Shaoxing Wine Substitute: What to Use Instead (and When)

Short on Shaoxing wine? The best substitute is dry sherry, used in equal amounts — it has the same nutty, slightly sweet depth that Shaoxing brings to Chinese cooking. For an alcohol-free swap, use mirin (cut the other sweetness in the dish) or a splash of rice vinegar loosened with a little water.

That's the quick answer. Here's how to choose the right one.

What Shaoxing wine actually does

Shaoxing is a Chinese rice wine, aged to a deep amber colour. It adds aroma, umami and a faint sweetness that rounds out savoury dishes — the "background note" you can't quite name in a good stir-fry, red-braised pork or dumpling filling. It isn't there for the alcohol; that cooks off. It's there for the fragrance.

That's why a true substitute needs to bring depth, not just liquid. Water won't do it.

The best substitutes, ranked

1. Dry sherry (best all-rounder). Closest match by a distance. Use it 1:1. Ideal for stir-fries, marinades and braises.

2. Mirin (best alcohol-light option). Sweeter than Shaoxing, so reduce or skip other sugar in the recipe. Excellent in marinades and glazes. Our Hinode Hon Mirin is genuine Japanese mirin and does the job beautifully.

3. Rice vinegar, diluted (in a pinch). Use a teaspoon loosened with a little water — it lifts the dish but lacks the sweetness, so add a small pinch of sugar. Best when Shaoxing is a minor note, not the star.

4. Pale dry white wine. Works at a push for marinades. Less authentic, but better than nothing.

When to use the real thing

For dishes where the wine is front and centre — drunken chicken, red-braised pork, classic dumpling fillings — there's no true replacement. The real thing is inexpensive and keeps for ages. Our Yutaka Shaoxing Rice Wine is £3.35 and earns its place in any Asian store cupboard. Browse the full rice wine and vinegar range.

Tuk Tuk tip: keep a bottle of Shaoxing and a bottle of rice vinegar in the cupboard and you'll rarely be caught out — between them they cover most Chinese recipes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best substitute for Shaoxing wine?
Dry sherry, used in equal amounts. It has the closest nutty, slightly sweet depth to Shaoxing rice wine.

Can I substitute Shaoxing wine without alcohol?
Yes. Use mirin and reduce other sweetness in the dish, or use a small amount of rice vinegar loosened with water and a pinch of sugar.

Is Shaoxing wine the same as rice vinegar?
No. Shaoxing is a rice wine that adds aroma and umami; rice vinegar is sharp and acidic. They aren't interchangeable like-for-like, but diluted rice vinegar can stand in at a pinch.

Does the alcohol cook out of Shaoxing wine?
Largely yes — it's used for fragrance and depth, and most of the alcohol evaporates during cooking.