Traditional Balsamic Vinegar is called by many the “black gold” of Modena and Reggio Emilia, due to its colour and taste: unique, precious and unmistakable.
And because of the price: did you know that a 100ml little bottle can cost even more than 100 euros?
And that little bottle with its unmistakable shape is not a whim of the producer but MUST be used for all the vinegar that has achieved the recognition of “tradizionale” quality, as a distinctive and recognizable sign.
And if we really want to say it all, that bottle has been filled and labelled right in the Protection Consortium of Balsamic premises, to guarantee quality and authenticity, once the batch of traditional balsamic, aged at least 12 years, enters for tastings, if the quality is certified at a “tradizionale” level, it is bottled on the spot and returned to the producer for marketing.
There are only 3 protected denomination for quality balsamic vinegar, to be precise they are: Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP, Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Reggio Emilia DOP and Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP.
Being the product very popular there are many copies around. Unfortunately, the European Court of Justice has legislated that the term “balsamic vinegar” cannot be protected or exclusive only to Modena and Reggio Emilia, therefore there are also German and Australian balsamic vinegar, evidently very different products.
Read more at: https://www.wineplusclub.com/blog/2022/06/29/traditional-balsamic-vinegar-dop/