TEN Ways to Use Up Leftover Wine

“Leftover wine? What leftover wine?” —seen on an apron.

By Jill Misterka

What to do with a partial bottle of wine leftover from a dinner party, especially a wine that you don’t especially like? Here are some suggestions:

1.  To save for later, an opened bottle of wine should be capped tightly with the original cork or a bottle topper and refrigerated. (If there is only a small amount left, pour into a smaller glass container with a tight fitting lid.) Use within a week.

2.  Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Pop out a few cubes for cooking, or use some to chill a glass of a similar type of wine or a wine cooler.

If the wine is too dry for your taste…

3.  Sweeten it. Stir in sugar or diet sweetener until dissolved.

4.  Make a wine cooler by mixing it with ginger ale.

5.  Make sangria, a fruity wine cocktail (see Beverages recipes).

6.  Make mulled wine, a sweetened, spiced hot drink (see Beverages recipes).

7.  Cook with it. Most entree or vegetable recipes that call for wine specify dry wine (see some recipes for Main Dishes and Soups). Or dress up everyday dishes such as spaghetti sauce or canned or homemade soup.

If the wine is too sweet for your taste…

8.  Chill it before drinking. It may not taste as sweet when it’s cold.

9.  Make wine jelly (see recipes for Side Dishes).

10.  Put it in a dessert (See Desserts recipes). Look for recipes calling for liqueur and substitute the wine, or pour over ice cream.