We came in here looking for some DOC balsamic vinegar from Modena to bring back. It's definitely the nicest (and only) vinegar shop I've been to.
The person working there was super knowledgeable and explained the production process, DOC designation, types of grapes used (Trebbiano or Lambrusco), aging etc, and she spoke perfect English. You can then sample some of the vinegars on a spoon. They're all 12 or 25 year - sweet, rather concentrated, great in flavor. They also had one that was aged since the 1800s or something?
We wanted to bring some back to the US. We were a little sticker shocked to find out bottles started at €50 each (up to €500 for an award winning one!) At this rate, it's definitely more expensive than most whiskies, but they are definitely special and different from anything you would find at a grocery store.
The vinegars all come with special glass spouts and mini corks, and the packaging is very pretty (reminded me of boxes of scotch or something).
We ended up with one that was €55 for 100ml. It was nicely intense and had a good balance of acidity and sweetness. The vinegar doesn't really go bad, per se, and it's meant as a finishing drizzle or possibly for dipping, but I would not waste it by cooking, mixing, or reducing it.
I had no idea vinegar could be so fancy. It's definitely worth checking out, and I don't know if you're expected to buy a bottle. The person who worked there seemed genuinely passionate about their products.
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