3 Best Substitutes for White Wine Vinegar

White wine vinegar is made from white wine that has gone through a bacterial fermentation process and oxidized into an acid. The flavor leftover from the wine after oxidation is light and fruity resulting in a lovely balance of sour and sweet.

White wine vinegar is typically used for making basic brine to pickle fruits and vegetables. It is also great for adding brightness and tang to homemade salad dressings and side dishes such as potato salads and coleslaws.

White vinegar also adds a nice acidity to braising liquids and will maintain its flavor as the sauce reduces to result in tender chicken or meat. It is also a common ingredient in French sauces such as hollandaise and bearnaise.

Because white wine vinegar is versatile and commonly used in many recipes, you may find yourself running out of it and needing a substitute. Alternatively, you may want to try a different flavor profile to substitute for white wine vinegar. You may enjoy replacing white wine vinegar in recipes with one of the following varieties of vinegar.

Why Use an Alternative?

Allergies to white wine vinegar are not common and may be caused by the ingredients in the vinegar. Ingredients in white wine vinegar that people may be intolerant or sensitive to are salicylates, histamine, sulfites, and acetic acid.

Symptoms include swelling, stuffy nose, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and tingling sensations. Additionally, if you are allergic to wine you may experience symptoms such as rhinitis or asthma when consuming white wine vinegar.

White wine vinegar has a pleasant level of tanginess, making it useful for a wide variety of recipes. Due to its balanced and distinct flavor, you will want to look for a substitute that has a similar flavor profile and ensure your substitute is not too overpowering or highly acidic.

You will also want to consider the color. White wine vinegar has the advantage of its light coloring whereas other replacements may change the color of your dish. If you use white wine vinegar frequently, you may go through the bottle quickly and find yourself needing to have other types of vinegar on hand.

White Wine Vinegar Nutrition

The nutrition information for 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of white wine vinegar is provided by the USDA.

White wine vinegar is not a significant source of calories, macronutrients, or micronutrients and fits into a variety of eating styles. It is a suitable condiment for vegan and gluten-free diets.

Popular Substitutes

If you do not have any allergies to the ingredients, the best substitutes for white wine vinegar are other vinegars that are also derived from fermented wine. Using these substitutes promises a similar tangy and fruity flavor profile. These white wine vinegar substitutes can be used in a one-to-one ratio in your recipes that call for some variety of vinegar to add a sour and tangy bite.

Sherry Vinegar

Sherry vinegar is a type of vinegar also made from fermented wine similar to the process of white wine vinegar. Sherry vinegar is slightly sweeter with a nuttier flavor, giving it a bit more distinctive flavor, though it can be used in many recipes as a successful substitute.

Nutritionally speaking, sherry vinegar and white vinegar are identical and do not contribute a significant number of calories or macronutrients. Use sherry vinegar in marinades, salad dressings, and glazes.

Rice Vinegar

Rice vinegar (or rice wine vinegar) is made from fermented rice and shares similar flavor profiles to white wine vinegar. It is also slightly sweet and sour and frequently used in Asian cooking. Avoid using seasoned rice wine vinegar as a substitute and stick to the original flavor for best results.

Rice wine vinegar is excellent for salad dressings, coleslaws, pickled vegetables, and sauces and can be easily substituted one-to-one whenever white wine vinegar is called for. With 15 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrates, it is nutritionally similar to white wine vinegar and does not contain a significant source of macronutrients, though it can contribute a significant source of sodium.

Champagne Vinegar

While champagne vinegar may sound fancy, it can be one of your pantry staples when needing a vinegar substitute. Its flavor profile resembles that of white wine vinegar with a bit of a milder and more delicate taste.

Champagne vinegar is typically made from chardonnay and pinot noir grapes and fermented with bacteria. It is a perfect substitute for white wine vinegar when making seafood dishes, sauces, and marinades. Additionally, it can impart an interesting flavor to brine for pickled vegetables.

Due to its milder flavor, you may want to add a bit more champagne vinegar than the white wine vinegar that is called for in your recipe. Champagne vinegar and white vinegar have identical nutrition profiles and do not contribute a significant source of calories.

A Word From Verywell

When cooking a recipe with vinegar, it can be tricky to know the right replacement if you do not have the called-for ingredient on hand. When substituting white wine vinegar, the best substitutes are those that match the mildly fruity tang that won't overpower your dish.

You will also want to choose a vinegar light in color to keep a consistent color in your end result when substituting a different type of vinegar. Most vinegar can be used in equal amounts to white wine vinegar. If using champagne vinegar as a replacement, you may want to add a bit more due to its milder flavor.