Red Wine Vinegar Salad Dressing (Red Wine Vinaigrette)

This red wine vinegar salad dressing is a simple, classic vinaigrette made with olive oil, garlic, and herbs. It's fresh, tangy, and comes together in just minutes - perfect for everyday salads, grain bowls, and pasta dishes.

We love making this red wine vinaigrette as an easy, go-to dressing for everything from simple green salads to hearty Mediterranean-style meals. It's quick to prepare, full of bold, tangy flavor, and made with pantry staples you likely already have on hand

If you've already tried our white wine vinaigrette, this version is a slightly richer, deeper-flavored alternative that pairs beautifully with more robust ingredients. It's especially delicious drizzled over our Italian pasta salad, where the acidity helps balance creamy cheeses, olives, and fresh vegetables

Scroll down for step-by-step photos, helpful tips, and easy variations!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Red Wine Vinegar Dressing
• Ingredients You'll Need
• What Is Red Wine Vinegar?
• How to Make Red Wine Vinegar Salad Dressing
• The Perfect Olive Oil to Vinegar Ratio
• Flavor Variations and Add-Ins
• What to Serve with Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Storage Instructions
• FAQ's
• More Salad Dressings to Try
• Red Wine Vinegar Salad Dressing (Red Wine Vinaigrette)

Why You'll Love This Red Wine Vinegar Dressing

• Quick and easy - Ready in just 5 minutes
• Classic vinaigrette ratio - Simple pantry ingredients
• Bold, tangy flavor - Perfect for hearty salads
• Versatile - Works for salads, marinades, and pasta dishes

Ingredients You'll Need

This homemade red wine vinegar salad dressing uses simple ingredients that create a balanced, flavorful vinaigrette.

• Red wine vinegar - The base of the dressing with a bold, tangy flavor
• Olive oil - Adds richness and helps balance the acidity
• Dijon mustard - Helps emulsify the dressing and adds depth
• Garlic - Fresh garlic gives a punchy, savory flavor
• Dried oregano - A classic Mediterranean herb pairing
• Honey or maple syrup (optional) - Adds a subtle sweetness to balance the acidity
• Salt and black pepper - Enhances all the flavors

See the recipe card for quantities.

What Is Red Wine Vinegar?

Red wine vinegar is made by fermenting red wine until it becomes acidic, creating a bold, tangy vinegar with deep flavor. It's a staple ingredient in Mediterranean cooking and is commonly used in salad dressings, marinades, and sauces.

Compared to lighter vinegars like white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar has a slightly richer and more robust taste, which makes it perfect for heartier salads, roasted vegetables, and dishes with strong flavors like olives, feta, and grilled meats.

If you'd like to learn more about how it's made and how to use it in cooking, you can read this helpful guide: What Is Red Wine Vinegar?

How to Make Red Wine Vinegar Salad Dressing

Combine the base

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey dried oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, and red wine vinegar.

Emulsify

Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously until fully combined and slightly thickened. Or seal in a jar and shake vigorously.

Chef's Tip: Let the dressing sit for 10 minutes before using to allow the garlic and oregano to infuse the oil.

Taste and adjust

Adjust seasoning as needed before using.

Store in an airtight glass jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature and shake well before serving.

The Perfect Olive Oil to Vinegar Ratio

A classic red wine vinaigrette uses a 3:1 ratio of olive oil to vinegar, which creates a well-balanced dressing that isn't too sharp or too heavy.

You can adjust this depending on your taste:

• For a tangier dressing: use slightly more vinegar
• For a milder dressing: add a bit more olive oil

Flavor Variations and Add-Ins

This red wine vinegar dressing is easy to customize:

• Add lemon juice - Brightens the flavor even more
• Add shallots - For a milder, slightly sweet onion flavor
• Add fresh herbs - Try parsley, basil, or thyme
• Add chili flakes - For a subtle kick
• Make it creamy - Whisk in a spoon of Greek yogurt

What to Serve with Red Wine Vinaigrette

This red wine vinaigrette pairs beautifully with fresh salads, grain bowls, and Mediterranean-style dishes. We especially love it with heartier salads and dishes where the bold, tangy flavor helps balance richer ingredients like cheese, olives, and roasted vegetables.

• Fresh salads - Drizzle it over salads like Cucumber Feta Salad, Roasted Beet Salad with Feta, Mediterranean Chicken Salad, or a simple green salad with mixed leaves, shaved vegetables, and toasted nuts.
• Grain bowls and pasta salads - Toss with cooked bulgur wheat, quinoa, or orzo to add brightness and balance to grain bowls and Mediterranean-style dishes. It's especially delicious in an Italian pasta salad.
• As a marinade - This vinaigrette also works beautifully as a quick marinade for chicken, shrimp, or grilled vegetables before cooking.

Storage Instructions

Fridge: Store in an airtight glass jar for up to 1 week. Let it come to room temperature and shake well.

FAQ's

More Salad Dressings to Try

If you enjoy making your own vinaigrettes, here are a few more to try:

• Balsamic Dressing 
• Tahini Yogurt Dressing
• Lemon Garlic Dressing 
• Homemade Greek Vinaigrette
• Apple Cider Vinaigrette

This red wine vinegar salad dressing is one of those simple recipes that instantly upgrades any meal. It's quick to make, full of bold Mediterranean flavor, and easy to customize with what you have on hand.

Once you try it, you'll find yourself making it on repeat for everything from simple green salads to pasta dishes.

Give it a try and let us know how you used it! And don't forget to Pin it for later - it's a great one to keep in your weekly rotation.

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.