# What should I do with (homemade) wine that is a little too sweet?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** wine
**Created:** [September 11, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595 "2013-09-11T19:33:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595/1 "2013-09-11T19:33:46Z")
I made some Syrah last year. Everything went great until near the end of fermentation when it stopped short. I tried everything for restarting a stuck fermentation, talked to experts, and no luck. It’s only slightly sweet, not like a dessert wine (the Brix is about 0.5, so probably around 1% residual sugar). But it’s enough to make it a not-great wine.
So what do I do with it now? I need to move it out of the carboy soon so I’m ready for harvest this year. Do I simply readjust my expectations? Anything good/interesting I can make with it?
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### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595/2 "2013-09-11T19:50:47Z")
Sangria! Mulled wine! Great uses for slightly-sweet wine IMO.
Also probably good for desserts, like pears poached in wine.
You can also make [wine jelly](http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/do-it-yourself/2012/04/how-to-make-wine-jelly/). All sorts of jellies, really. I’ve seen cherry/wine jelly, for example.
I’d also think about pairings with it. It’s not like a semi-sweet red wine is some sort of horrible thing; Amarones and other reds are supposed to be sweet. Maybe it would go great with some desserts, or chocolates, or cheeses.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595/3 "2013-09-11T21:50:32Z")
Saute mushrooms in butter, then add some wine and reduce over med-low heat until you have a nicely thickened mushroom sauce. Flatten a chicken breast, dip in egg and bread crumbs, fry in some olive oil/butter mixture. Serve with orzo; top with the mushrooms.
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### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595/4 "2013-09-12T16:24:12Z")
I have about 6 gallons, so this is going to be a hell of a lot of mushroom sauce. 🙂
Thanks for the suggestions. It pains me a bit to think of it as a cooking wine after all the effort I put in, but it beats pouring it down the drain. Sangria is also a good suggestion.
Or maybe I should make brandy…
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### Author:  [@Shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595/5 "2013-09-12T17:09:04Z")
You could always bottle and save it until you make another batch of the same style and blend them together. Assuming you don’t screw the next one up too 🙂 Who knows, while you are waiting, the wine is bottle conditioning and may improve all on its own.
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### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595/6 "2013-09-12T17:13:31Z")
I have considered that, but if my next batch is good I probably don’t want to mess it up by blending. Maybe I should be keeping my fingers crossed for an overly dry batch.
Either way, I’ll bottle this stuff for now.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-homemade-wine-that-is-a-little-too-sweet/668595/7 "2013-09-12T18:44:39Z")
> [@TroutMan](#):
>
> I have about 6 gallons, so this is going to be a hell of a lot of mushroom sauce. 🙂
>
> Thanks for the suggestions. It pains me a bit to think of it as a cooking wine after all the effort I put in, but it beats pouring it down the drain. Sangria is also a good suggestion.
>
> Or maybe I should make brandy…
Never cook with a wine you wouldn’t drink.