Aceto balsamico. Sounds pretty exotic. And at one time in North America – say, before 1980 – it was. But now you’ll find balsamic vinegar in your corner store and on almost every menu, from fine dining to fast food.

In the grocery aisle, balsamic vinegars range from the real thing to massproduced, unaged wine vinegar that’s been all dolled up – with caramel, thickening agents and colourings – to look like balsamic. But true balsamico is something special. In Italy, its production falls under the auspices of a consortium, just like wine. The organization, Consorzio Pro duttori Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena, issues designations (Denominazione di Origine Protetta, or D.O.P.) and oversees grape growing and production practices, from fermentation to bottling and labelling.

But how do you know if that bottle in your hand is the real thing or not? Well, your first clue is the price; the real stuff isn’t cheap. Also, look for the phrase Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Reggio Emilia or di Modena on the label (the latter will also say D.O.P.). And then, of course, read the ingredients. If anything has been added, it’s not true balsamic.

Balsamico tradizionale is a simple and natural collaboration between man and nature. Grape juice is simmered to a thick, sweet concentrate, then fermented and aged in wooden barrels for many years -- from a minimum of two up to 25 or more -- before bottling. It’s in these barrels, made from ash, cherry, oak, mulberry, acacia or chestnut wood, that the final product develops its trademark viscosity, sweetness, colour and rich, mello flavour. And what about the price tag? Well, at the Cheese Boutique, a Toronto epicurean emporium, a 2.5 fl. oz bottle of 103-year-old balsamico sells for $800! Fret not -- you can pick up a bottle of true balsamico for as little as $10. And that’s what most of us want: a good, reasonably priced, everyday balsamic to use in vinaigrettes and marinades.


Canadian balsamic?
Can balsamico be the real article if it isn’t from Italy? Sure, if it’s made in the traditional method, and B.C. winemakers Venturi-Schulze (venturischulze.com) are proof! Giordano and Marilyn Venturi simmer grape juice over an open fire, then age the vinegar in large French oak barrels followed by smaller ones made of various woods from Modena. Besides the grapes, Giordano believes that passion and patience are key to making a balsamic that’s good enough to drink. As his wife tells us, “Every once in a while, especially in quiet, special moments, he just savours some from a small glass.”

Entertaining extras

Drizzle on a dime
Use a bottle of the inexpensive stuff to make a reduction. Empty a 500 mL bottle into a deep saucepan and add ¼ cup real maple syrup or honey. Simmer over low heat, gently stirring often, until the liquid has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Set it aside to cool. As it cools, it will continue to thicken. Using a funnel, transfer the reduction to a squeeze bottle and keep refrigerated. Kept cold and covered, it should last just about forever. Use this sweet and savoury syrup to dress grilled veggies sprinkled with goat cheese, fish dishes or even desserts. Yes, desserts – read on.

Not just for salad
In Italy, a traditional dessert is made from fresh strawberries, a sprinkling of cracked black pepper and a drizzle of the finest balsamico the cook can afford.


The mother of all vinegars

Have you ever gone to use your vinegar only to be horrifi ed by a slimy blob floating in the bottom of the bottle? Well, don’t panic. It’s just mother of vinegar. All vinegars are started the same way – with bacteria produced by sugar-eating yeasts. That bacteria, acetobacter, is known as mother of vinegar. It’s completely harmless, so there’s no need to throw the bottle away.