To mix or not to mix, that is the question. It’s a very simple question that doesn’t have a simple answer. Among all the explanations and rationales in favor of not mixing red and white wine, you may miss out on the fun and flavor if you decide to stick with that option.
On the other hand, if you decide to mix red and white wine without having the right information, you may set yourself in a disaster.
It’s commonly known that when you drink, you should pick your drink from the get-go and stick to it, as mixing alcohol is the expressway to sickness and nausea, ending your night not with a bang but with a whimper way too soon.
However, white and red are wines that belong to the same alcohol. You may even compare them to whiskey and bourbon, as they are both whiskeys. So, can you mix red and white wine?
You can mix red and white wine and enjoy the result. Nevertheless, you need to know a few things before doing it. Educate yourself on the wine you’re mixing, and always run a test round.
In this article, I will explain how to mix red and white wine to make the best of both worlds. So, keep reading to learn how to enhance your wine experience.
How To Mix White and Red Wine?
Even though mixing red and white wine isn’t rocket science, you can’t dive into it without knowledge.
The first thing to remember and insist on is never to mix two low-quality wines, as mixing them won’t balance things out but only make them worse.
It’s logical to assume that if you mix two-bed wines, they will somehow make a better version of themselves, but that never happens. Everything bad in both wines becomes even worse when you mix them.
Therefore, mixing bad wine with a good one is better but not extremely bad. So if, for example, you have a really good bottle and a bad one, don’t mix them, as you will spoil the good one.
Mix two different quality wines if neither is extremely bad. Before mixing the desired amount and see if it would work.
Always have in mind the purpose of your mixing.
Is it to see how it would taste, or do you need it for something particular? If you mix red and white wine just because you’re curious, then go ahead and experiment all you want. However, if you want to achieve something and create a pairing drink, mix the right kinds.
For instance, mix dry red and sweet white wine to pair the wine with meaty foods. Mix sweet red and white wines if you need them for fruit salads or desserts.
Since red wine is stronger in flavors and fragrances, adding more white and less red wine is a good idea. Adding more red wine and less white will make the mixture taste and smell predominantly like red wine, in which case the mixing loses the point.
Nevertheless, this isn’t set in stone, so before mixing your wines, get to know them.
Taste and explore the red and white wine you are about to mix and choose the base wine. The base wine is the one you will use in a larger amount.
Lastly, mix the wines carefully and slowly.
Wine mixing doesn’t just happen, so pour the wines gently and mix with a spoon very gently until you see the colors homogenizing. After you mix the wines, let them set for a few minutes so that the flavors get into each other, creating a new and original drink.
Can We Drink Red Wine On White Wine?
You can drink red wine on white wine.
Red wine is more pungent and intensive than white wine, so the order in which you have it doesn’t make much of a difference. As a general rule, drinking red wine on white wine is how you should do it, as you will feel both wines equally.
White wine is generally crisper and gentler than red wine, so having it first won’t impact how your red wine tastes afterward. The red wine is the one that makes the difference, as the white wine flavor changes following the red wine.
Therefore, when drinking white and red wine alternating, it is always good advice to sip water to neutralize the palate after red wine.
If mixed in the same glass, make the base white wine, as you will hardly taste it on a red wine base.
Should You Drink Red Or White Wine First?
You can have your wines in the way that brings you the most enjoyment.
However, let’s not forget that an entire science is devoted to wine, so some knowledge is involved here. As a general rule, red comes after white, but remember that nothing has been set in stone.
Even though the rule says that red goes after white, to determine what would be best for your particular case, it’s best that you try both, swish them around your mouth and spit them.
Don’t try them subsequently without pause. Take a short break, around half a minute, before you try the next wine and see which is more pungent of both.
What Happens If You Drink White Wine After Red?
If you drink white wine after red, chances are you won’t feel the white wine as much as you would want. Red wine is generally stronger-tasting than white wine and will likely overtake the overall flavor.
Therefore, if you’re lucky, you will have a dominant red wine flavor in your mouth with hints of white wine.
Can You Mix Red And White Wine In Cooking?
You can mix red and wine in cooking. It’s also highly encouraged to mix the two, especially if you want to create or discover new and complex flavors.
Whether red or white, wine imprints on the food you cook it with.
What Not To Mix With Red Wine?
Although red wine is versatile and known to pair excellently with a wide variety of food and beverages, there’s a list of things it doesn’t pair well with due to flavor incompatibility and improper reaction.
Red wine and spicy food don’t mix as well as you might think.
This combination can intensify the alcohol content in red wine and cause indigestion or even heartburn. The alcohol content will remain the same, but the effect will be more intense, causing trouble digesting it.
Citrus fruits and red wine aren’t the best of buddies.
Even though sangria has been known to contain a few oranges and lemons, generally, citrus fruits and red wine are pretty hard on the stomach.
If you aren’t cooking, don’t mix red wine and milk under any circumstances.
Milk and red wine can be pretty heavy on the digestion function separately, so imagine what will happen if they join forces. Even if you find the taste good, I highly recommend not mixing them for anything other than cooking.
Although red wine and energy drinks are a very popular combination, especially among young party people, you shouldn’t mix them, as they can severely dehydrate you and make your heart jump.
So, even if you can handle it, never test it and avoid this combo.
What Not to Mix With White Wine?
White wine is even more versatile than red wine, as it pairs with desserts, fruit, meats, nuts, and cheeses. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t mix it with just anything.
Red meat is heavy and very intense-flavored, so it doesn’t pair well with white wine, as the tastes become bland. If you want to pair white wine and meat, go with chicken or fish, and pair red wine with red meat.
White wine pairs perfectly with cheeses, but not all cheeses. Hard and salty cheeses aren’t a good choice; opt for softer and milder cheeses instead.
Chocolate and white wine fight each other instead of pairing; white wine is way too sour for chocolate. If you want to pair white wine with something sweet, choose a lighter dessert, preferably fruit-based.