13 Oct 2022
I wish I can bring more people to this experience. I came to this Acetaia knowing little of balsamic and leaving with an immense appreciation for the tradition and stories that make up Castelfranco Emilia and Modena. You gain a respect for the love that goes into producing balsamic. I was lucky to have been the only one booked that day and got a one on one experience with the owner Barbara who was very hospitable. She immediately welcomed me into her home and as soon as she was ready, brought me up to her Acetaia where I was met by the enthralling smell of the vinegar and the rows of barrels. She explained the history and stories that came with barrels. I honestly cannot look at balsamic vinegar the same way again. Barbara took the time and made sure I wasn’t left with any questions. After spending time in the Acetaia, we went to the shop where I got to taste the different vinegars and truly understood why it was worth learning what goes behind making true balsamic. I ended up buying a bottle which was reasonably priced. Not everyday you can buy something from someone with a product made by their own hands.
A bit of information: the property is about a 10 min. drive from the Castelfranco Emilia station. Sofia was able to arrange transportation for me. I ended up paying about 30 euros going to and from which was reasonable, but it’s surely accessible if you have your own vehicle. I also thought being late was a problem since the trains the day of were having delays. I still made it in time, but Sofia is accessible through email so I had no problems.