Balsamic vinegar is a truly grown-up condiment.
The sweet-sour-tangy condiment is the sort of thing you pick up alongside a bottle of luxury EVOO (aka Extra Virgin Olive Oil), after you’ve enjoyed the duo with some crusty bread in a fancy restaurant.
The two are BFFs when it comes to making salad dressings, but balsamic vinegar can be used in myriad ways, from acting as a BBQ marinade to being drizzled over freshly cut chunks of watermelon and feta. Some even swear by pouring a little over a scoop of ice cream - vanilla is best - or downing a teaspoon as a digestif.
But what do we know about this sauce, which hails from the Mediterranean and is considered black gold thanks to its lengthy ageing process?
How is balsamic vinegar traditionally made?
It all starts with the grape must, which is the crushed fruit in its entirety: skin, seeds, stems and all. Typically, Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes are used to make balsamic vinegar, and they can be found in the Modena and Reggio Emilia regions of northern Italy.
They’re cooked down to release the fruit’s natural sweetness and left to ferment before they go into wooden barrels. There are three main classifications of balsamic vinegar; to be deemed traditional, it must spend at least 12 years ageing.
What are the classifications of balsamic vinegar?
Some balsamic vinegars enjoy protected designation of origin status, which means only produce made in the region can be called or categorised under this name.
- Traditional balsamic vinegar: The premium, top-shelf stuff, balsamic vinegar from Modena and Reggio Emilia falls under this category. There’s further differentiation here, such as coloured bottle caps that reveal how long they’ve spent ageing.
- Balsamic vinegar of Modena: Like balsamic vinegars from Reggio Emilia, bottles made in Modena will sport a special label or seal of authenticity on the bottle, meaning it sticks to a strict and distinct production process.
- Condiment grade balsamic vinegar: Lining supermarket shelves, this condiment can be produced anywhere, not just in Italy. Alongside grape must, things like wine vinegar and flavourings can be included to bring down the price while mimicking the sweetness of the real thing.
Is balsamic vinegar good for a keto diet?
With very low fat and calorie content, a little balsamic vinegar can bring life to those following a keto diet. It’s rich in polyphenols (antioxidants), and many experts say it has the potential to lower cholesterol, help digestion and aid weight management too. The golden rule? Everything in moderation.
Are there vegan balsamic vinegars?
The good news is that balsamic vinegars, made solely from grape must and vinegar, are already vegan-friendly.
If you’re ready to take your salads and condiment cupboard to the next level, we’ve gathered the best premium balsamic vinegar bottles on the market. From options that cost about as much as a decent bottle of wine, to options that will elevate a thrown-together side salad, see our list below.
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Giuseppe Giusti 6 & 12 Year Balsamic Set
Priced about the same as a decent bottle of wine, this twin set of matured balsamic vinegar includes a six-year and a 12-year bottle, the latter being much richer, almost syrup-like. It’s the perfect thing to take to a dinner party if your guests don’t drink; pair it with EVOO and some fancy bread for an easy yet elevated nibble.
Buy now £38.85, Fine Food Specialist
Odysea Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
With a well-balanced flavour dancing between sweet and not too acidic, Odysea’s beautiful balsamic vinegar oozes out of the bottle. The fuller body, achieved through a 10-year ageing process, means you only need a little on salads to get the same depth of flavour. It’s smooth and rich with fig notes that highlight the sweetness.
If you’re looking for cooking suggestions, one customer recommends adding it to “shallots and bake or red peppers in pepperonata”.
Buy now £10.95, Amazon
Fortnum's IGP Gold Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, 250ml
Made for drizzling over platters of cheese, antipasti and salad, Fortnum's balsamic vinegar hails from Modena. It's spent over a decade ripening in wooden barrels to become the full-bodied vinegar that glides out of your bottle, offering an indulgent flourish to everything from salads to strawberries.
The gold bottle is the priciest; if you're looking to make a lighter splash, F&M has bronze (£14.95) and silver (£30) iterations to try too.
Buy now £45.00, F&M
Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI Oro Due Vittorie 250ml
Before you baulk at the price, this aged balsamic vinegar has an 82 per cent five-star rating out of more than a thousand reviews. Customers wax lyrical about the authentic Modena condiment, which is pleasingly viscous, so suited to dressing, marinating or adding to a sauce.
The most convincing review? One fan said: “To say I became a bit crazed about putting it on almost all of what I was eating wouldn't be an understatement.”
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
La Secchia - "Extra Vecchio", Traditional Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP
One for die-hard balsamic vinegar aficionados, this bottle comes at a knockout price to match the knockout flavour within.
The Italian vinegar has gone through a 25-year ageing process, and bears the coveted status of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena D.O.P. Produced in small batches to ensure rigorous quality control, the elegant and complex flavour is made without additives, allowing the Lambrusco and Trebbiano grapes to fully shine.
The brand suggests pairing its elixir with aged cheese, drizzling over ice cream or desserts like crème brulèe or simply savouring a teaspoon as a digestif after dinner.
Buy now £75.94, Amazon
Daylesford Organic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena 250ml
Presented in a simple yet stylish bottle that you’d be happy to leave on your countertop, Daylesford’s balsamic vinegar hails from Modena and is made with typical Trebbiano and Lambrusco grape must. Use it on salads now, and to caramelise hearty root veggies when the weather starts to cool.
Buy now £24.75, Daylesford
Belazu Balsamic Vinegar of Modena 1.25, 250ml
Crafted by a third-generation producer who proudly sticks to the EU law of protected designation of origin, this vinegar is a more watery relation of the brand’s 1.34 bottle, which is 34 per cent thicker than water.
This is the thinner version, so more suited to dressing and deglazing. One customer deemed it ‘amazing’, saying: “This is my go-to balsamic vinegar. It's delicious and thick, but not too thick or sweet. Totally worth it.”
Buy now £7.30, Amazon
Thoughtfully Balsamic Vinegar Gift Set
Looking for a balsamic vinegar with a twist? Thoughtfully has added a flavour spin on its gift set, which features bottles infused with fig, chilli, garlic and more. Ideal for a foodie fiend who wants to shake up their sauce collection, the box comes beautifully presented, deeming further wrapping practically unnecessary.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
Pied De Poule Black Virgin Balsamic Vinegar
Putting the kitsch on your kitchen counter is this divine balsamic vinegar from Pied De Poule. It’s a novelty item, no doubt about that, but the Black Virgin does a great job of dressing salads (especially ones with mozzarella) with a wooden cask-aged balsamic vinegar that’s dark and rich.
Buy now £20.00, Not Another Bill
