Ontario's first organic winery

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The holiday season is here and we are all either throwing a party or going to a party. Hopefully it entails wine!

But what to do with the wine that is left-over?

If hosting a party …

  • try to pair wines with the food you are serving (e.g., crisp white wines for soft cheeses, sparkling wine for shrimp, smoked salmon or stuffed mushrooms, medium bodied red wines for meatballs)
  • keep the price of wines reasonable, $12-18; it’s not a time to impress but rather to provide the mood and as a complement to the food
  • if buying sparkling wine, buy local or a Cava (Spain), Prosecco (Italy) or Crémant (France) to save $ (pay attention to the sweetness level; Brut or Extra Brut are usually best)
  • buy more red than white (it seems more people drink red these days)
  • have at least one red and one white that is a bit sweeter (between 15 g/L – 24 g/L of residual sugar) for guests who prefer something sweeter
  • a standard 750ml bottle of wine will yield approx. 5 x 5 oz pours
  • consider 1/2 bottle – 1 bottle per guest unless serving other beverages like beer or mixed drinks
  • serve a non-alcoholic punch for designated drivers and plenty of water for all guests

If going to a party …

  • bring wine you like to drink
  • bring wine your hosts have shown an interest in or surprise them with something completely new or unique
  • keep the price of wine reasonable, $12-18
  • drink one glass of water for every glass of wine (keep hydrated and lessen hangover effects)
  • choose a designated driver (or get a Taxi/Uber/Ride Share)

After the party … what to do with left over wine?

  1. Reseal bottles and if possible use a vacuvin wine saver. Wine will keep up to a week if refrigerated.
  2. Freeze left over wine in ice cube trays (one white, one red) to use in cooking at a later date.
  3. Most definitely cook with it … there are a zillion ways to use wine in cooking (e.g., steamed mussels, pasta sauces, soups and stews … coq au vin etc.) 
  4. Get creative and make …
    • Sangria
    • Mulled wine
    • Sauces
    • Marinades for meat, fish or tofu
    • A wine vinaigrette
      • 1/3 cup white wine
      • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 to 3 lemons)
      • 1 teaspoon honey – if the wine is dry
      • 1/4 teaspoon salt
      • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
      • 3/4 cup olive oil
    • Wine jelly (add pectin)
    • Wine vinegar (you’ll need a starter, organic commercial vinegar with “mother of vinegar” visible)
    • A grease stain remover (mix white wine with baking soda to scrub off grease stains on your grill. For best results let the solution sit for a few minutes before wiping off.)

Please leave a comment telling us how you use left-over wine.

Cheers and Happy Holiday Entertaining!