Sherry Vinegar and Sherry Cooking Wine are both related to Sherry and used in the kitchen. Many people think they are the same but are they?
This article will teach you more about Sherry Vinegar vs. Sherry Cooking Wine. What’s the difference?
First, I will introduce both products, what they are made of, and where you can buy them. Then I will compare them against each other to show you the differences and help you with your purchase decision.
Sherry Vinegar
Ingredients
Ingredients in sherry vinegar differ from brand to brand – and there are different types of sherry vinegar.
The most basic sherry vinegar ingredients are fermented Sherry wine and antioxidant (Sulphur Dioxide).
Some sherry vinegar will also have additional ingredients, but generally, the ingredient list is very short – and that’s how it should be.
How Is Sherry Vinegar Made?
Sherry vinegar is made from sherry wine. Sherry wine is fermented to produce a unique vinegar (which can only be called Sherry when it is produced in certain regions of the world, which results in it being rarer than other kinds of vinegar).
Sherry wine, and in turn sherry vinegar, is usually made from Palomino, Pedro Ximénez, or Moscatel grapes (not a large percentage, though).
What Kinds Of Sherry Vinegar Are Available? Where Can I Buy It?
There are different ways to classify sherry vinegar. The first depends on how long it has been aged in oak barrels. There are three different ones.
- Vinagre de Jerez 6 months of aging (minimum)
- Vinagre de Jerez Reserva 2 years of aging (minimum)
- Vinagre de Jerez Gran Reserva 10 years of aging (minimum)
In addition, the type of grape it has been made from also plays a role. As mentioned above, there are three types.
- Palomino is the standard, most common sherry vinegar with floral and pear-like flavors
- Pedro Ximénez is a very interesting taste experience, it’s a mix of sweet, tangy, and savory – intense, but quite delightful
- Moscatel is probably the sweetest of the three
Most likely, you won’t be able to find all types in your local grocery store. Sherry vinegar isn’t as common as balsamic vinegar. However, most grocery stores should have one or two brands or types on the shelf.
If not, you can turn to online shops that specialize in selling vinegar or to everyone’s good friend Amazon.
Columela Sherry Vinegar Clasico is made from Palomino grapes, an imported product.
O California’s Sherry Vinegar is made from Palomino grapes, with a lightly floral flavor and smooth taste.
Arvum Sherry Vinegar is made from Palomino grapes, an imported product.
Sherry Cooking Wine
Ingredients
The ingredient list of Sherry Cooking Wine is a little longer than that of Sherry Vinegar.
In addition to the actual wine, you will usually see ingredients like brandy, salt, and preservatives. Beware sherry cooking wines with added sugar as these are often low quality.
How Is Sherry Cooking Wine Made? What Is It?
Sherry Cooking Wine is a fortified wine and is often confused with the actual Sherry Wine. It’s easy to be confused as the process of making both is similar.
Sherry Cooking Wine is high in alcohol, with anything between 14% and 17% alcohol content.
Unlike Sherry Wine, Sherry Cooking Wine is fortified after the fermentation process. Usually, brandy is added, and also a little bit of salt. This strengthens the flavor and helps the product have a longer shelf life.
What Kinds Of Sherry Cooking Wine Are Available? Where Can I Buy It?
Unlike Sherry Vinegar, Sherry Cooking Wine is pretty simple, with no different categories. It’s a straightforward product.
Sherry Cooking Wine can be bought in big grocery stores, and smaller grocery stores might have one or two brands available. Walmart and similar stores that sell groceries also have Sherry Cooking Wine for sale.
If you want to have a bigger selection, Amazon is helpful. Some nice Sherry Cooking Wines on Amazon.
Holland House Cook Wine Sherry is a rich cooking sherry with nut and caramel flavors, which makes it ideal for desserts.
Kedem Gourmet Cooking Sherry is with a rounded flavor, this cooking sherry is great for various dishes but goes particularly well with salmon.
Reese Sherry Cooking Wine is a good cooking sherry for sauces and stews.
Comparison Questions
Which Is More Acidic?
Cooking Sherry Wine has an acidity of 3-4%, while Sherry Vinegar’s acidity ranges from 6-7%.
As a pH level of 7% is neutral, and anything below it is acidic, cooking Sherry Wine is more acidic – which is one of the reasons why you shouldn’t drink it and only use it for cooking.
Which Is More Affordable?
There are so many different brands and varieties of Sherry Vinegar, so it isn’t easy to make a direct comparison. However, cooking Sherry Wine is generally a lot more affordable than Sherry Vinegar.
You can find Sherry Cooking Wine for as little as $0.20 per fl oz, whereas Sherry Vinegar can easily cost four to five times more on average.
This does not come as a surprise because Sherry Vinegar is a higher-quality product.
Which Has More Uses? Which Is Better For Cooking?
Both can be used for the same dishes, but when you look at the variety of Sherry Vinegar available, it’s easy to see that it is more versatile overall.
Sherry Cooking Wine is best for everyday cooking, while Sherry Vinegar gives dishes that bit extra and makes them more special.
Sherry Vinegar is gentler on your stomach than Sherry Cooking Wine and contains fewer ingredients, so I would always pick it first if I had to choose.
Final Thoughts
While there is nothing wrong with Sherry Cooking Wine, Sherry Vinegar is a better quality product.
The main difference is that Sherry Cooking Wine has some other ingredients added to it and doesn’t have to go through the same kind of aging process as Sherry Vinegar.