108 - Exclusive Balsamic Tour: Acetaia San Giacomo Novellara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

SUPER TOP TOUR! FOR 4 PEOPLE

Learn how pure balsamic vinegar is made and taste the difference!

Personally guided tour, tasting and lunch with Owner, Andrea Bezzecchi.

Acetaia San Giacomo is the only one that, since its inception, has produced only and exclusively pure Balsamic without added vinegar. Balsamic made 100% from cooked

must, from fresh local organic grapes, not from concentrate.

METHOD is prioritized, more important, than Origin and Aging.

The tour includes a complete visit to the Acetaia (about 1 hour).

Tasting of all Saba, BalsaMela, Agro di Mosto, Balsamico San Giacomo, Essenza San

Giacomo, Signoria Gonzaga.

Plus all three Traditional Balsamic Vinegars from Reggio Emilia: Lobster label, minimum 12 years of ageing, Silver label 20 years, Gold label 25 years) and tasting of Raw (wine) Vinegars .

In addition to the classic tasting, various "goodies" are offered such as Balsamics from particularly award-winning, aged batches, reserves of wine vinegars, particular products from abroad and many points of view from within a little-known world, that of balsamic vinegars and Not.

Obviously, always in San Giacomo style: without frills and with practical demonstrations!

At the end of the tour, a multi course lunch is served including the tasting of Parmigiano-Reggiano, Acetaia San Giacomo with artisan bread and Gnocco (typical focaccia), with specially selected local wines, some of the Acetaia’s own production.

To finish, ice cream with Traditional Balsamic Vinegar from Reggio Emilia Oro (over 25 years of aging), coffee and bitters.

Remarks about Acetaia San Giacomo and Andrea Bezzecchi:

“For those passionate about Italian cuisine, meeting Andrea Bezzecchi at his Balsamic Vinegar

factory is similar to how meeting Michelangelo might feel for an artist. The man, the artisan, the

location and the end products make Andrea one of the true custodians of the time-honored Italian

heritage around Traditional Balsamic Vinegar - Aceto Balsamico.” (“Andrea Bezzecchi: The

Real King of Balsamic Vinegar - Luxeat”)

SAVEUR

(Hannah Howard - 19th October 2021)

“Bezzecchi is a perfectionist who obsesses over every detail to create this potion, the Traditional

Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia DOP, bursting with concentrated flavors of dried figs, ripe

cherries, spices and woods. More prunes and rich caramel in the sweet Saba,

a condiment made by slow cooking must over a direct flame until the syrup is reduced to a third

and then bottled.”

Tony Mantuano, James Beard Award Winner, Michelin Star Chef

“Balsamico is one of the essential products of Italy and it is certainly the most

misunderstood. This the real thing. Andrea shows you how balsamic was always meant

to be and what it should be today. When you see all the work and effort he puts into his

products you see why other, bigger producers don’t talk about their methods. They only

talk about where their products come from and their age. Finally, you taste Acetaia San

Giacomo Balsamico and you understand the difference; the richness of this finely, hand

crafted product and you can never go back to the others again.”

IMPORTANT NOTES

Date and time to be mutually agreed upon.

Transportation to Italy as well as to the Acetaia are not included.