Wine from Scratch: Wine in the Kitchen

When most people mention food and wine together the first thing that pops into mind is always pairing, because so much emphasis is placed on this mystical combination of forces. Pairing does have the ability to bring out new and undiscovered flavors, but there are also many other ways for wine to enhance a meal before it ever reaches the table.

For me it always starts in the kitchen. Not because I’m some amazing chef, but because I’m always handy with a bottle of wine as soon as the preparations begins. A meal just seems a little more special when it starts with an uncorked bottle, even if I’m just an observer. If you’re the adventurous type in the kitchen try a little wine in your cooking to enhance the meal even further.

Things to remember when cooking with wine:

First and most importantly, always cook with quality. You wouldn’t put sub par ingredients in your gourmet masterpiece, so why use bottom shelf wine? Choose a wine you enjoy, because if nothing else once you’re done with that one cup needed for the recipe, you’re going to end up drinking the rest.

Most often when cooking wines are chosen in order to compliment flavors or characteristics in a dish. For example, add Sauv Blanc to an herb dish or juicy Syrah to a rich meat concoction. The primary characteristics in the wine – sweet, acidic, herbaceous, fruity, spicy – will become concentrated once cooked and really accentuate that element in the recipe.

Wines can be used in all aspects of cooking, from a marinade where the alcohol and acid in the wine work to tenderize the meat, or for deglazing to use in a sauce. I personally like to use wine to take the edge off while running around the kitchen trying to keep the place from burning down.

Choosing a wine to cook with, just like choosing a wine to pair with your meal, can be as complicated or creative as you make it. But overanalyzing anything can lead to disappointment so choose a wine you enjoy and go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? You get stuck drinking a bottle of wine you enjoy? Damn! Poor you.

** Marcus Pape has worked in media and design for over 10 years with an extensive background in all forms of visual communication. As a proclaimed vinophile Marcus hopes to leverage his abilities to inspire interest in wine, recently launching WineCHATr.com – an online resource for the growing wine community, where both popular wine bloggers and businesses come together to connect and share information on wine.