Got Leftover Wine? Here Are Some Fun Ways to Use It!

At Arthur Cantina Wine & Liquor, we make sure that every drop of wine we provide are so rich and delicious. We’d like to believe that you, our valued clients, would finish every bottle you order from us.

That said, we know that some nights of merriment can lead us to some extra bottles that we forget to cork. Some people may say that you might as well pour the liquid down the drain. However, if you’re like us who do not want to waste the ‘nectar of the gods,’ you’d prefer less destructive methods.

As such, we’ve put together this blog post to give you some tips on how you can efficiently deal with leftover wine.

Turn it Into Vinegar

Did you know that you can make your own vinegar, using wine? An article published on HGTV illustrated how Chef John Currence made something beautiful out of his late mother’s ‘damaged’ wine collection.

Unfortunately, his mom died around the same time Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. The wine, mostly burgundies, were left floating for days and were damaged by the insufferable heat. Chef Currence shared how he turned the wine into vinegar through natural processes that convert the liquid into acetic acid.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Ceramic, glass, or stainless steel container (2 gallons)
• White or red wine (2 quarts)
• Unfiltered, live vinegar (1 cup)
• Small bottles (2)
• Cloth
• Strainer

Directions:

1. The first step is to pour the leftover wine into your container.
2. Pour the live, unfiltered vinegar.
3. Take your cloth and cover the container’s opening.
4. Place the container in a dark, warm place.
5. Let the container sit there for about two months.
6. You will notice that over the weeks, a gelatinous film has formed on the surface of the liquid. Don’t worry because you can get rid of that. All you need to do is take your strainer and transfer the vinegar into the smaller bottles.
7. Let the bottles sit for two more months, then the vinegar is ready for consumption.

From time to time, you can test your vinegar by smelling or tasting it. After months of storage, it will become more acidic. If you want to stop the development of the vinegar, you can place it inside the fridge.Make Wine Ice Cubes for Storage

There are plenty of recipes that will let you use your leftover wine. Now, one of the best ways you can store it for future use is by turning the liquid into ice cubes. Before you start pouring the wine from the bottle directly to the cubes, you need to measure the liquid first. Take a measuring cup and pour the wine to know how much can fit into the cubes.

This way, you’ll know how many cubes you’ll use according to the recipe you’ll follow. Freeze the wine cubes, then place them in a Ziploc bag. Store the bag in your freezer until the time you’ll need wine for a recipe. Wine is perfect as a base for soups and sauces. You can even add it to sangria.

Create a Delectable Wine Syrup

The sweet and tangy taste of wine syrup makes it ideal for salads, ice cream, fresh fruit, and even for marinades. So, if you’ve got leftover wine, you can also try turning it into a delicious syrup. If you have different types of leftover wine, you can use them for a single mixture.

For this option, you’ll need a wide skillet or saucepan. Pour three cups of wine into the pan, then add a cup of sugar. Mix the ingredients, while bringing the liquid into a boil. Lower the heat, then let the liquid simmer until it turns into a syrup consistency. The thick liquid should be reduced to about a third of its initial volume.

Let the syrup cool, pour it into a bottle, then keep it refrigerated. If you want you can add some flavorings while the wine simmers. For instance, you can put cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, star anise, or vanilla bean. You can simply strain them out once the syrup cools. You’ll find the syrup to be a bit tangy—almost like Balsamic vinegar. So, there are plenty of ways you can use it. Here are some ideas:

• Swirl the syrup onto Greek yogurt or ice cream
• Drizzle it over grilled stone fruits or fresh berries
• Pour on waffles or pancakes
• Mix with your tofu or meat marinades
• Toss with roasted chickpeas or vegetables
• Whisk it into your salad dressing

Here at Arthur Cantina Wine & Liquor, we believe that there are plenty of other ways you can use wine—aside from drinking it, of course.

If you want to learn more about our collection, don’t hesitate to contact us!