grow all the time. This flavorful ingredient can turn ordinary dishes into extraordinary surprises. From main dishes and sides to desserts and even appetizers, the list of options for cooking with wine is nearly endless.

Newcomers to the concept of cooking with wine, however, often have a lot of questions. It’s hard to tell from a lot of recipes what kind of wine would be best, how much to use and if a little experimentation might be in order. As at-home chefs become more comfortable with the prospect, many discover that wine can add an incredible level of pizzazz to almost any dish. The key is not being afraid to experiment.

Fortunately, there are some tips that can make cooking with wine a little less daunting for newcomers to this ingredient. They range from selecting the right wine for the dish to when it’s acceptable to experiment with a recipe.

How To Pick The Right Wine

The general rule of thumb to follow when a recipe calls for wine is to pick the color and/or variety recommended. Be mindful, however, that recipes almost always taste better when a table-grade wine is selected rather than “cooking” wine.  While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with cooking wines, the flavor and quality of even moderately priced table wines tends to be a whole lot better.

Ideally, most main dishes and side dishes can be created with a favorite red or white wine. White wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc, tend to work extremely well for sautéing chicken, seafood and some vegetables. Red wines, such as Chianti, are excellent for pork and vegetables. Cabernet Sauvignon is also an excellent red choice for cooking.

How Much Wine To Use

Keep in mind that the flavor found in wine-based cooking comes from the wine itself and not the alcohol. As wine is cooked down, the flavors will concentrate. This means it doesn’t necessarily take a lot of wine to produce an incredible dish.

To determine how much wine to use,  follow a recipe closely or even cut down on the amount somewhat. When experimenting with new dishes, remember that a little wine can go a very long way.

Tips For Experimentation

Even if a dish doesn’t call for wine, it can often be added to create a whole new flavor sensation. Some tips that can help with experimentation include:

• Just replace water with wine in favorite recipes, or substitute some of the water with wine
• Add only a tablespoon or two to dishes to get a flavor boost without an overpowering result – this works especially well with gravies
• Just use a favorite wine to baste meats with as they cook
• Before adding wine to a dish, heat it, but don’t let it come to a boil
• Avoid adding cold wine to meat as it can make it tough

About Serving Wine With Wine-Based Dishes

If the plan is to serve table wine with a wine-based dish, make sure to use the same wine for both purposes. This will produce a better overall flavor and prevent two different wines from competing for taste bud attention.

Cooking with wine is a time-honored tradition. Learning how to use this classic ingredient just takes a willingness to experiment.

While enthusiasts know there’s nothing quite like a glass of red wine after a long day, not everyone understands just how healthy this indulgence can be. There are numerous studies that indicate moderate consumption of red wine can have very positive effects on the body.

Although it’s true that all wines can have a positive impact on health if consumed in moderation, red wine seems to offer the biggest benefits when compared to other types of wine and alcohol. According to many clinical researchers, the benefits of red wine are found in the abundance of certain components contained in the skin of red grapes.

Scientists have isolated several key components found in red wine grapes that are likely responsible for all the positive effects. The antioxidants found in red wine, especially resveratrol, are thought to produce a finished product that benefits the heart and overall health.

About Wine’s Antioxidants

Red wine is rich in two types of antioxidants that can promote good health – flavonoids and nonflavonoids.  Antioxidants are substances found in foods that can help prevent and slow damage to the body’s cell. Antioxidants are known to attack “free radicals,” which are the byproducts of oxidation in the body. These free radicals are responsible for contributing to such conditions as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more.

When antioxidants are introduced into the body, they stop can help prevent and even undo some of the damage that free radicals cause. Antioxidants are also thought to help bolster the body’s immune system.

According to researchers from the University of California at Davis, certain types of red wine offer a higher concentration of flavonoids. Those that rank the highest include Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Syrah.

While red wine is a rich source of flavonoids, it is best known for its high content of resveratrol. This nonflavonoid type of antioxidant has been shown to have a number of positive effects on the body. Resveratrol can:

• Help prevent damage to blood vessels
• It can reduce “bad” cholesterol levels in the body
• It prevents the formation of blood clots

Other Benefits Of Wine

While resveratrol is one of the stars of red wine, other forms of wine also produce benefits for health. Alcohol in general can produce these effects in the body:

• An increase in high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, in the blood stream. This is considered the “good” cholesterol.
• A reduction in the formation of blood clots.
• Prevention of arterial damage that is caused by bad cholesterol.

Advice On Drinking Red Wine

While red wine can provide the heart a boost for better health, it is important to consume any alcoholic beverage in moderation. Overuse of wine or any other alcoholic beverage can have adverse impacts on the body.

When there’s a desire to unwind at the end of a long day, red wine can provide a flavorful boost that’s also good for the health. This timeless classic has been shown time and again to offer benefits that are good for the heart when consumption levels remain in the moderate range.