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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Silvia and Cristina

Reggio Emilia, Italy

USD
$35-$42 per person

Balsamic Vinegar Tour and Tasting near Reggio Emilia

Host offerings
  • House
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Vinegar Tour & Tasting

Meet Silvia and Cristina

Cristina and Silvia inherited not only their father’s family acetaia, but also his passion for traditional balsamic vinegar making and Italian food. Together with their colleague Rita, they continue the family’s age-old traditions and share their knowledge with travelers from around the world. Depending on the day, either Cristina or Rita will welcome you into their family home and acetaia in Emilia-Romagna, just a 15–20 minute drive from Reggio Emilia, and introduce you to the art of traditional balsamic vinegar making. Discover how this treasured local specialty is made and aged while experiencing a tradition that has been passed down through generations.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Vinegar Tour & Tasting: (4-15 guests) Experience a private balsamic vinegar tour and tasting at an 18th-century family villa and acetaia in Emilia-Romagna, just a 15–20 minute drive from Reggio Emilia and west of Modena, en route to Parma. Sisters Cristina and Silvia live in this beautiful historic villa, and depending on the day, your host will be Cristina, Silvia or their colleague Rita. Begin with a tour of the family home, its large Italian-style garden and the traditional acetaia on the roof. Learn how authentic balsamic vinegar is made and aged in wooden barrels, including historic barrels purchased by Cristina and Silvia’s father more than half a century ago. Your host will also explain the differences between the region’s balsamic vinegars and how they are traditionally used in Italian cooking. After your tour, taste six different balsamic vinegars, including three traditional Reggio Emilia DOP balsamic vinegars and three Modena IGP balsamic vinegars. Discover their different flavors, ages and uses while learning about one of Emilia-Romagna’s most celebrated culinary traditions. Guests who wish to purchase balsamic vinegar or other products after the tasting will receive a special discount.

Languages spoken: English, Italian

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

This is for sure a unique experience in every sense. Never had I imagined that I would be drinking balsamic vinegar on a spoon. We arrived at Il Borgio del Balsamico by car since it’s the easiest and fastest way to get there. Cristina, one of the owners of the business greeted us at the entrance of the property. The house was amazing and looked exactly like one of those boutique ancient Italian villas. The garden was really nice too, with roses exotic flowers, and even fruit trees everywhere. With Cristina as our guide, we toured the house where her family actually lives in. She showed us the offices from where they run the business. But the last floor was the real jewel of the house. It is this floor where the family keeps the balsamic vinegar stored in wooden barrels for around 15 years before it goes to the market. Cristina’s family has been in this business for over 70 years and their brand is one of the leading ones when it comes to high end balsamic vinegar. The process of making balsamic vinegar is really interesting and captivating since the vinegar can remain stored for up to 50 years before it is ready to be sold. As with wine, the longer the vinegar spends in the wooden barrels, the higher the quality. After a thorough explanation of the production process, including its history and many interesting details, we went downstairs for the tasting. Cristina made us try some of the lighter options first and left the best award winner balsamic for the end. We tried five different vinegars and I can say that each one of them tasted completely different. Cristina also explained us the variety of uses you can give to each of the options. The experience itself was amazing and unique, definitely one of a kind. The perfect way to immerse yourself in the Italian culture and it’s flavours!

Ine, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Silvia and Cristina

$35-$42 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
Vinegar Tour & Tasting
 Not offered $42 $35
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
Vinegar Tour & Tasting
 Not offered $42 $35
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Vinegar Tour & Tasting
 10:00am-11:00am 4:00pm-5:00pm

Meet Silvia and Cristina

Cristina and Silvia inherited not only their father’s family acetaia, but also his passion for traditional balsamic vinegar making and Italian food. Together with their colleague Rita, they continue the family’s age-old traditions and share their knowledge with travelers from around the world. Depending on the day, either Cristina or Rita will welcome you into their family home and acetaia in Emilia-Romagna, just a 15–20 minute drive from Reggio Emilia, and introduce you to the art of traditional balsamic vinegar making. Discover how this treasured local specialty is made and aged while experiencing a tradition that has been passed down through generations.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Vinegar Tour & Tasting: (4-15 guests) Experience a private balsamic vinegar tour and tasting at an 18th-century family villa and acetaia in Emilia-Romagna, just a 15–20 minute drive from Reggio Emilia and west of Modena, en route to Parma. Sisters Cristina and Silvia live in this beautiful historic villa, and depending on the day, your host will be Cristina, Silvia or their colleague Rita. Begin with a tour of the family home, its large Italian-style garden and the traditional acetaia on the roof. Learn how authentic balsamic vinegar is made and aged in wooden barrels, including historic barrels purchased by Cristina and Silvia’s father more than half a century ago. Your host will also explain the differences between the region’s balsamic vinegars and how they are traditionally used in Italian cooking. After your tour, taste six different balsamic vinegars, including three traditional Reggio Emilia DOP balsamic vinegars and three Modena IGP balsamic vinegars. Discover their different flavors, ages and uses while learning about one of Emilia-Romagna’s most celebrated culinary traditions. Guests who wish to purchase balsamic vinegar or other products after the tasting will receive a special discount.

Languages spoken: English, Italian

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

This is for sure a unique experience in every sense. Never had I imagined that I would be drinking balsamic vinegar on a spoon. We arrived at Il Borgio del Balsamico by car since it’s the easiest and fastest way to get there. Cristina, one of the owners of the business greeted us at the entrance of the property. The house was amazing and looked exactly like one of those boutique ancient Italian villas. The garden was really nice too, with roses exotic flowers, and even fruit trees everywhere. With Cristina as our guide, we toured the house where her family actually lives in. She showed us the offices from where they run the business. But the last floor was the real jewel of the house. It is this floor where the family keeps the balsamic vinegar stored in wooden barrels for around 15 years before it goes to the market. Cristina’s family has been in this business for over 70 years and their brand is one of the leading ones when it comes to high end balsamic vinegar. The process of making balsamic vinegar is really interesting and captivating since the vinegar can remain stored for up to 50 years before it is ready to be sold. As with wine, the longer the vinegar spends in the wooden barrels, the higher the quality. After a thorough explanation of the production process, including its history and many interesting details, we went downstairs for the tasting. Cristina made us try some of the lighter options first and left the best award winner balsamic for the end. We tried five different vinegars and I can say that each one of them tasted completely different. Cristina also explained us the variety of uses you can give to each of the options. The experience itself was amazing and unique, definitely one of a kind. The perfect way to immerse yourself in the Italian culture and it’s flavours!

Ine, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Pricing (per person)*
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
Vinegar Tour & Tasting
 Not offered $42 $35
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
Vinegar Tour & Tasting
 Not offered $42 $35
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Vinegar Tour & Tasting
 10:00am-11:00am 4:00pm-5:00pm
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