Acid zip

Alessi balsamic vinegar

by Theresa Regli

The word vinegar comes from the French vin aigre, which means "sour wine." What makes it sour is the acetic acid produced during fermentation. Balsamic vinegar, which has a muddy purplish color, is actually made from white Trebbiano grapes; it turns dark and sweet while aging in wood barrels. Alessi vinegar is aged for four years in Modena, Italy; it's super-pungent and adds a deliciously sweet twist to dressings and sauces. A 12.75-ounce bottle costs $3.69 at most supermarkets.