On the other hand, sweet wines have a higher sugar content, typically more than 30 grams per liter, which contributes to their sweet taste. Dry wines have a low sugar content, typically less than 10 grams per liter, which gives them a crisp, refreshing taste. The sugar content of dry and sweet wine differs significantly. What are The Differences Between Dry And Sweet Wine? Sugar content If fermentation is stopped before all the sugar is consumed, the wine will be sweeter since more residual sugar will be left in it. The more yeast interacts with the sugar during fermentation, the less sugar will be left in the wine, making it drier. Therefore, wine’s sweetness level is largely determined by how much fermentation it undergoes. As wine ferments, the sugar in it is converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide, which makes the wine less sweet.

Try a splash in a thickened stew, soup, or sautéed meat dish.Sweet wine refers to a type of wine with a higher residual sugar level than dry wine. Bonus: It's a good option for anyone looking for a non-alcoholic substitute. While it certainly doesn't have the depth of flavor of traditional rice wines, white grape juice can add acidity and fruit flavor to a dish in the same way that a rice wine like Shaoxing wine might. Mirin is sweeter than Shaoxing rice wine, too-so you may want to adjust the sugar level in your dish. This rice wine has a slightly lower alcohol content than sake and, depending on how long it has been fermented, can have a strong flavor. Mirin is a good sub: It's a Japanese rice wine that's made from fermenting steamed glutinous rice, mixing it with a rice liquor and allowing the fermentation process to take place. If your recipe calls for Shaoxing rice wine but you don't have any, think about using another kind of rice wine. Just keep in mind that gin has a higher alcohol content, so you'll want to use only a fraction of it compared to what you'd use of the rice wine. Since gin is vaguely similar in flavor to some rice wines, it can be used as a substitute in certain recipes. Just be sure to use a dry white wine and not a sweet one. It's great for marinades and sauces.Ī regular dry white wine for cooking is definitely not the same as a traditional Shaoxing wine, but it could add a nice subtle alcoholic flavor to a dish-it will work as a rice wine substitute in a pinch. This Japanese alcoholic drink is made by a multi-step fermentation process-and it can work as a rice wine substitute (some sources call sake a rice wine, though it's actually brewed more like a beer). Be sure to use dry sherry, not cream sherry, which is sweet. Sherry, which comes from southern Spain, is a fortified wine, meaning it has spirits added to it, giving it a higher alcohol content than average wines. If your recipe calls for rice wine and you don't have any in your pantry, try one of the rice wine substitutes below-just keep in mind that each one will have a slightly different flavor.ĭry sherry can be a good substitute for rice wine in a recipe. Cheongju, a clear Korean rice wine, is another choice. Mirin, a Japanese rice wine, is another popular kind-it's light in color and slightly sweet (sweeter than sake). One common kind is Shaoxing wine (also spelled Shaohsing), which comes from the city of Shaoxing in the Zhejiang province of China it's light brown in appearance (it's a variety of huangjiu, Chinese 'yellow wine'). There are various kinds of rice wine, each with their own unique flavor-and many are good for both drinking and cooking.

Not dry white wine