Guided tour of the vinegar cellar: a journey through the tradition of Balsamic Vinegar
The Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is a real treasure that is jealously guarded as a Made in Italy product. An ancient tradition that brings its results to the tables of millions of people around the world. The guided visit to the vinegar cellar is undoubtedly an extraordinary opportunity to get closer to this incredible world and to understand something more about that fantastic bottle that towers over our tables and gives flavour to everything.
The extraordinary world of the vinegar works
To really get to know the beating heart of Modena, it is necessary to delve into its most typical traditions: what is more typical in this area than the so-called ‘Black Gold of Modena‘?
Given the success of the tours, the vinegar producers in the area have organised fantastic guided tours that allow you to enter not only the places where Balsamic Vinegar is made, but also the mentality and atmosphere that drives the operators in the sector.
A visit to the vinegar cellar
This type of tour obviously begins where the first spark of what will be the final product is born: we are obviously referring to the vineyards, through which a guided open-air tour in direct contact with the plants will take place. It should be mentioned here that Balsamic Vinegar is made from selected vineyards: Lambrusco, Ancellotta, Trebbiano, Sauvignon, Sgavetta, Berzemino, Occhio di Gatta.
Once all the knowledge about the vineyards has been learnt, the guide will lead visitors to the heart of the activity: the vinegar cellar itself. Here you will find yourself in a wonderful world of warm colours, intense smells and fascinating creaks. A vinegar cellar can house several hundred barrels of vinegar going through the various stages of processing: fermentation, maturation and ageing.
Each of these stages is of crucial importance in arriving at the finished product and its extraordinary quality. Each stage has its own cask, made of precious wood, of different sizes, which will add quality to the Balsamic Vinegar. Nothing happens by chance in a acetaia. Every detail is carefully attended to in order to add all the characteristics that make the product so popular.
Tasting Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
From the moment the grapes are crushed, each step through the various processes is carefully monitored, such as during the cooking of the must, but also during fermentation, maturation and ageing. The guided tour of the vinegar cellar will prove to be extremely interesting and full of new content, but the most exciting part comes just when you think you have understood the entire production process. In fact, the organised tours include a final stage that will remain firmly impressed on all visitors: the tasting of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.
Having followed its production step by step, combined with following all the indications suggested by the guide for tasting this product, will lead the visitor to place a different focus on the precious aromas, colour and flavours found in every drop of Balsamic Vinegar. All the nuances that are enclosed within this precious product will be appreciated by every visitor. Each vinegar cellar also has a ‘corner shop‘ where you can buy your favourite bottles of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.
We at Acetaia Marchi also organise guided tours of the vinegar cellar; we accompany you along the life path of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PDO and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI.
Starting from the vineyards and ending with the tasting of our traditional products.
