The finest balsamic vinegars have no other ingredients added to them - only the trebbiano grapes. Lesser ones will add brown sugar or caramel to mimic the sweetness of the balsamic vinegars. If a company produces a "traditional" balsamic vinegar, they will also make a less costly, but quality vinegar as well.

View our free Balsamic vinaigrette Recipes.
Oil and vinegar Balsamic Salad dressings.

Balsamic vinegar is Made by reduced white grapes (typically, trebbiano grapes) that has been boiled down to about 50% ("must") and fermenting that into alcohol. It is then once again fermented to balsamico vinegar, with a slow aging process done in wood barrels that concentrates the flavors. The flavor is intensified over decades, with the vinegar being kept in fine wood barrels, becoming sweet, thick and very concentrated in flavour. Some older balsamico vinegar is added to the "must" to create a more complex and intricate taste, and to add acidity.

The thick syrup is transferred to oak casks to ferment in the open air and then begins the long dehydration and aging process that makes aged balsamico vinegar unusual. Balsamic vinegar does not go bad after opening as oxygen is part of the aging process, you can cherish your finest bottle and use it on special recipes. Do not heat or cook balsamic vinegar as it will ruin the flavor.

As a key component in vinaigrette dressings, balsamic blends particularly well with olive oil. Olive oil-balsamic vinaigrette is great with scallops, artichokes and asparagus. A balsamic dressing does well with winter veggies such as carrots, turnips, squash and sweet potatoes, as well as fresh mixed greens or baby spinach.

The Mediterranean diet, characterized by cuisine such as Italian food, has been gaining popularity in North America, where the consumption of traditional Mediterranean foods, such as cold pressed olive oil and balsamic vinegar, has been increasing. Many people are finding this diet as a healthy alternative to fatty foods and deep fried food preparation.

Best Balsamic Vinegar. Aged Balsamic Vinegar from Spain - reserve 18 years, Andalusia, Pedro Ximenez, Olive Oil, Balsamic Chicken, - another Ximenez olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar brings Pedro level to -

Wine Country Kitchens: Oils Dipping & Vinegars Fragrant garlic, olive oil & fresh parmesan cheese blend smoothly with - from Balsamic Vinegar Our Modena, Italy is aged up to 18 years in wood casks. -

Club Sets Under $150 from Gift Sauce Made the Ligurian Taggiasca olives in a small village above from Italian Riviera. - 20 Year Old Balsamic Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil. A well-aged -

Dining Room Menu Dressed with basil and 10-year old balsamic vinegar 6.90 - Baby Clams sauted in extra-virgin olive with oil garlic, parsley and hot pepper pods. -

Spain vinegar balsamic chicken olive oil from balsamic Cold Pressed Olive, Oil Aged Balsamic vinegar - Garlic-infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 18-year old Balsamic Vinegar Condiment. -

The Menus Dessert Paci Restaurant - Dinner and at Menu ASSORTED GREENS DRESSED IN AGED VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR OVER A - WITH CORSICA OLIVE OIL, LEMON AND 8-YEAR OLD EXTRA BALSAMIC VINEGAR, 28.00 -