Cooking with wine can add unique flavors and possibilities to a dish. Select your wine based on its composition and your personal taste. Most of the alcohol will burn off as you cook with wine, so alcohol content is irrelevant. You'll get the best results by cooking with wine that you would normally drink. Avoid cheap wines--a bitter or sour flavor may be accentuated when cooked in the food. You can add wine to recipes that don't normally call for it by substituting for base liquid ingredients such as water. Wine can help tenderize meats in a marinade, adding moisture and flavor.