Italy has to offer the whole world a plurality of products renowned for their characteristics. Take balsamic vinegar from Modena, for example. More precisely, the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP is a unique product, not easily replaceable with similar products, because it is made by combining the passion, tradition, and craftsmanship of producers who pass down their secrets from generation to generation. For this reason, having a vinegar tasting could be a truly unique experience, capable of engaging all the senses.
How is vinegar tasted?
The tasting of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena should be done preferably in the morning, as the palate, unlike at different times of the day, is ready to welcome new flavors, allowing one to fully appreciate all the nuances of the vinegar. Furthermore, it should be noted that it should never be drunk like a liqueur, for example, but should be swirled in small sips in the mouth like wine. Before tasting, however, it is necessary to observe it closely to check if it is a clear, bright product, if it has a particularly intense color, and its density. In fact, the more full-bodied the vinegar is, the greater its yield in more refined recipes, such as on juicy meats.
A more liquid product, on the other hand, is better suited for dressing simple dishes like salads. However, contrary to what one might think, density is not always synonymous with aging: it is not guaranteed that they go hand in hand, and a dense vinegar can also be younger than a more liquid one. Finally, an olfactory analysis is performed to identify the different scents. Usually, a more syrupy vinegar presents flavors and aromas of grapes; a younger vinegar has a cooked smell, and an older one allows you to perceive woody and fruity notes.
Guided tours in the vinegar factory
To have a vinegar tasting, it is possible to organize a guided tour in the vinegar factory, which follows a path that starts from the vineyard and concludes with the tasting of black gold:
- Walk among the vines: the journey begins by observing and touching the vines from which the vinegar production starts, allowing one to immerse in the entire vinegar production process.
- Visit to the rooms: vinegar factories have different rooms for the production of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP (usually in the attic of the vinegar factories) and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena IGP. In these rooms, walking among the various wooden barrels that hold the precious condiment, one can learn all the production secrets.
- The tasting: at the end of the guided tour, one usually proceeds to taste the product, following the producers’ advice to savor it at its best. Additionally, it is possible to learn the secrets of how to best pair it and make it the star of many dishes.
- Purchase of the product: after having gone through a journey of knowledge about the product, it is possible to purchase directly in the vinegar factory the different types of vinegars, selected by the producers and recommended according to the pairings one intends to prepare.
