The masterclass dedicated to the Balsamic vinegar of Modena organized on 22 January in New York opened the calendar 2026 of the initiatives of House of Made in Italy, the project of promotion of Italian agri-food culture in the United States. The meeting was held at the Townhouse of the Columbus Citizens Foundation and was promoted by the 100% Italian Institute in collaboration with Acetaia Giusti, in the presence of a limited number of professionals from the agri-food sector and catering active on the US market.
The content of the day was entrusted to the experience of Acetaia Giusti, a company founded in 1605 and considered the oldest producer of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. The intervention covered the main historical and productive passages of vinegar, focusing on the differences between the various types present on the market, the raw materials used and the role of the denominations of origin in the face of strong international competition.
A central part of the masterclass was then dedicated to tasting: participants could compare products with different ageing times, analyzing how the use of barrels in different wood – oak, cherry or juniper – affects the final sensory characteristics, from the balance between sweetness and acidity to density and aromas. The technical approach allowed us to explore also those aspects often simplified in commercial communication, especially in America, where the Balsamic vinegar of Modena is one of the most imitated Italian products through Italian sounding practices.
The interest of participants reflects the trend of the US market, and its consumers, to pay greater attention to certified and traceable products, particularly for PDO and PGI denominations. According to the data of the Consortium of Protection, the Balsamic vinegar of Modena IGP is one of the most exported Italian geographical indications in the world, with the United States among the main target markets.
The masterclass has marked the start of the 2026 program of House of Made in Italy, project promoted by I Love Italian Food and the Columbus Citizens Foundation, with the patronage of Italian Trade Agency and ENIT, and the support of Coldiretti and Filiera Italia. The calendar will continue in the coming months with other initiatives dedicated to the valorization of authentic Italian productions in the United States.
L’articolo A Masterclass on the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena opens the 2026 program of House of Made in Italy proviene da IlNewyorkese.
