Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinegar: The Best of the Best


The difference between barrel aged balsamic vinegar and standard balsamic vinegar is the extra time the cooked grape must spends being aged in wood barrels. We use the Solera style, where older aged balsamic barrels are topped off each year with newer balsamic. Barrel aged balsamic vinegars are required to be aged a minimum of 12 years. Reading labels can be tricky since some product descriptions state the age of the barrels, not the vinegar. This information is misleading and essentially useless because the wood barrels are not being consumed and the vinegar inside might actually be red wine vinegar rather than a true balsamic. The viscosity will increase with the time the vinegar is aged. Aging for 12 years or more allows the natural sugars from the grapes to condense and the balsamic to thicken through evaporation. The acidity decreases with aging. Barrel aged balsamic vinegar should be slightly sweet, mildly acidic, and a syrupy texture as a result of aging and not by the addition of additives.

Strawberry & Cream Angel Cake with Barrel-Aged Balsamic Drizzle:

Ingredients:

Angel Food Cake
½ Cup Whipping Cream
½ Cup Mascarpone Cheese
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
3 Tbsp Sugar
1 pound Strawberries
Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinegar

Instructions:

Wash and slice strawberries.
Place in bowl with 2 Tbsp sugar – mix and set aside.
Whip together whipping cream, mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and 1 Tbsp sugar.
Slice angel food cake – top with strawberries and a scoop of the mascarpone cream.
Finish with a drizzle of barrel aged balsamic vinegar.

Enjoy!

6 comments on “Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinegar: The Best of the Best”

  1. I was given it as a gift and fell in love with it but I cannot find it in any stores in my area I live in Fort Lauderdale florida

    • Marie I’m so glad you love our vinegar! Have you tried any of our infused varieties yet? They’re all available in our online store! Come check them out: shop.tastesonomaharvest.com !

  2. We are moving away from Sonoma to Oakland. We love Sonoma Harvest Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinager. Can we buy it in a store in Oakland or BERKELEY?

  3. Ellen we’re going miss you in Sonoma! Be sure to stay stocked up on all of our vinegars by bookmarking shop.tastesonomaharvest.com ! Or come visit us in our Tasting Room! We’re only an hour from Berkeley!

  4. I am from Ontario Canada. Received Sonoma Harvest. Narrel aged Basamic vinegar as a gift from my US friends. It tastes AMAZING! Now I am looking for it here. Any idea where I could find it?

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