This Is The Best Wine To Use In French Onion Soup

French onion soup can be intimidating to make. Maybe it's simply because it's French that gives us wannabe cooks pause. French onion soup is comprised of a rich broth, beautifully sweet and decadent caramelized onions, and then topped with a toasty crouton and gooey, glorious melted Gruyère cheese (via ifoodtv). Onion soups aren't a new culinary invention — they can be traced back to Rome where onions were easy to come by and soups made with them were fashionable for those who didn't have tons of money on hand to buy pricier ingredients.

Clearly, the variation we call French onion soup has come a long way. There are many pitfalls to making this dish, but Epicurious says that one of the keys to creating a great French onion soup is getting the foundation right. Thankfully, they tried several variations on this soup's base, put them to the test, and have taken the guesswork out of what ingredients are needed to whip up the perfect broth. 

According to the research gathered by the Epicurious test kitchen, skip the red wine along with any recipe that calls for a mix of beef and chicken broth. Instead, use the combination of beef broth and white wine. This duo produces just the right "richness" and "acidity" that works in unison with the sweet and piquant flavors that the other ingredients add to the recipe. But what is the best white wine to use when making this soup?

The number one rule when selecting the wine you will use to create the broth for your French onion soup is this: If you wouldn't drink the wine, do not cook with it. This makes a lot of sense if you think about it. If a wine tastes good enough to imbibe with friends, then its flavors will taste good in your recipes (via Vine Pair). 

With this rule in mind, there does seem to be some consensus among cooking experts with regards to the type of wine you use to make your French onion soup broth. Apparently, a dry white wine tends to work best. Café Delights suggests using any from an array of whites that include Pinot Grigio/Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, or Chardonnay. 

According to Love to Know, Pinot Grigio, which is generally described as a "full-bodied" wine, is the second bestselling wine in the world. So, if you are on the fence about what type of wine to choose (or actually don't normally drink wine), this seems like a safe bet. Just remember, don't be afraid to experiment. You may find that you like the flavor a Semillon or even a dry Reisling adds to your French onion soup.