What is balsamic vinegar and why is it so popular?
Joseph E M., Wichita, KS Balsamic vinegar is Italian and is made from the Trebbiano grape. It has a distinctive sweet pungent flavor which comes from aging it, over years, in several barrels made of different types of woods and in graduating sizes. There are some balsamic vinegar’s which are 200 years old and as prized as vintage Port wines. The reason I think it is so popular is that it has a natural sweetness which people love. It is also less acidic than regular wine vinegar’s so you can use a bit more of the vinegar and less of the oil in salad dressings. In Manhattan, balsamic vinegar is so popular, I can find it just about any of my local supermarkets and grocery stores. You, however, may have to search for it in gourmet shops such as Williams Sonoma located in many malls across the U.S.
