What is the difference between inexpensive grocery store Balsamic and ours?
The difference between inexpensive balsamic vinegar and pricier versions primarily lies in the quality of ingredients, production methods, and aging processes.
1. Ingredients
- Inexpensive Balsamic Vinegar: Often made from wine vinegar mixed with concentrated grape must and may contain additives for flavor and color.
2. Production Method:
- Inexpensive: Usually produced quickly and in large quantities, often utilizing industrial methods.
- Pricier: Often follows traditional methods, such as aging in wooden barrels for several years, which enhances flavor and depth.
3. Aging:
- Inexpensive: Usually aged for a short period, resulting in a sharper, less nuanced taste.
- Pricier: Ours is aged for 18 years which gives it the richer, sweeter, and more complex flavors.
4. Flavor Profile:
- Inexpensive: Tends to be more acidic and less complex.
- Pricier: Offers a well-rounded taste with sweetness, depth, and smoothness.
5. Certification:
- Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale) is a protected designation and often the pricier option, marked by specific regulations regarding its production. Our vinegars bear this designation.