Balsamic vinegar

Does balsamic vinegar contain alcohol?
Hello ermintrude_uk-ga! I really like dipping bread in a mix of balsamic vinegar and olive oil a lot, so your question caught my eye. I must admit, though, that I’ve never given much thought to how it is made and whether or not it contains alcohol. I%26#39;ve found some interesting information. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ABOUT BALSAMIC VINEGAR While most vinegars are traditionally made from wine, balsamic vinegar is derived from cooked Trebbiano grape must (unfermented grape juice). The must is aged over a number of years (up to 25 years in some cases) in a series of wooden casks. Woods such as oak, chestnut, mulberry, cherry, ash, and juniper are used, each giving the vinegar its own distinctive aroma and taste. According to www.colavita.com, distributors of authentic Italian foods, the finished product is described as “a fluid and syrup-like consistency” (http://www.colavita.com/vinegar2.htm). They go on to say: “The commercial type balsamic vinegar which you see on the supermarket shelves is made from a wine vinegar into which aged balsamic vinegar must has been added. The addition and amount of must added to the red wine vinegar determines the quality of the commercial type balsamic vinegar.” For a detailed description of producing balsamic vinegar, read further on this interesting website: http://www.colavita.com/vinegar2.htm The Vinegar Institute also has interesting information on the production and quality of balsamic vinegar, as well as information about vinegar in general. http://www.versatilevinegar.org/todaysvinegar.html http://www.versatilevinegar.org/faqs.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IS THERE ALCOHOL IN THERE? There are no set criteria for alcohol content in vinegars and there are a variety of balsamic vinegars available, both with and without alcohol. Although, according to an Italian culinary site located at http://appenninogoloso.it/index.asp (English language site: http://appenninogoloso.it/UK/), “the process of maturation lasts for at least 10 years; the product has an alcohol content of at least 6%.” http://appenninogoloso.it/UK/catalogo.asp?cat=1 Here is a listing that contains a number of aged balsamic vinegars for sale, at least one of which is labeled as “alcohol free.” http://www.gourmet-village.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY%26amp;Category_Code=Balsamic_Vinegars Here are links to two specific balsamic vinegars available online with alcohol contents of 3%. One is a Spanish product and one is organic. http://www.tienda.com/food/pop/vn-18.html http://www.organic-planet.com/products/h_Balsamic_Vinegar.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Balsamic vinegar is definitely a delicious addition to many dishes, originally served in the families of royalty. It can be an expensive product, especially when purchasing the authentic “tradizionale” (aged for 12 years) or “tradizionale extra vecchio” (aged for 25 years) types. “A bottle of generic balsamic vinegar is readily available in grocery stores or supermarkets [inexpensively]. But be warned: The less expensive varieties are sometimes just regular vinegar with caramel coloring added. We recommend that you investigate the age of the balsamic you are purchasing in order to determine its quality and authenticity.” http://www.italiancookingandliving.com/food/pf_text/ing_balsamic.html I hope that this information is what you are looking for. Thank you again for your interesting question. If you should need any further clarification please let me know. Bon appetit! Sincerely, Boquinha-ga Search terms used: balsamic vinegar ingredients balsamic vinegar %26quot;alcohol content%26quot; balsamic vinegar contains alcohol