How to Make Vinegar From Old Wine

Any liquid with sugar or starch can become vinegar.

Wine vinegar is often used in savory recipes, as a base for a salad dressing or marinade. Vinegar can be made from old red or white wine, with slightly different flavors: red wine is stronger than white wine vinegar and is more often used as a marinade. Homemade wine vinegar is a good way to use leftover wine and it is quite easy to make. It is not necessary to use a starter culture to make wine vinegar; however, if you choose to do this, visit a store for home brew supplies to purchase a starter.

Things You'll Need

• Wide, open-mouthed Mason jars
• Wine
• Dish cloth
• Water
• Jug with spout

Instructions

1. Purchase enough wide-mouth glass Mason jars to accommodate the wine you would like to turn into vinegar. Wash and dry the jars.

2. Pour the wine into the jars. Pour white and red wines into different jars to preserve each wine's specific flavor.

3. Place the jars of wine in a safe place at room temperature. Leave the jars open. Although air circulation is fundamental to the vinegar-making process, it may be a good idea to keep the wine away from open doors or windows where it may attract flies.

4. Pour the fermented wine into a jug or bottle with a spout that allows for easy serving and can be closed airtight. Wait a few weeks until you put the wine into the serving jug to ensure the wine is appropriately fermented.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep vinegar in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry. The flavor should last in the bottle for approximately six months.

• If you spot signs of mold during storage, discard the vinegar.

References

• Martha Stewart Recipes: Vinegar 101
• Martha Stewart Recipes: Champagne Vinaigrette
• Vinegar Man: How to Make Vinegar

Resources

• Wine Tastings Guide: How to Make Wine Vinegar