Postcard: 25+ year old balsamic vinegar in Modena

The smell hits you first the minute you open the door to the villa. A heady mix of sweet and tangy from wooden barrels that have been aging balsamic vinegar for decades in the region of Emilia Romagna. I visited two traditional balsamic vinegar producers- Acetaia Malpighi and Acetaia Giusti – to learn about the slow and patient process of making and aging the vinegar which are made from grapes. Round bottles denote that they were produced in Modena. Bottles with a yellow cap are at least 12 years old while those with golden caps are at least 25 years old.