Substitutions / red wine
What to use instead of red wine
Use beef broth in equal amounts. Loses the acidity and complexity, so add a splash of balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar to compensate.
Every option, best first
| Use instead | How much | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Beef broth | 1:1 | Loses the acidity and complexity, so add a splash of balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar to compensate. |
| Grape juice | 1:1 | Much sweeter and no alcohol, so reduce added sugar elsewhere and expect a milder depth. |
| Pomegranate juice | 1:1 | Closer in color and tartness than grape juice, but still sweeter and fruitier than wine. |
A word on how to read these
A substitution is a trade, not an equivalence. The ratio gets the quantity right; the third column is the part worth reading, because it tells you what you are giving up. In a stew, most of these are invisible. In a cake — where flour, liquid, fat and leavening are in a fixed relationship — the same swap can change the crumb.
Why baking notices and stew doesn't →
Where these came from
These substitutions were written by Gather's own kitchen model — the same one the app uses when you tap an ingredient and ask what else would work — then checked and saved as a fixed list in July 2026. Nothing on this page is generated while you read it. They are a good starting point and not a substitute for tasting as you go.