What can I substitute for white wine?

Running low on white wine? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.

white wine — ingredient substitution guide — Photo by Creative Vix on Pexels

About white wine

White wine is a fermented grape beverage with a characteristic acidity, subtle fruity flavour, and complex aromatics that make it a staple in savoury cooking. It is used to deglaze pans, build sauces, poach fish, and add depth to risottos and braises. Its alcohol content helps carry fat-soluble flavour compounds while its acidity brightens and balances rich dishes.

Best substitute

chicken or vegetable stock with a splash of lemon juice

Stock provides a savoury depth similar to white wine, and a squeeze of lemon juice replicates the acidity that helps balance and brighten dishes. Use about 1 tsp of lemon juice per ½ cup of stock.

Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of white wine

deglazingsaucesbraisesrisottopoachingmarinades requiring alcoholflambéing

Alternative

dry vermouth

Dry vermouth is a fortified wine with a similar flavour profile to dry white wine, and is in fact preferred by some cooks for its concentrated herbal and floral notes. It is an excellent one-to-one swap in most cooked applications.

Use ¾ cup for every 1 cup of white wine — it is slightly more intensely flavoured

saucesdeglazingrisottobraisespoachingrecipes requiring a neutral flavour

What is white wine called in other countries?

Country	Name
Australia	white wine
Canada	white wine
New Zealand	white wine
United Kingdom	white wine
United States	white wine

Common names for white wine

dry white winecooking white winewhite table wine

Related ingredients

wine

3 substitutes available

stock

2 substitutes available

beer

5 substitutes available

red wine

5 substitutes available

coconut milk

5 substitutes available

chicken stock

5 substitutes available

Alternative

white grape juice with lemon juice

White grape juice provides the fruity sweetness and body of white wine, while lemon juice adds the necessary acidity. This is a good alcohol-free option, though the result will be slightly sweeter than using wine.

Use ¾ cup grape juice plus 2 tbsp lemon juice for every 1 cup of white wine

saucesbraisespoachingdeglazingstrongly savoury dishesflambéing

Alternative

apple cider vinegar diluted with water

Apple cider vinegar diluted with water mimics the tartness and slight fruitiness of white wine without any alcohol. Use sparingly as it is more acidic than wine and can easily overpower a dish.

Use 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar topped up with water to make ¼ cup, for every ¼ cup of white wine

deglazingsaucesmarinadesrisottolarge volume reductionspoaching

Alternative

dry apple cider (alcoholic)

Dry alcoholic apple cider shares white wine's acidity and fruitiness and works particularly well in pork, chicken, and seafood dishes. Choose a dry rather than sweet variety to avoid excessive sweetness in the final dish.

Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of white wine

braisessaucesdeglazingpoachingdelicately flavoured dishesrisotto