damage. This method makes for a wonderfully proactive way of upcycling your leftovers, giving your skin a youthful glow while helping clear out your overloaded wine rack. Simply combine the following ingredients:
- One tablespoon red wine
- Two tablespoons jojoba oil
- Two tablespoons rosehip oil
- Oil from one vitamin E capsule
- Three drops neroli essential oil
Store in a dark glass jar in the refrigerator and massage a few drops into your face as part of your nighttime skincare routine.
There you have it! Armed with this inspiration, we hope you won’t think of unwanted wine as taking up space in your cupboard. Think of it as potential.
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