Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients Alcoholic beverages are used in cooking to provide an additional layer of flavor and the alcohol is almost always completely evaporated leaving only the flavor of the drink itself. Wine is used the most often for cooking and is used extensively in Italian, Greek, French, and Spanish cuisine. Wine can give a subtle hint of flavor to a dish or completely alter its makeup. Inexpensive wines are used for cooking because the flavor difference between expensive and inexpensive wine is minimal in food.