Does Red Wine Vinegar Actually Contain Alcohol?

Red wine vinegar is a tangy, zesty ingredient that can add depth to vinaigrettes, robustness to marinades, and richness to all sorts of salads. But the name itself can cause some confusion — does red wine vinegar actually contain alcohol?

The short answer is yes, a tiny bit, but so little that it's negligible. Red wine vinegar usually contains less than 0.5% alcohol content. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau even classifies that commercial strength vinegar — the kind often used for cleaning — may not contain more than 0.5% alcohol by volume in the finished product. For comparison, a bottle of red wine often has around 13.5% alcohol content. So, the minimal alcohol in red wine vinegar can't cause any of the effects of alcohol, even if consumed in large quantities.

Red wine vinegar is made through a fermentation process that starts with red wine. During this process, almost all of the alcohol in the wine is converted into acetic acid, which gives the vinegar its distinctive tangy taste. The tiny amount of alcohol that isn't fermented is what leaves the minute alcohol content in your red wine vinegar.

There are many different types of vinegars, all created from slightly different base products, but all put through a similar fermentation process. And here's a fun fact — as a natural preservative, vinegar doesn't really go bad. So, feel free to add some red wine vinegar to your pantry and drizzle it over your dishes at your leisure!

Red wine vinegar is beloved for its robust, deep flavor. It's a go-to for steak marinades and is a delicious option for marinating portobello mushrooms. It also shines when mixed with extra-virgin olive oil to create an earthy vinaigrette. It works perfectly in a French green bean salad topped with baked goat cheese. For a deeper, richer coleslaw recipe, try swapping freshly squeezed lemon juice for your favorite red wine vinegar. You can also bring out the fruity notes in red wine vinegar (after all, it's made from wine, which is made from grapes) by pairing it with fruity salads — think frisée and arugula salad with slices of pear, tossed with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts.