Many ways to recycle leftover wine

What to Do with Leftover Wine? 9 Creative Ways to Reuse It

It often happens that some wine is left over after a dinner with friends or family or even after opening a bottle just for one glass.

The question that always follows is: what can you do with leftover wine? Contrary to popular belief, wine doesn’t necessarily improve once opened it only ages well under ideal conditions, and an opened bottle in the fridge is not one of them. Throwing it away would be a shame, so in today’s article we’ve collected several creative and sustainable ways to reuse your leftover wine instead of wasting it.

1 - Use It for Sauces and Meat

Wine is one of the most popular ingredients for making meat and sauce dishes and sometimes even fish, though in that case it’s best to use leftover white wine. It enhances flavor and adds richness to sauces, stews, and risottos.

2 - Use It in Desserts

It might sound unusual, but wine can also be used to flavor desserts. Try adding it to recipes for aromatic jellies or glazes a creative touch that will surprise your guests.

3 - Freeze It into Cubes

This idea doesn’t come to mind immediately, but it’s brilliant! Wine especially white can be frozen into cubes and used in cocktails or aperitifs. These wine cubes keep your drink chilled without diluting it, making them a perfect alternative to ice cubes.

4 - Make a Natural Fabric Dye

Want to add color to a white shirt or fabric? You can use leftover red wine as a natural dye. Boil a mix of water and wine, then soak the fabric for about 10 minutes. You’ll get a soft, organic tone depending on the fabric and duration.

5 - Fertilizer for Plants

Wine can also be used as a plant fertilizer, promoting stronger and more vibrant growth. Few people know that wine contains nutrients beneficial to the soil. If you have leftover wine you don’t plan to drink soon, pour a small amount into the potting soil your plants will thank you!

6 - Use White Wine to Remove Red Wine Stains

Sounds strange, right? But it works! You can actually use white wine to remove red wine stains. Avoid using more red wine that would only worsen the stain.

Mix white wine and baking soda to make a natural stain remover. Soak the stained fabric in this solution for a few minutes before washing.

7 - Use Wine as a Natural Food Disinfectant

The alcohol content in wine helps eliminate bacteria from food. White wine, in particular, can be used to clean fruits and vegetables just like baking soda or vinegar solutions.

8 - A Skin Toner and Firming Treatment

Have you ever noticed your skin feels smoother after spilling wine on your hand? That’s because wine can have a toning effect on the skin. To use it as a natural tonic, soak a cotton pad in fresh wine and apply it to your face or body. Repeat daily for a few days you’ll notice firmer, more elastic skin and improved tone.

9 - A Natural Surface Cleaner

Just like with food, leftover white wine can be used to clean kitchen surfaces. It’s great for glass and countertops, helping to disinfect and neutralize odors much like vinegar. It’s a safe, natural, and eco-friendly way to keep your kitchen sparkling.

As you can see, there are plenty of creative ways to reuse leftover wine: from cooking to gardening, from beauty care to household cleaning. So next time you have some wine left in the bottle, don’t throw it away recycle it creatively and sustainably!