Marsala wine is a fortified wine originally produced in the region around the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily. It has a rich, nutty flavor and is commonly used in Italian cooking. However, traditional Marsala contains gluten from barley used during the fermentation process. For people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, finding a gluten-free substitute for Marsala wine is necessary to still enjoy classic Marsala-based dishes. Thankfully, there are some good gluten-free options to replace Marsala wine.
What is Marsala Wine?
Marsala is a fortified wine, meaning it has additional alcohol added during production. It is made from white grapes like Catarratto, Inzolia and Damaschino. Marsala gets its distinctive nutty, caramel-like flavor from extended oxidation and concentration. The wine is available in different styles from dry to sweet.
Traditional Marsala wine uses barley during the fermentation process. Since barley contains gluten, most traditional Marsala is not gluten-free. However, some producers make Marsala without barley, resulting in a gluten-free version. Still, if using regular Marsala, a substitute is needed for gluten-free cooking.
Best Gluten-Free Substitutes for Marsala Wine
Dry Sherry
Dry Sherry makes an excellent substitution for Marsala wine in cooking. Like Marsala, Sherry is a fortified wine with rich, nutty notes. Dry Sherry styles like Fino or Manzanilla work best as Marsala substitutes. They provide a similar flavor profile while remaining gluten-free, as Sherry does not contain barley.
Use Dry Sherry in a 1:1 ratio when substituting for Marsala in recipes. The rich, toasted flavor will mimic the taste of Marsala nicely in dishes like Chicken Marsala or Marsala mushroom sauce.
Sweet Sherry
For recipes that call for a sweeter tasting Marsala, such as Marsala cream sauce, try using Sweet Sherry. Types like Cream Sherry or Oloroso can provide the right balance of sweetness and richness needed. Make sure to use a Sweet Sherry that is labeled gluten-free.
As with Dry Sherry, Sweet Sherry can typically replace Marsala in a 1:1 ratio without adjusting the rest of the recipe. The intense flavor of Sweet Sherry is similar to a sweeter Marsala wine.
Gluten-Free Grape Juice
For a non-alcoholic substitution, try using unsweetened gluten-free grape juice. Concord grape juice, in particular, has fruity, jammy notes that are reminiscent of sweet Marsala wine. Use grape juice to replace Marsala in dessert recipes where wine is cooked for a long time.
Replace Marsala with an equal amount of unsweetened gluten-free grape juice. Combining grape juice concentrate with a bit of vinegar or lemon juice can provide more complexity. Adjust sweetness if needed when using grape juice in place of sweet Marsala wine.
Gluten-Free Beer
Some gluten-free beers work well as Marsala wine substitutes, depending on the recipe. Look for a gluten-free beer with rich, caramel-like flavors to approximate the taste of Marsala. Brown rice beers or nut-based beers both tend to have a sweet, malty quality that complements dishes traditionally made with Marsala.
Use gluten-free beer in place of dry Marsala wines in savory dishes like Chicken Marsala. For sweeter Marsala, try adding a bit of honey to round out the beer’s flavor. Reduce the amount of other sugars in the recipe to account for the beer’s sweetness.
Non-Alcoholic Marsala Wine
A few producers make non-alcoholic Marsala wine, which is made like traditional Marsala but then undergoes dealcoholization. The process removes the alcohol but aims to retain the characteristic Marsala flavors. The result provides the taste of Marsala without the alcohol content or gluten from barley.
Non-alcoholic Marsala can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio in any recipe. Double check that the specific brand is certified gluten-free. While tricky to find, non-alcoholic Marsala wine is the closest option to real Marsala in terms of flavor.
Key Tips for Replacing Marsala Wine
– Check if your recipe requires dry or sweet Marsala – a dry wine can’t easily sub for a sweet one.
– Adjust the sweetness of your substitute to match the sweetness level of Marsala in the original recipe.
– Reduce added sugars if using a sweeter substitute like grape juice or sweet Sherry.
– Use gluten-free substitutes to avoid gluten cross-contamination when cooking.
– For baked goods, use substitutes with similar moisture levels as Marsala to prevent texture issues.
– For maximal authentic flavor, use Sherry or non-alcoholic Marsala as your substitution.
Gluten-Free Marsala Substitute Options
| Substitute | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Sherry | Savory dishes using dry Marsala | Replace 1:1 for Marsala; provides rich, nutty flavor |
| Sweet Sherry | Sweet recipes like desserts or sauces | Substitute 1:1 for sweet Marsala; intensly sweet and fruity |
| Grape Juice | Desserts where Marsala is cooked | Concord grape juice has similar jammy notes; reduce other sugars |
| Gluten-Free Beer | Savory Marsala-based dishes | Use malty, caramel-like beer; adjust sweetness as needed |
| Non-Alcoholic Marsala | Any recipe calling for Marsala | Provides authentic Marsala flavor; ensure brand is gluten-free |
Finding Gluten-Free Marsala Wine
Though tricky to find, some brands of traditional Marsala wine are fermented without barley, resulting in a gluten-free product. Here are a few gluten-free Marsala wines to look for:
- Cantine Florio Marsala: Produced in Sicily, they make several gluten-free Marsala wine styles
- Marco De Bartoli Marsala: Craft producer in Marsala also certified gluten-free
- Leone de Castris Marsala: Traditional winery offering a gluten-free Vecchio Samperi Marsala
- La Corte Fina Marsala: Boutique Sicilian winery with gluten-free Marsalas
As demand grows, hopefully more winemakers will release gluten-free versions of traditional Marsala wine. But in the meantime, using alternative options like Sherry or non-alcoholic Marsala can allow those with gluten intolerance to still enjoy their favorite Marsala-based recipes. With a good substitute, you don’t have to miss out on the wonderful flavor of Marsala wine.
Conclusion
Marsala wine adds rich, nutty flavor to many classic Italian dishes, but traditional styles are off-limits for gluten-free diets due to the use of barley. Thankfully, alternative options like Dry Sherry, Sweet Sherry, grape juice, gluten-free beer or non-alcoholic Marsala can provide suitable gluten-free substitutions. Each swap offers slightly different characteristics, so choose a substitute appropriate for the specific recipe you want to make. With the right gluten-free Marsala stand-in, you can craft delicious Chicken Marsala, Marsala mushroom sauce or Marsala-infused desserts to enjoy even with dietary restrictions.