You were totally responsible on New Year's Eve, right? And by that I mean you stayed home and didn't mingle at a party, and therefore didn't drink and drive either. You drank a glass, maybe a glass and a half of nice champagne or sparkling wine with your household members and watched TV or played a board game, I know it. And that's why I also know you might have some leftover champagne today.
Given that, let's all get real here. Champagne that's been re-corked sucks. The bubbly has lessened or gone completely, and that's half the fun of it. So let's take that bottle you half heartedly re-corked with a Rabbit wine preserver and make into something you'll actually enjoy later. Oh yeah, and it'll be healthy. Or, the thing you'll be putting it on will be.
We're going to make champagne vinegar today and in at least 30 days, we'll reconvene and make a champagne vinaigrette and pour it on a salad we're going to eat because it's January and we're still in the pretense of caring about our health with salads. But this one's going to be good. I promise, you'll want to make this salad on purpose again, and not just because it's supposed to be healthy.
What Type of Champagne Can I Use?
You are NOT limited to only using bottles that hail from the Champagne region of France. It doesn't even have to come from France at all! You can use any dry sparkling white wine. Look for the word brut or dry. Do not use sweet white wines, like Moscato or Reisling. They will be way too sweet for the eventual vinaigrette.
Make sure you actually like the taste of the sparkling wine you use, as the flavor will shine through in the vinaigrette. I used this tasty Saint-Hilaire sparkling white I reviewed for the Free Times!
Leftover Champagne Vinegar
Equipment
- Mason jar with a tight fitting lid
- Cheesecloth or clean white handkerchief
Ingredients
- 1 cup champagne or dry sparkling white wine (or however much vinegar you want to have later)
- 30 days
Instructions
- Pour the champagne or sparkling white wine into a clean mason jar. Use a rubber band to secure the cheesecloth or handkerchief completely across the opening of the jar.
- Store in a cool, dark cabinet that you look in frequently enough to remember the champagne vinegar is there.
- Set a reminder on your phone, and/or a note on the jar for 20 days out.
- After 30 days, smell to see if it is sufficiently vinegary smelling. If so, put the lid on the vinegar. If not, replace the cheesecloth across the opening and wait another week or so. You'll know when it has turned if you have ever smelled any kind of vinegar before.
I hope everyone had an amazing New Year's Eve at home, disease-free, with a minimal or no hangover! Decant your leftover champagne into a jar and I'll be back on February 1 with the recipe for a fantastic champagne vinaigrette recipe to go on a luscious garden salad. So luxe, and a great way to start what I think is the worst month of any year!