Due Vittorie Balsamic Vinegar of Modena - Taste Test and a Giveaway

Rich and sweet, Balsamic Vinegar has been produced in Modena, Italy, since the Middle Ages and is now famous throughout the world.  It's good to see Due Vittorie Balsamic Vinegar, is now available for us to buy in the UK from Due Vittorie at Ocado.

Traditional or ‘Tradizionale’ Balsamic Vinegar;
Made from cooked grape must, usually made from Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes.  The resulting thick syrup is aged for a minimum of 12 years in wooden barrels made from different woods (chestnut, cherry, oak, mulberry, ash and juniper). 
This connoisseurs’ product, also available from Due Vittorie at Ocado and costs £49.99 for a 100ml bottle. 

Due Vittorie Oro;
‘Balsamic Vinegar of Modena’ is £9.99 for a 250ml bottle has a remarkable sweetness and thickness making is a unique condiment.  It also fully meets the criteria for IGP* certification as “Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP” and has a minimum acidity of 6%.
The Taste Test;
I poured just 1 teaspoon of three different balsamic vinegars of different prices into small dishes.  
I won't name the other brand but it's the dish to the far left and costs £2.50 for 250ml.
As you can see it looks watered down.  Look how 1tsp covered the dish compared to the Due Vittorie Oro at £9.99 
But when you look at the one on the far right (Due Vittoire Traditional) it was beautifully thick in constancy.    
 

The unnamed brand (my usual brand) actually tasted very vinegary in comparison whilst the Oro (middle) tasted so much better.  I will definitely buy this rather than my previous brand.  

As for the Traditional; well I have to say this is the bees knees of Balsamic vinegars. 
Far richer and thicker and sweet tasting - yes this is amazing.  At £49.99 though, it would have to be used for a special occasion! 

A few ideas on how to use Balsamic Vinegar;

• Drizzled over strawberries

• Delicious on roasted tomatoes

• Drizzled over grilled fish

• Drizzled on grilled steak 

• As an healthier alternative to soy sauce - especially good with with sushi

• Drizzled over chips - says my friend Helen Hannah (must say I haven't tried it) but I bet it's good so thanks for that Helen!

• Goes well with goats cheese 

• Asparagus wrapped in Parma ham

• To finish and sweeten sauces such as ragu or chilli con carne

• In homemade ice creams such as strawberry & balsamic

• To make salad dressings

• Or mixed with olive oil (as shown below) for dipping bread; mix 2 parts oil to 1 part balsamic

So my conclusion is you do get what you pay for!
I have to say really didn't want to open the Due Vittorie Tradizionale since at £49.99 I will only going to use it on very special occasions - yes I'm keeping mine in the cupboard thank you very much and I'll just look at the bottle - I don't want to part with it!  
The Due Vittorie Oro is an excellent and much more affordable alternative for everyday use.

To find out more pop over to Due Vittorie.
Twitter @DueVittorie

Now for the Giveaway - 1 bottle of Due Vittorie Oro Balsamic vinegar worth £9.99

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