10 Best Red Wine Vinegar In 2023: Reviews & Buying Guide
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Red wine vinegar is processed red wine transformed into an essential kitchen ingredient that goes well with salads and red meat dishes as dressings, pickling, seasoning, or marinade.
There are many red wine vinegar options on the market, and some may not live up to your expectations. So to help you out, we have laid out the best red wine vinegar as well as several guidelines on how to choose the right one for you.
Our Top Picks
 
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Best Overall - Pompeian Gourmet Organic Red Wine Vinegar• Best-seller |
Most Affordable - Mantova Red Wine Vinegar• Appropriately aged in wooden casks |
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Most Unique Flavor - Banyuls French Red Wine Vinegar• Premium French wine aged for 5 years |
1. Pompeian Gourmet Organic Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
Customers love how this red wine vinegar can automatically revamp any dish that is lacking in flavor. They also like the natural taste and acidity of the item that perfectly works as a salad dressing.
Why We Think It’s Great
Pompeian is known for its olive oil, but its red wine vinegar is also popular. It is the best-selling red wine vinegar in America. It has 5% acidity, is non-allergenic and gluten-free. It is made from organic grapes grown and harvested in Italy, specifically in the Emilia Romagna region, United States, and Spain.
This red wine vinegar is free from sulfites. It is unfiltered and unpasteurized combined with the mother, which is the substance that contains cellulose and acetic acid that makes alcohol into vinegar. Its fruity taste with the right acidity is well-balanced and is perfect for adding a nice zing to salads, pork, and other meats.
Who Should Buy It
If you search for high-quality and tasty red wine vinegar, you can opt to buy this one. Given that it is a best-seller on Amazon, it means that people trust this brand. It is also affordable and highly recommended by buyers.
2. Colavita Aged Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
Buyers of this red wine vinegar commented that the taste is not overwhelming. Instead, it is just enough to give extra flavors to their meals. Moreover, they also like how the vinegar looks elegant through its packaging.
Why We Think It’s Great
Try a taste of Italy with Colavita-aged red wine vinegar. It is an authentic Italian red wine vinegar made through traditional and natural ways of selecting wines and aging and fermenting them in wooden barrels.
It has about 6% acidity, has low calories, and is entirely non-GMO and gluten-free. The result is a fine vinegar with sharp and tangy notes but not overwhelming and with a robust and sandalwood flavor. One whiff of this great vinegar will get you salivating instantly.
Who Should Buy It
This red wine vinegar is excellent as a dressing for vegetable salads and a marinade for red meat and chicken. You can get two bottles of these bad boys for a very affordable price. They are also carefully packaged like red wine, making them an excellent gift for someone who enjoys cooking.
3. Mantova Italian Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
A wine vinegar user said that he likes how this red wine vinegar does not taste that strong compared to other brands she used to purchase at grocery stores. Meanwhile, another customer loves how the vinegar matches the salads and sandwiches she makes at home.
Why We Think It’s Great
Another product of Italy is Mantova Red Wine Vinegar. The ingredients are different varieties of grapes grown in Italian soil and selecting, blending, and aging are all done in Italy. It is made to achieve the highest quality, being created in a classic aging process in fine wooden casks for a longer time to develop a depth of flavor. It is low in calories and is packed with numerous health benefits, making it an excellent choice for diet, stimulating digestion, and promoting heart health.
It turns an ordinary meal into an exquisite-tasting dining experience that will leave you wanting for more, may it be an appetizer, side, or entree. It has 6% acidity and has a tangy taste with a rich flavor. People applaud it because Mantova has the right balance of sweetness and acidity that adds flavor to the meat and tenderizes them. You can also taste hints of the full-bodied wine it once was.
Who Should Buy It
If you are quite picky with your red wine vinegar’s ingredients and production, Mantova might be the brand you are looking for. Since they directly make their vinegar from Italy, you are assured of its authentic quality.
4. Viniteau Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
A customer who usually purchases her red wine vinegar at grocery stores loves how tastier and lighter the Viniteau tastes. She also commented that the red wine vinegar is not that acidic, which is a huge plus for her.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Viniteau red wine vinegar is also an Italian product, aged for two long years in oak barrels for maximum quality, and has 6.5% acidity. It is slightly more expensive than the other Italian red wine vinegars on the list, but it is not for naught.
The aging process duration results in vinegar with a more pronounced fruity red wine flavor and a pleasantly sour taste. It is also surprisingly mild in acidity, making it great for sweet and sour dishes, but it works best as a salad vinaigrette.
Who Should Buy It
If you are into salads and looking for the best red wine vinegar to make a fantastic vinaigrette, we recommend Viniteau red wine vinegar.
5. Banyuls Traditional French Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
Customers were thankful that they could find this red wine vinegar on Amazon as it is quite challenging to look for it in local grocery shops. They also appreciate that the French take on red wine vinegar made their dishes even more flavorful.
Why We Think It’s Great
The other foreign contender in this list of red wine vinegar is the French Banyuls. Banyuls is made from a famous premium wine in France called vins doux, which translates to “sweet wine.”
The wine is made from grenache grapes grown and harvested in Banyuls-Sur-Mer, a commune on France’s southwest coast. The red wine vinegar’s outstanding qualities are obtained owing to the whopping five years of aging in oak casks that help retain the wine qualities. It is also characterized by its rosy golden color and works best for duck meat, foie gras, and game meats.
Who Should Buy It
If you are looking for a red wine vinegar that tastes slightly different, this is a good option. Its flavor borders between balsamic vinegar and sherry vinegar. It also has hints of licorice, orange peel, vanilla, and nuts. This red wine vinegar is a bit on the sweeter side, but overall, it has a clean and well-balanced flavor.
6. Terra Medi Greek Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
A customer who misses wine from Greece fell in love with this red wine vinegar. According to her, its affordable price will get you good quality Greek red wine vinegar. Another buyer loves how the vinegar can give that Mediterranean flavor to his dishes.
Why We Think It’s Great
Experience Greek cuisine with the Terra Medi red wine vinegar. It is made from Corinthian grapes grown at Peloponnese’s estates in Greece through a natural process resulting in bright and crisp vinegar.
Besides Greek food, it is also good with other Mediterranean foods and greatly complements Terra Medi’s olive oil or other Greek olive oils. It has a unique golden color due to the grapes’ natural pigmentation and the fact that it has no added colors and sweeteners.
Who Should Buy It
If you like a nice-looking bottle of red wine vinegar in your kitchen, this is an excellent option to have. It is presented very well, with a simple bottle that highlights the vinegar’s hue, making it a fabulous addition to your condiment shelf. It gives a delightful sweet and sour taste that is great for making salads, sauces, and meat dishes.
7. Fini Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
An Amazon customer, who is also a chef, commented that some people don’t realize how red wine vinegar is essential to any salad dressing. He highly recommends that people purchase this red wine vinegar to level up their dishes.
Why We Think It’s Great
Red wine vinegar is already a special ingredient that costs more than any other condiment or seasoning, but this one is worth it.
This expensive bottle of red wine vinegar hails from Modena, Italy. It is specially made with selected wines and by slow and careful fermentation and aging in wooden barrels to get the right mix of flavors and aroma. It has 7% acidity and has a great blend of sweetness and tartness.
Who Should Buy It
If you like to splurge just to get the most exquisite ingredient to add life to your dishes, we recommend the Fini red wine vinegar. It is a handy condiment entirely made for light dishes such as salad dressings, soups, sauces, and marinades.
8. Progresso Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
A customer loves this red wine vinegar so much that she’s been using it for over 50 years! She likes how the taste of the vinegar can level up her salads and dressings. Another buyer appreciates the affordable price given its high-quality taste.
Why We Think It’s Great
The wine used in this red wine vinegar is diluted with water to reach a 5% acidity, an excellent level for light and fatty dishes, such as vegetable-based ones and meat dishes. Perfect for sauces and marinades, this red wine vinegar is a handy ingredient with great value to have in your kitchen.
Who Should Buy It
If you are watching out for your figure but still want good food, try the Progresso red wine vinegar. It has zero calories and zero fat and provides the perfect balance of sweetness and crispness to your salads and other vegetable dishes.
9. Heinz Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
An Amazon shopper said that she has been using this red wine vinegar for her coleslaw, and she likes how it does not have any bitter taste. She always makes sure that this item is available in her kitchen whenever she needs to amp up her salad or any home-cooked meals.
Why We Think It’s Great
This red wine vinegar makes use of a special Burgundy wine made from grapes grown in New York and Georgia. Given that it is Burgundy wine, you should expect a vibrant and rich flavor and color. It also has 5% acidity and zero calories and fat.
Heinz red wine vinegar has a full taste, free from any bitterness, and hints of sweetness that are best enjoyed raw. Just add a bit of olive oil, and you will have a delicious and guilt-free vinaigrette in no time. It can also go beyond salad dressings, including marinades.
Who Should Buy It
With all the imported red wine vinegar on the list, there has to be an American contender. If you are new to red wine vinegar and are just starting to incorporate it into your dishes, Heinz is the right choice because it gives you a standard or basis on what red wine vinegar is supposed to taste.
10. Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar
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What Customers Have To Say
Amazon customers love this red wine vinegar for its taste and packaging. They also like how the vinegar does not taste that strong but still gives a whole new flavor to their dishes. Plus, they adore the beautiful bottle and packaging.
Why We Think It’s Great
Great value, beneficial to health, and exceeds expectations, Napa Valley red wine vinegar is a staple in many kitchens. It is made from a barrel-aged Italian wine with a blend of the best grapes, olives, seeds, nuts, and bottled water in the United States.
This red wine vinegar is also unpasteurized and unfiltered so that it can develop a depth of flavors. Made from a rich California red wine, it has 6% acidity and contains natural sulfites and no added sugars and coloring.
Who Should Buy It
This red wine vinegar comes in an enticing bottle that shows off its vibrant ruby hue. Its flavor profile is more on the fruity and tart side, making it suitable for vinaigrettes, pasta, and marinades. It is certified organic, free from BPA, calories, fat, sodium, and is vegan and non-GMO.
Best Red Wine Vinegar Buying Guide
If you’re new to red wine vinegar or want to replace the brand you’re currently using, here are a couple of factors to consider before buying a bottle.
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Taste
Red wine vinegar can be categorized based on the type of wine that was used to make it. Each type has its balance of sweetness and sourness that set them apart from others. This is also due to the red wine’s grape variety, age, and barrels fermented in, resulting in the red wine vinegar’s flavor profile.
Naturally, people have different preferences. But, how can you tell the taste of red wine vinegar before buying it? The safer route would be to stick to the red wine you are familiar with, as it has the same flavor, aroma, and acidic taste.
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Price
An item’s price does not always dictate its quality. Some red wine vinegar brands offer a significant discount wherein you can get more than one bottle at a reasonable price. On the other hand, other red wine vinegars are imported, so you can expect them to have a higher price.
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Versatility
Some red wine vinegar can be used for almost anything, from vegetable dishes, meat dishes, fish dishes, as well as sauces and dressings. However, others only work best for salads; these are the red wine vinegar brands that pair well with olive oil to make a great vinaigrette. If you want to save money, choose the brand that works with an array of foods.
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Acidity
Some people appreciate a touch of acidity in their dishes for a bright and crisp taste. Red wine vinegar has an acidity level that can range from 5-8%. The higher the acidity level, the better the vinegar is used for preserving foods. For instance, in pickling, you have to use vinegar with at least 5% acidity.
Some of the red wine vinegar is diluted with water, so their acidity level can be reduced to the standard 5%. Other higher quality red wine vinegar tends to have a lower acidity level, about 5-6%. The aging process usually takes 2 years, but it could be more, and the longer it takes to age, the more the vinegar gets mellowed out, thus a lesser acidity.
If you tend to have acid reflux, then choose red wine vinegar with a low acidity level. Usually, it is indicated on the bottles, so be sure to check them out first.
Red Wine Vinegar FAQ
1. Is there any alcohol in red wine vinegar?
Yes. Since red wine vinegar is made from fermented wine, there are still some alcohol traces but only in a very minimal amount.
2. Is red wine vinegar the same as balsamic wine vinegar?
Both red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar are delicious and perfectly pairs in salads as dressing. However, these two differ.
Red wine vinegar is made with red wine that has been fermented for at least a year or two. It also has a less sweet yet more assertive flavor. Meanwhile, balsamic vinegar is made from freshly harvested grapes that would usually be fermented for 12 years in a wooden cask. It also tastes sweeter and more concentrated.
3. Does red wine vinegar have to be refrigerated?
Placing your red wine vinegar in a refrigerator is not necessary. To make sure that it lasts long and maintains its freshness, store it in a cool, dry place. It should also be adequately contained and sealed in a bottle with a tight cap.
Conclusion
If you don’t have red wine vinegar or haven’t tried it yet, it’s time to use it for cooking or preparing meals in your kitchen. You will not regret buying one because many excellent brands come at an affordable price.
Red wine vinegar upgrades your dishes every time, not to mention, it helps improve your health. To make your savory meals even better, pair them with a glass of wine. Check out these cheap wines that taste like a thousand bucks and the best Moscato wines.
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