You had friends over for a dinner party last night and are now looking at row of half-finished bottles on the kitchen counter. Your first impulse may be to dump it down the drain. DON’T! That wine has potential and can still be enjoyed. Here is a list of 15 creative ways to use leftover wine.
If you don't have any leftover wine, don't worry. Just head over to our coupon pages for BevMo, Costco, Trader Joe's, and Target before you make a wine stop. You'll find details about sales, promotions, and coupons to use towards your vino purchase.
From flavorful pasta dishes to decadent desserts, leftover wine can be used to make many savory and sweet recipes.
1. Vegan Scallops in a White Wine Cream Sauce Over Pasta
Source: olivesfordinner.com
Seafood lovers will not know what hit them after trying this delicious vegan alternative cooked up by Olives For Dinner. The cream is replaced by canned coconut milk while the scallops are traded out for king oyster mushroom stems. Recipe from Olives for Dinner.
Wine needed: 1/3 cup white wine
2. Chicken Piccata with Capers
Source: pinterest.com
Use leftover white wine to make this authentic Italian dish that tastes like it came straight out of Trattoria’s kitchen in Rome. And it is simple enough that your kids will love it, too. Recipe from My Recipes.
Wine needed: ½ cup white wine
>> SEE MORE: 20 Salads You Can Make Using Last Night's Leftovers
3. Quick Beef Bourguignon
Source: theartfulgourmet.com
This is a great dish to make when you don’t have time to work from the classic French recipe. You'll be able to use basic ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. Recipe from The Artful Gourmet.
Wine needed: 1 bottle dry red wine
4. Poached Eggs in red wine
Source: cooking.nytimes.com
Take your weekend brunch game to the next level with this poached eggs in red wine recipe. It’s easy to make, yet deliciously rich tasting and will leave you dreaming about the French countryside. Recipe from Cooking New York Times.
Wine needed: 2 cups fruity red wine
5. Lemon Pepper Wine-Braised Baby Broccoli
Source: florafoodie.com
Don’t be fooled by this fancy sounding recipe, it is actually quite easy and quick to make. You’ll love this flavorsome variation on the broccoli side dish. Recipe from Flora Foodie.
Wine needed: ½ cup wine white
>> SEE MORE: 5 Delicious Ways to Use Every Last Bit of Peanut Butter in the Jar
6. Cherry-Merlot Winesicles
Source: foodess.com
Let’s be honest, popsicles are coupled with this nostalgic feel of our childhood. But this innovative, adult version of the basic popsicle will leave you speechless. What's better than an icy cool dessert on a hot day that's made with delicious cherries and merlot? Recipe from Foodess.
Wine needed: As much as you want
7. Chocolate Red Wine Cake
Source: foodandwine.com
Every now and then, we just want to enjoy a dessert that is light and not overly sweet. Make this chocolate red wine cake for dad who claims to not have a sweet tooth, but is always picking at mom’s dessert. Recipe from Food and Wine.
Wine needed: ¼ cups dry red wine
>> SEE MORE: How to Get the Most Value Out of Fresh Herbs
8. Red Wine Chocolate Truffles
Source: simply-taylor.com
This truffles can be popped into your mouth whenever you're craving a bite of something sweet and decadent. Added bonus – the recipe lists only four common-pantry ingredients – chocolate chips, butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, and wine of course. Recipe from Simply Taylor.
Wine needed: ½ cup red wine
9. Honey-Poached Pears with Marscapone
Source: epicurious.com
Take advantage of fall’s seasonal fruit by making honey-poached pears with marscapone. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of dry white wine, but you can always adjust the ingredient measurements based on how much wine you have. Recipe from Epicurious.
Wine needed: ½ cup dry white wine
>> SEE MORE: 11 Things You Can Make With a Box of Cake Mix That Aren't Cake
On its own, leftover wine doesn’t meet your standards of taste. But it is perfectly fine to make delicious cocktails.
1. Quick and Easy Sangria
Source: juice.clubw.com
Summer isn’t over just yet, which means sangria is still in season. Enjoy this refreshingly fruity concoction on a lazy weekend afternoon. Recipe from The Juice by Club W.
Wine needed: 1 bottle red wine (or whatever you have left)
2. Sangra Blanco
Source: southernliving.com
Make good use of leftover white wine by throwing together this crisp and refreshing variation on the red beverage. The recipe calls for 2 bottles of dry white wine, so adjust ingredient measurements based on the amount of wine you have. Recipe from My Recipes.
Wine needed: 2 bottles dry white wine
3. Mulled Wine
Source: flourishingfoodie.com
Bookmark this mulled wine recipe for the upcoming holiday season when temps drop, but reasons to drink are at their peak. It will also come in handy for a quiet and cozy night in. Recipe from Flourishing Foodie.
Wine needed: 1 bottle red wine (or whatever you have left)
Use leftover wine to take care of your household chores.
1. Wipe down kitchen counters
Source: splendidtable.org
White wine can be used to naturally clean stains on kitchen counter tops. An added bonus – the alcohol disinfects and kills salmonella.
2. Booze up your compost
Source: vinography.com
Pour that leftover bottle of wine from last night’s party on the compost pile – it will benefit from the nitrogen. And those half drunk bottles of stale beer can be used as well.
3. Clean produce
Source: greatist.com
Experts say that washing fruits and vegetables can remove 99% of pathogens. Red wine in particular has properties that will kill most bacteria on the surface of an apple.
Always look at an unfinished bottle of wine from the night before as half full, not empty. There are many things you can do with it. Start by using it to help you decide on what to make for dinner.
