• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Email Series!

5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Free Email Series!

    5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

    Free email series of my best tips!

  • Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes

Rachel Cooks®

Easy Healthy-ish Recipes

  • Recipe Index
  • The Basics
  • Free Meal Plans

Dinner Made Easy:

Slow Cooker

5 Ingredients

Grilling

Make Ahead

Sheet Pan

Tacos

Pizza

Home Recipes by Type Salads Salad Dressings & Toppings
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free VG Vegetarian

Red Wine Vinaigrette Recipe

4.29
/5
20 minutes mins
4 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 04/27/2020Updated: 08/30/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Red wine vinaigrette is super easy to make, just measure and shake. Make it fresh for every salad, no preservatives needed!

Red wine vinaigrette is super easy to make, just measure and shake. Make it fresh for every salad, no preservatives needed!

Image of red wine vinaigrette in a small jar. A tossed salad and chopped vegetables are pictured in the background.
Table of Contents
open
  • 1 About this Homemade Vinaigrette
  • 2 What You’ll Need
  • 3 How To Make This Recipe
  • 4 FAQs
  • 5 Make It Your Own
  • 6 Storage Tips
  • 7 More salad dressing recipes
  • 8 Get the Recipe: Red Wine Vinaigrette Recipe

Tangy red wine vinaigrette, with good extra virgin olive oil and seasoned with chopped shallots is pretty much a perfect dressing. It tastes great on all kinds of salads: fresh greens and vegetables, pasta salads, grain bowls, you name it. 

I’ve been making my own salad dressings for years. Once in awhile, I pick up bottled dressing at the grocery store in a weak moment, use it once, and then it sits in the refrigerator until I finally toss it. It just doesn’t taste as good as homemade.

Often, I’m making a salad for one (that would be me!). I have a little Tupperware cup that holds about 1/4 cup max. I pour a little olive oil and red wine vinegar into the cup. I don’t measure, I just eyeball it. I add a pinch of sugar, whatever seasonings I’m in the mood for, maybe a dab of Dijon, salt and pepper. I cover the container, give the dressing a good shake and pour it on my salad. It’s as easy as that! Takes about 2 minutes. 

And it tastes so much better than store bought bottled dressing. Why? Well, there isn’t any need for preservatives because you’re making it and eating it right away. And it’s super fresh because you just made it! You know every ingredient in your dressing is wholesome and real. No artificial flavor or color.

I almost forgot! If you haven’t tried making your own croutons, please, please, please give these a try. You’ll never look back!

I can almost guarantee that you’ll be making your own dressing from now on, too, once you try this red wine vinaigrette. Make sure you take a look at the ideas for making it your own.

Image of homemade vinaigrette made with red wine vinegar. It's pale yellow in color and in a small glass bottle.

About this Homemade Vinaigrette

This is a basic recipe for red wine vinaigrette. I make it in a small jar with a tight fitting lid so I can shake it up. You can also use a small bowl and a whisk.

Look for the printable recipe card with complete directions and nutrition information at the end of the post.

Image of red wine vinaigrette in a small glass bottle, the dressing has separated to show the different components, shallots, red wine vinegar, and olive oil.

What You’ll Need

Here’s the ingredient list:

  • red wine vinegar
  • shallots
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • sugar (optional)
  • salt and pepper

That’s it. I bet you have everything you need in your pantry right now. Enjoy your salad!

How To Make This Recipe

Begin by finely chopping the shallots. I like to soak the chopped shallots in the red wine vinegar for fifteen minutes or so to mellow them out a bit. Soaking them in the vinegar also softens them. Do I always soak them? Nope, only when I have a little extra time.

Once you have your shallots ready, add the rest of the ingredients and shake or whisk until combined. Ready to serve! 

If you don’t serve the vinaigrette right away, always give it a good shake or stir before you pour it on your salad. The oil and vinegar tend to separate and it’s best to blend it together before pouring.

FAQs

What is red wine vinaigrette made of?

Often people mistakenly think that this vinaigrette is made of red wine instead of red wine vinegar. Please don’t confuse the two – you really need vinegar for this dressing, not wine.
Other ingredients are olive oil, salt, pepper, sugar (optional), and garlic (also optional). Some folks like to add a touch of Dijon mustard to help emulsify the dressing.

Is red wine vinaigrette healthy?

The vinaigrette is low calorie (125 calories per 2 tablespoons). Because you’re making your own dressing, you can control how much salt and sugar are added. Olive oil has many health benefits. Red wine vinegar is surprisingly good for you, too, with antioxidants, polyphenols, and acetic acids (Healthline).

Do you have to refrigerate red wine vinaigrette?

Because this recipe contains shallots, it should be refrigerated. It will keep for a couple of days in a tightly covered container. If you make it without shallots, it will keep indefinitely, either in a cool dark place or in the refrigerator.
Always shake it well before serving.

Image of sliced vegetables for a salad.

Make It Your Own

When you make your own salad dressing, you have control over every ingredient. It’s a perfect way to tailor the dressing to your own tastes and needs. Here’s some suggestions but feel free to experiment. Enjoy serving your own “house made” vinaigrette. 

  • Prefer creamy dressings? Substitute 1/4 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt for 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Use a small whisk to completely emulsify the dressing. 
  • Looking for Italian dressing? Add dried oregano or Italian seasoning to the vinaigrette. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and add more to taste.
  • Make Greek dressing by adding the juice of one lemon, minced garlic, and oregano. You could also add fresh chopped basil or parsley.
  • Like spicy? Add 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes.
  • Don’t care for shallots or too busy to hassle with them? Just skip the first step, leaving the shallots out. The vinaigrette will be fine without them.
  • Like garlic? Add a teaspoon of minced fresh garlic, or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste.
  • Make this dressing keto and Whole 30 friendly by leaving out the sugar. Add dried herbs or garlic for extra flavor. 
Image of homemade vinaigrette made with red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Storage Tips

Since this dressing is so easy to make, I usually only make what I can use immediately. If you do have leftover vinaigrette, store it in the fridge in a small jar for a day or two, not longer, because of the chopped shallots.

If the oil in the dressing hardens in the fridge, just let it set out a half hour or so. Shake well.  It will return to its original state.

Dressing made without fresh shallots, herbs, or garlic will last a week in the refrigerator. 

More salad dressing recipes

Once you try this homemade red wine vinaigrette, you’ll be wanting to make all your own salad dressings. You can look at my complete list of dressings and toppings here. I’ve listed just a few of my favorites below:

  • White wine vinaigrette
  • Catalina dressing (similar to French dressing)
  • Lemon basil vinaigrette (this one is my mom’s favorite!)
  • Poppy seed dressing
  • Creamy avocado lime dressing with cumin (perfect for Southwest type salads)
  • Honey mustard vinaigrette

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Image of red wine vinaigrette in a small glass bottle, the dressing has separated to show the different components, shallots, red wine vinegar, and olive oil.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Red Wine Vinaigrette Recipe

4.29 from 7 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Additional Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
8 servings
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Red wine vinaigrette is super easy to make, just measure and shake. Make it fresh for every salad, no preservatives needed!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons finely diced shallot (1 medium)
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl or jar, combine shallots and vinegar and let set for 15 minutes. 
  • Add olive oil, sugar, salt, pepper, and whisk or shake to combine. Adjust seasonings as needed. Makes about 1 cup.
  • Store covered in fridge for 1-2 days, letting come to room temperature as needed before using (if oil solidifies). Shake well before using.

Notes

  • Nutrition information is based on serving size of 2 tablespoons, for a side salad.
  • Prefer creamy dressings? Substitute 1/4 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt for 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Use small whisk to completely emulsify the dressing. 
  • Looking for Italian dressing? Add dried oregano or Italian seasoning to the vinaigrette. I would start with 1/2 teaspoon. 
  • Make Greek dressing by adding the juice of one lemon, minced garlic, and oregano. You could also add fresh chopped basil or parsley.
  • Like spicy? Add 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes.
  • Don’t care for shallots or too busy to hassle with them? Just skip the first step, leaving the shallots out. The vinaigrette will be fine without them.
  • Like garlic? Add a teaspoon of minced fresh garlic, or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste.
  • Make this dressing keto and Whole 30 friendly by leaving out the sugar. Add dried herbs or garlic for extra flavor. 
  • Adapted from Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat

Nutrition Information

Calories: 125kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Sodium: 147mg, Potassium: 12mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

Shop this post

Small Individual Carafes
OXO Good Grips Salad Dressing Shaker
Dressing Container, 3 PACK
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
Share A Photo! Tag on Insta Rate It
Free email series

5 Time & Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

FREE BONUS!

You May Also Like...

  • Front overhead of small clear glass jar containing raspberry vinaigrette and small green ladle.
    Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe
  • Bright orange salad dressing in a jar in front of salads.
    Apricot Vinaigrette Dressing (easy recipe!)
  • White wine vinegar salad dressing with a tossed salad pictured in the background of the photo.
    White Wine Vinaigrette Recipe - so easy!
  • Image of homemade catalina dressing in a glass bottle with a taco salad in the background.
    Catalina Dressing Recipe
Pickle roll ups with ham on a black background.
Previous Post
Pickle Roll Ups with Ham (Pinwheels)
Next Post
Asparagus Panzanella Salad

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




The maximum upload file size: 1 MB. You can upload: image. Drop files here

  1. Giovanni Francesco Viola says

    July 24, 2020 at 11:08 am

    Look forward to trying

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      July 26, 2020 at 9:50 am

      I hope you love it!

      Reply
  2. denise says

    April 28, 2020 at 12:33 am

    sounds perfect

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      April 28, 2020 at 10:04 am

      Thanks Denise!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Rachel! Life can be complicated, cooking shouldn't be! I believe that you can put a delicious meal on the table without stressing. It's possible, and I'm here to help. Have a seat at my table...let's chat, eat, and have fun! Read more...

Air Fryer Instant Pot 30 Minutes One Pan Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Slow Cooker Vegetarian 5 Ingredients

Trending

Cooked salmon fillet on a grey-toned plate with cooked asparagus spears. The salmon is being flaked with a fork.

Air Fryer Salmon – easy and delicious!

Pizza pasta being scooped from a pan with a wooden spoon.

Pizza Pasta – 1 pan, 20 minutes

Image of a giant bowl of spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

Baked Turkey Meatballs

Asparagus Panzanella Salad

Seasonal

Cilantro lime rice in a bowl garnished with a lime wedge.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Round white bowl filled with guacamole, one chip dipped in.

How to Make Guacamole

Pico de gallo in a white bowl.

The Best Pico de Gallo

Overhead view of jar of taco seasoning with a wooden spoon in it.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
Free Bonus!

5 Cooking Secrets to Save Time & Stress

Free email series of my best tips and recipes!

Featured On:

Back to Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Work with Me
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2023 Rachel Cooks®
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled