The land of Modena has its own unique character, nurtured by centuries of tradition, and an important part of that tradition is the distinctive taste of genuine balsamic vinegar. This exquisite product, which has become a gastronomic trademark of the region, is due in no small part to the particular local microclimate. But first of all, it is the merit of many generations of dedicated craftsmen, who reverently cherished the ancient secrets and technologies of production, bringing them to new limits of excellence over the years. Among such dynasties, a special place belongs to Acetaia Malpighi Srl, whose Saporoso Balsamic Vinegar of Modena was voted this year’s winner of Luxury Lifestyle Awards in the category of The Best Luxury Balsamic Vinegar in the World.
Acetaia Malpighi Srl is a family company that has specialized in the production of premium balsamic vinegar for more than 170 years. Its progenitor is Pietro Malpighi, who in 1850 had a few small barrels of vinegar in his attic. When the precious product was ready, Pietro shared it with his family and friends and passed the recipe to produce the genuine natural vinegar on to his son Augusto. Since then, five generations of the Malpighi family have followed, carefully keeping the unique secret of balsamic vinegar, passing it on from father to son and daughter, never stopping to expand the range of vinegar casks, experimenting and implementing innovative technologies to improve the product.
Today Acetaia Malpighi has a registered office and production site located on via Emilia Est 1525 in Modena. The factory spreads on an area of more than 3000 square meters and has impressive storage spaces with more than 3,000 barrels in which the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena slowly matures. These barrels are among the key elements that create the unique flavor and aroma of Malpighi Balsamic Vinegar. They can only be made from certain types of wood, each of which gives a specific essence to the vinegar. The Acetaia Malpighi Srl barrels are made of cherry wood, chestnut, durmast, mulberry, acacia, and juniper wood.
The Modena Balsamic Vinegar is matured using grape must permitted by the production specification and aged wine vinegar. The vinegar is aged in barrels made by cooper artisans in Durmast wood, which is ideal for this purpose thanks to its specific hardness and resistance characteristics.
Saporoso Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, the award-winning elixir recognized by the experts of the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, belongs to the series of Dark Condiments. It matures and improves in Durmast barrels with a capacity of 220 liters for at least 6 years, then aged for 6 months in steel barrels. The Condiment is obtained from cooked musts of Trebbiano Modenese and Lambrusco Grasparossa grapes. The vinegar has a smooth, full-bodied, and versatile flavor, which is perfect with vegetables in any form, roasted meats, and game. It comes in 100- and 200-ml glass bottles with an individual case, as well as in 500ml bottles without packaging.
The rich heritage of Acetaia Malpighi Srl opens up great opportunities for fascinating experiences for all those interested in a close encounter with the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP. More than 30,000 people visit Acetaia Malpighi every year to take part in the tours and experience firsthand the unique taste of the company’s products. Acetaia Malpighi has been offering free educational tours for more than 20 years so that guests from anywhere in the world can come here and discover the secrets and methods of balsamic vinegar production and learn to recognize the different flavors of this magnificent product. The company actively collaborates with leading chefs and culinary schools to find new ways to use Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and create a culture of its correct use in cooking.