5855 Balsamic Vinegar from Modena

A fine product produced in Emilia Romagna and famous the world over is the Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena.

Not to be mistaken for the various sugar and liquorice based products found in UK chains such as Oil and Vinegar who even add peppers to it and call it balsamic vinegar. At least they can now no longer use the name Modena after it.

The balsamic vinegar from Modena is obtained from cooked grape must and is a rich, dark dense nectar.
Just a few drops go a long way to flavour anything from a nice juicy steak to a piece of 30 month parmesan or over some ice cream and on a bowl of strawberries.

The grape must is cooked, matured and left to ferment in small wooden barrels with no aromatic substances added.

Strict laws and proceedures are laid down by the TBVM who will then issue the certificate of gaurantee that it can infact bear the name Tradizionale di Modena on the bottle.

The grape harvesting must be in the province of Modena and using Lambrusco and Trebbiano grapes.

The pressing and cooking of the grape must is cooked for several hours over a direct heat source in an open pan until the concentration reaches 50%.

The product is then left to age in barrels of different wood varieties and decanted every year for 12-15 years inorder to bear the DOP label.

The Consorzio set up in 1979 set the following standards for Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena:
Bottles must be no more than 100 ml.
Tasting must verify and conform to the standards and rules of the consorzio.
It must be bottled in certified bottling plants
Each bottle must be numbered and bear a seal of guarantee.
A panel of 5 tasters will set and approve the seal of gaurantee.

One producer of fine aceto balsamico is Malpighi in Modena who will take you on an interesting tour of his plant.
They also have a wonderful little restaurant nearby where the menu features balsamic vinegar in various shapes and forms.
From the antipasti to i dolci you can have various levels of vinegar.
Even a spoonful of the delicious 50 year old product instead of a liquer after dinner.
Sounds like taking medicine but believe me it's wonderful.
They even do amazing chocolates with a vinegar filling.

A little drop goes a long way and just as well given that a small bottle will cost you upwards of 60 euro.
Hence the reason you will not find the real product in many restaurants even here in Italy.
They use that horrible runny stuff made by Ponti!!!

It's well worth the investment and every bit as good as a bottle of whisky!!!
Hey did I just say that????