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.

Just because a bottle of wine doesn’t cost an arm and a leg doesn’t mean it is going to offer a substandard flavor or experience. There are many wines available for well under $50 a bottle that make extraordinary choices for special occasions, dinners and parties.

The reality is that most wines produced around the world are offered in the “moderate” price range. This involves wines that sell for between $10 and $80 a bottle. The types of wine available in this classification include every color and flavor imaginable. From very good reds to super dry whites and sensationally sweet dessert wines ,the options in this range generally astound and many offer exceptional taste belying their low price points.

There are a variety of reasons why selecting an affordable table wine is a wise choice to make. Other than the ability to pinch a few pennies, affordable wines can deliver an amazing range of flavors. These are just a few of the reasons why even a “budget” priced wines might be priced that way even if they offer award-winning tastes:

Special Purchases

Some very good wines are available at budget pricing simply because the importer or retailer was able to make a special purchase. Wineries, like all other businesses, will often offer discounts to purchasers who buy in bulk. The savings realized in the purchase is often passed on to customers as a result.

Up-And-Coming Wineries Offer Excellence For Less

It takes a long time for a winery to earn a reputation that fetches a high price per bottle. Many wineries might have solid reviews, but just won’t ever reach the pinnacle of pricing for whatever reason.

While a Chateau Lafitte might sell for several hundred dollars a bottle, most wineries just don’t have this recognition or pricing pull. In an effort to raise their brand names and value per bottle, up-and-coming wineries will often charge a lower prices for their vintages. As their wines earn accolades and their brand star rises, the pricing might increase accordingly.

There is a benefit involved in trying lower-priced wines from up-and-coming or new wineries. It is found in the fact that many of these businesses are, in fact, striving to earn solid reputations. This means they will go above and beyond to produce wines that offer an incredible flavor so they can gain a following. If they are successful, they might find themselves with a brand that fetches a higher price down the road.

Some Wineries Strive For Overall Value

There are wineries located in wine-producing countries all over the world that work very hard to produce excellent wines at lower prices. They strive to offer taste and value both in every bottle they sell. From small wineries in the Napa Valley to wine producers in France, Spain, Germany and beyond, these labels produce very good wines, but set their price points lower by design.

Just because a wine doesn’t fetch $100 a bottle doesn’t mean that it’s not a good wine. There are a variety of reasons why budget brands are well worth exploring. Some very good flavors are available on the budget market just waiting for enthusiasts to give them a try.

When true epicurean delight is desired from a meal, having the right wine pairing is a must. Beef lovers will find they are not limited in their options. Red wines, however, do make the grade for pairings more often than their white counterparts.

Generally, the idea behind pairings is to select wines that compliment the food being served. A good wine will ultimately bring out the flavor of the food more readily and will not compete with it or overpower it. When the right pairing is made, every bite and every sip will offer incredible flavor sensations.

So, what wines can beef lovers pair with their favorite dishes?

Here are some fairly common beef-based dishes and the wines that tend to suit them more readily:

• Most steaks – Steaks such as porterhouse, New York strips and filet mignons go very well with cabernets and red Bordeaux. Malbec and Grenache can also be served with most beef dishes.
• Top sirloin – This cut of steak is best served with a good merlot. This wine, however, can be used as a great pairing for just about any beef dish if other varieties of wine are not available.
• Beef bourguignon – This dish, as the name suggests, should be served with a pinot noir or burgundy wine.
• Pot roast – Zinfandel works beautifully with this more laid-back roast style. This wine is also an excellent choice for pairing with gourmet hamburgers.
• Veal – This type of delicate, young beef is where white wines really come into play. Chardonnay is a good choice for most veal dishes. Pinot grigio, however, tends to suit parmigiana a bit better.

Beef dishes are very well suited for pairing with wine. It is important to make sure the wine selected brings out the flavor of the dish rather than overpowering it. Do remember if cooking beef in wine, the best pairing choice is the same wine used in meal preparation.