Everyone knows balsamic vinegar: it’s in supermarkets around the world and often mistaken as just another salad dressing ingredient. But its real story is far richer – and far more exclusive. As British journalist Giulia Crouch recently highlighted in her piece for The Times, there are two very different worlds within the category: one is mass-mark...

A truly good balsamic vinegar is surprisingly hard to find. The quality swings wildly from bottle to bottle—and let’s be honest, most of what lines grocery store shelves barely deserves the name. On one end of the spectrum, you’ve got the iconic DOP Traditional Balsamic Vinegar: thick, complex, aged for over a decade, and served in tiny bottles lik...

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena PDO—one of the most distinguished products under Italy’s protected designation of origin (PDO) system—is currently touring the United States alongside the Arena di Verona Foundation, supporting the launch of the 2025 Arena Opera Festival as an official supplier. The initiative marks a renewed partnership follo...

Fly into Bologna or Milan to take an epic road trip along the ancient Via Emilia that hosts a string of beautiful Italian cities stretched through Italy’s Food Valley. This is one of the planet’s culinary hotspots. Emilia Romagna slashes diagonally from the Adriatic lapping on Rimini’s beaches in the East, through the fertile plains by the River Po...

Family-owned company Ponti has been synonymous with premium vinegars and condiments since its inception in 1787. Giovanni Battista del Ponte, a farmer in Sizzano, Piedmont, began producing wine and wine vinegar, laying the foundation for a business that would endure for over two centuries. His artisanal approach, rooted in the quality of local ingr...

Modena, one of the most precious pearls of Emilia-Romagna, is a city that enchants because of its happy union of art, history, culture and gastronomy. Famous in the world for its traditional balsamic vinegar, luxury cars such as Ferrari and Maserati, and for being the home of Luciano Pavarotti, Modena is actually an extraordinary art capital having...

Wednesday, November 20 · 5 - 7pm PST. Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA. 17:00-18:00 Reception of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar tastings. 18:00-19:00 Panel Discussion. In celebration of the 9th annual Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, the Italian Cultural Institute, COM...

Balsamic vinegar originated in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, particularly the cities of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where it has been produced for centuries. Its invention dates back to at least the Middle Ages, with the first written records mentioning “balsamic” vinegar appearing in the 11th century. These early references came from the court...

One of the highlights of the latest edition of Cibus, featuring talk shows, masterclasses, and tastings, was the official debut of "Le Terre del Balsamico." This new consortium aims to enhance, safeguard, and promote both IGP and traditional DOP balsamic vinegars of Modena and the region they share. This initiative marks the end of a quarter-centur...

Balsamic vinegar, a condiment cherished for its unique flavor profile, finds its origins in the heart of Italy. This revered ingredient, known for its sweet, tart, and subtly woody notes, has long been a staple in culinary traditions. At the heart of its creation is the simple grape, transformed through age-old processes into the balsamic vinegar....