What is the deal with DRY white wine... why is it called "dry"?

Question

I am just wondering the difference b/n dry wine and regular wine.. also, what is a good white wine to cook with?

Answer 1

When a recipe calls for dry, white wine I usually cook with Chardonnay. Very cheap wine will leave your dish tasting stale, but cooking wine needn't be expensive. I buy cooking wine at the supermarket and look for bottles in the $8-10 range. I've found that vintage doesn't really matter, as long as you don't buy the $2.99 special. If I'm making a very delicate sauce, I'll choose a slightly more expensive bottle, in the $13-15 range.

Answer 2

You can use any inexpensive white wine that does not say that it is sweet - just read the labels, and if you're thinking of buying a half bottle be aware that many sweet wines come in that size. You can't really rely on the variety. A sweet wine can be made from any variety -- someone mentioned Sauvignon Blanc (SB) and indeed most of the SBs are very dry but Sauternes -- some of the sweetest and most expensive wines are made from SB. The reason they ask for white wine is that a red wine will color the dish, and a sweet wine will add too much sweetness. Since you are cooking with it you don't need to spend a lot of money.

Answer 3

Just as the others have said dry wines have less sugar. "Regular" wine is sweeter and is most likely aged less. I have found the best wines for cooking are wines that are also good for drinking. So if you don't want to drink it, chances are you are not going to like it in your food. I like Rieslings myself. They are a bit sweeter, and have a nice after taste. I also have cooked with Rieslings and have found it tho be wonderful in gravies and soups. Just be sure to add the wine towards the end of your cooking because the longer it cooks the more blended it becomes with the other flavors.

Answer 4

A dry wine means that the fermentation process is allowed to convert most of the sugars from the juice into alcohol. A sweet wine either had the fermentation stopped, had very high sugar content in the juice to start with, or had sugar added.

Answer 5

dry is the opposite of sweet, when you're talking about wine.

white wines aren't usually as dry as red wines

any wine is good to cook with. the better the wine, the better it will turn out.

Answer 6

Dry means it is high in tannins (from grape skins) that makes your mouth sort of pucker and feel cottony or "dry" inside. A sweet wine would be the opposite of dry.

Ever had bitter iced tea? That could be called dry as well.

Answer 7

According to my daughter (who drinks while I do not), dry wine actually makes your mouth feel dry after you've sipped it, whereas other wines do not leave you with that sensation.

Answer 8

Free from moisture; having little humidity or none; arid; not wet or moist; deficient in the natural or normal supply of moisture

Answer 9

Animal lover is right.

http://www.foodforthoughtonline.net/

Answer 10

wine is too strong!!