Acetaia Leonardi Balsamic Vinegar of Modena IGP
The balsamic vinegar has an inky, almost syrupy consistency and is balanced between acidic and sweet, with a rich dried-fruit undertone. Quality this high is best enjoyed straight, drizzled over most any grilled or roasted meat, roasted vegetables, cheeses or garden-fresh tomatoes. Or try as a counterpoint to sweet berries or vanilla ice cream.
Acetaia Leonardi White Balsamic Vinegar
This white balsamic from Acetaia Leonardi is aged for eight years in oak barrels, so its flavor is exceptionally smooth and rounded. We like its honeyed fruit undertones and full-bodied consistency, which comes from the aging process and is a key indicator of a vinegar's quality. The family producer has been making vinegar since 1871 and is one of the last in Modena, Italy, to grow the same grapes that they use to make their vinegar. Try using this vinegar for brightness in our White Balsamic and Tarragon Chicken or Belgian Mashed Potatoes with Winter Vegetables (Stoemp); it will sharpen flavors and add dimension without calling too much attention to itself the way other vinegars do. Or drizzling it over roasted vegetables, such as in our Roasted Carrots with Balsamic Raisins and Pine Nuts or Slow-Roasted Tomatoes. We like to use a couple tablespoons to deglaze the pan after roasting meats, scraping up the browned bits and finishing with butter. White balsamic vinegar even plays a key role in our Harissa, for a mild acidity as a counterpoint for the earthy spices in the hot pepper paste.
Acetaia Leonardi Balsamic Pearls
More available Fall 2021
We like to think of these as balsamic caviar; when you bite into the pearls, all their volatile aromatic compounds are released at once so you can fully savor the depth and complexity of Acetaia Leonardi's authentic balsamic vinegar. It's a sharper, more immediate burst of acidity that highlights vinegar's vibrant intensity.
Leonardi Saba Mosto d'Uva Cotto
Saba is simply grape 'must' (juice) cooked down and aged to molasses-rich, raisin-like sweetness and a thick, syrupy texture. In this case, those grapes are Trebbiano, the same used for balsamic vinegar. A drizzle can balance bitter braised greens, intensify the sweetness of roasted meats and balance the acidity of dressing and vinaigrettes. On the sweet side, try drizzling over ice cream, fruit or oatmeal. A little goes a long way.