If a recipe calls for red wine vinegar and you don’t have any, you can likely substitute with balsamic vinegar, white vinegar mixed with red wine, or even tamarind paste.
Red wine vinegar is made by fermenting red wine. It has a distinct tangy and slightly sweet flavor that lends itself well to many dishes. Better yet, it contains health-promoting antioxidants (1).
Many people use it in Mediterranean-style dishes, gazpachos, pickling recipes, marinades, and vinaigrettes.
I often mix it with extra virgin olive oil and herbs to make an easy, homemade salad dressing. I love how simple it is to make and how much flavor it offers — even in small amounts.
If you’re following a recipe that calls for red wine vinegar but you’ve run out, no need to worry. Here are 8 red wine vinegar substitutes that work in a pinch.
Share on PinterestCameron Whitman/Stocksy United1. Balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a common pantry staple in many households.
It’s made from fermented grape juice and features undertones of molasses, fig, and cherry. Compared with red wine vinegar, it’s thicker, darker, and sweeter, so you may need to tone down the sweetness of the dish you’re cooking (2).
To use it in place of red wine vinegar in salad dressings, simply substitute it in at a 1:1 ratio. For other recipes like marinades or dressings for pizza or crostini, you may prefer to first dilute it with white vinegar or red wine at a 1:1 ratio.
Balsamic vinegar is also delicious on fruit, roasted tomatoes, cubed avocado, and grilled sweet potatoes.
SUMMARYUse balsamic vinegar as a 1:1 substitute for red wine vinegar in most recipes. You can also dilute it with white vinegar or red wine. Because of its thicker, sweeter properties, you may need to reduce the sweetness in the recipe you’re following.
2. White vinegar mixed with red wine
You can make a copycat version of red wine vinegar by mixing white vinegar and red wine.
A good place to start is a 1:3 ratio of red wine to white vinegar. For example, mix 1 tablespoon of red wine and 3 tablespoons of white vinegar. Ideally, let the mixture sit for a few hours to meld together, then adjust it to taste.
Along the same lines, if you have a little red wine vinegar but not quite enough for a recipe, you can mix it with white vinegar to reach the total amount you need.
Try using this easy copycat mix anywhere that calls for red wine vinegar, such as salad dressings, sautéed mushrooms, or caramelized onions.
SUMMARYYou can make a red wine vinegar copycat mix. Simply combine white vinegar and red wine at a 1:3 ratio. Let the mixture sit for a few hours, adjust it to taste, and use it anywhere you’d use red wine vinegar.
3. Sherry vinegar
Sherry vinegar is made from sherry wine and commonly used in Spanish dishes.
It offers a sweeter flavor than red wine vinegar, so be sure to reduce any added sweetness in the original recipe you’re cooking.
In general, you can use sherry vinegar at a 1:1 ratio in place of red wine vinegar. However, because of its milder taste, you may need to add a little more.
Sherry vinegar is great for brightening up roasted vegetables, meats, soups, marinades, and vinaigrettes.
SUMMARYSherry vinegar is slightly sweeter than red wine vinegar, but it can generally be used as a 1:1 substitute.
4. White wine vinegar
White wine vinegar has an acidity similar to that of red wine vinegar, making it a great substitute.
You can swap it in at a 1:1 ratio, but be aware that the flavor is slightly less intense.
White wine vinegar generally works well for brining, béarnaise sauce, cucumber salad vinaigrette, or braising chicken.
Keep in mind that white wine vinegar is not the same thing as distilled white vinegar. White vinegar has a higher acidity and is made with grain alcohol, whereas white wine vinegar is made by fermenting white wine (3).
SUMMARYWhite wine vinegar has an acidity similar to that of red wine vinegar and can be substituted in at a 1:1 ratio in just about any recipe.
5. Rice vinegar
Rice vinegar is milder than red wine vinegar but still sweet and tangy.
To best match the flavor, you’ll generally need to use a little more rice vinegar than red wine vinegar.
Use rice vinegar to make sushi rice, pickled vegetables, marinades, and even certain cocktails.
SUMMARYRice wine vinegar can be used in place of red wine vinegar, though you may need to use a little more to match the intended taste of a recipe.
6. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apples. It’s a more potent option, boasting a stronger, fruitier flavor than that of red wine vinegar.
As such, consider reducing the vinegar amount in your recipe if you’re using the apple cider variety. You can mix it with a little red wine for a similar color and flavor.
Some of the best uses for apple cider vinegar are salad dressings and vinaigrettes. It also works well in tomato-based dishes or to make pickled vegetables and marinades.
SUMMARYApple cider vinegar has a more potent flavor than red wine vinegar, so consider adding a little less if you’re using it as a substitute. You can also mix it with a little red wine to give it a similar color.
7. Tamarind paste
While not a type of vinegar, tamarind paste is made from sour tamarind fruit. Its flavor is similar to that of red wine vinegar, and it lends itself well to many Indian and Asian dishes that call for red wine vinegar.
However, it doesn’t work well in every recipe, as it’s best used as a meat tenderizer. It has a strong flavor, so start with a small amount — like a teaspoon or two — and increase the amount from there as needed.
While red wine vinegar is widely available, tamarind paste may be more easily found in specialty stores, Asian or Indian markets, or online.
SUMMARYWhile not a type of vinegar, tamarind paste can work well in place of red wine vinegar, especially when used in small amounts as a meat tenderizer.
8. Raspberry vinegar
Raspberry vinegar has a similar color to that of red wine vinegar, though it’s slightly sweeter.
If you use this as a substitute, you may want to reduce the amount of sweetness called for in the recipe. Otherwise, it can be substituted in at a 1:1 ratio.
Use raspberry vinegar to make salad dressings and meat and mushroom marinades. Alternatively, mix it with ginger ale and ice to make a raspberry cooler drink.
SUMMARYRaspberry vinegar can be used as a 1:1 substitute for red wine vinegar in most recipes. However, it has a slightly sweeter flavor, so you may need to reduce other sweeteners in the dish.
The bottom line
Red wine vinegar is a common ingredient in recipes like salad dressings and marinades. Its tangy, sweet flavor works well in many dishes.
If you run out of red wine vinegar, plenty of alternatives work well in its place. The best part is that you probably have some of them in your pantry already.
Depending on what you have on hand, you might be able to substitute with balsamic vinegar, white vinegar mixed with red wine, or even tamarind paste.
Just one thing
Try this today: Take a look in your pantry and see which vinegars you already have but rarely use. Make a list of how they can be used — including as substitutes for red wine vinegar — and keep it on your fridge for easy reference when you’re in a pinch.