Marinating is a culinary operation through which meat and fish are flavoured, softened and preserved. The term derives from "sea water"; in fact, once the food was soaked in sea water, so in brine. Today the ingredients used to marinate food, especially fish, are vinegar, oil, lemon juice and aromatic herbs. However, wine, either white or red, spices and vegetables are also used to marinate game and red meats.