Red wine vinegar

Vinaigre de vin rouge

What it is

The word is a plain description — vin aigre, sour wine — and for most of history it was an accident rather than a product. Roman soldiers drank it diluted as posca, which is what was offered to Christ on the cross.

In the kitchen

Deglaze a pan with it rather than wine when you want the acidity to survive reduction. Wine loses its edge, vinegar keeps it.

Goes with

Shallot Olive oil Oyster Black pepper Mustard Garlic Thyme Onion

Same species

Cider vinegar Honey vinegar Malt vinegar Rice vinegar White wine vinegar

Also used with

Aiguillette baronne Ají panca Ajvar Banana shallot Charolais beef Rouge des Prés beef

Something wrong here, or missing? Tell us