Of all the vinegar’s, rice vinegar (aka rice wine vinegar) is the one I use the most. I love it because the flavour is neutral and it adds a gentle acidity which brightens the overall flavour of a dish.
I get mine from the Asian section of my supermarket. Depending on where you live, you may need to go to a specialist Asian grocery store to track it down.
If you don’t have time for a special shopping trip, here are my favourite substitutes…
Best Rice Wine Vinegar Substitutes
1. Champagne Vinegar
The closest match is champagne vinegar. Like rice wine vinegar it tends to be less harsh than other wine vinegars.
2. White Wine Vinegar
Another good substitute. I find most brands are harsher and stronger than rice vinegar so I would use slightly less if substituting.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Adds a slightly sweeter, fruity flavor. Excellent match from an acidity perspective.
4. Sherry Vinegar
Adds more flavor than rice vinegar which may not be a bad thing! Similar acidity profile.
5. Red Wine Vinegar
Unless its home made, red wine vinegar is usually has the strongest and harshest flavor. If using it as a substitute for rice vinegar, start by using less and add more as needed.
6. Lemon / Lime Juice
Citrus juices rely on citric acid whereas all the wine vinegars mentioned above are acetic acid based. This means citrus juice has a completely different flavor profile.
But if you don’t have any vinegar in the house, a squeeze of lemon or lime will provide freshness and bring the other flavor’s of your dish to life in a similar way to vinegar. You may even enjoy the flavor differences!
What’s The Difference Between Rice Vinegar And Rice Wine Vinegar?
What Is Rice Vinegar?
Rice vinegar (komezu) is a common cooking ingredient in Japan. It has that sour, tart taste of other vinegars you may have tasted, but not quite as strong as in the West. It also has a slight sweetness to it. Next time you eat sushi, notice the rice doesn’t actually taste like plain rice — there’s a little vinegar in it!
Note: Rice vinegar is also called “rice wine vinegar,” but they are exactly the same thing — just a slightly different name.
What Is Rice Vinegar Made From?
Rice vinegar is actually made from sake (no wonder this gets confused with rice wine). How is it made from sake, you ask? Well, according to our own article on rice vinegar, “After filtering the finished sake, it is mixed with ‘pure rice vinegar’, and heated, and acetic acid bacteria are added. This process, called ‘acetic acid fermentation’, converts the alcohol component of the sake to acetic acid, which is the main component in rice vinegar.”
Are There Different Kinds Of Rice Vinegar?
There are so many different kinds of rice vinegars — there’s white rice vinegar, black rice vinegar and even artisanally crafted vinegars! If you’re looking for some good options, take a look at our top 13 Japanese vinegar picks.
In the crafted vinegar category, you might try Marusan Pure Rice Vinegar by Imagawa. This vinegar is matured slowly in a storehouse and isn’t as harsh as many other rice vinegar products. Its maker, Imagawa, is well-known for its high-quality, traditional standards, as well.
Another really interesting (and a bit unusual) Japanese vinegar option is the Marushige Migaki strawberry drinking vinegar. Yes, you can really drink it! Just add it to your favorite beverage — including cocktails. Its maker, Marushige, is a brewery in Fukuyama town in Kagoshima Prefecture. They are a bit different from other breweries because they use brown rice (genmai) and the same brewing methods they used in the Edo period (1603-1867).
One last suggestion — there is a vinegar brewing company called Tajima Jozo that makes some rather interesting and high-quality Japanese vinegars in Hyogo Prefecture. Perhaps the most interesting is their Akazu Red Vinegar. It’s made using a by-product of the sake production process (called sake lees) which gives it its red color, and it’s often used for making sushi.
What Are The Main Differences Between Rice Vinegar And Rice Wine?
Is rice wine the same as rice vinegar? It’s easy to get them confused, but as you can see, they aren’t actually the same. They do have some similarities, though. Both are rice-based products, and rice vinegar is made from sake. Other than that, however, they’re pretty different.
As far as flavor goes, vinegar is more bitter than sake (rice wine) and has a touch of sweetness. Rice wine, on the other hand, also has a bit of sweetness, but has that umami and alcohol taste.
Of course, these are general comparisons — there are many exceptions to the rule because there are so many different kinds of rice wine and vinegar. Try different ones out and find out for yourself!
