11 Nov Incredible Local Balsamic From Venturi-Schulze Vineyards

This is the kind of product I like to find out there. Locally produced foodie favorites are everywhere and even though you may look to Italy when shopping for balsamic vinegar, perhaps look a little closer? Nestled in the Cowichan Valley is the Venturi-Schulze Vineyards which are famous world-wide for their wines and vinegars. I’m lucky to have access to these amazing products and I thought I’d share my love of their balsamic vinegar which comes in the most exquisite hand painted bottles.

This vinegar is made in an “ancient fashion” as they claim and going by the taste of this stuff, it certainly must be a well guarded secret. The local luxury product is 100% estate-grown in their Cobble Hill vineyard in the warm Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.

The balsamic is aged in over one hundred 2,500 litre custom made French oak barrels, and 227 litre barriques to small series of barrels custom made for them near Modena. Each of these series ranges from 20 to 50 litres in size in five different varieties of wood: acacia, ash, cherry, oak and chestnut, each adding its own unique character to the flavour.

Venturi-Schulze Balsamic Vinegar is a completely pure and natural unlike commercially available balsamic vinegars made from a blend of wine vinegar, grape juice concentrate, caramel colouring and flavourings. The farm has been on the land since 1893 and if you’re in the area, check out if their tasting room is open because it is well worth the visit.

Online: http://www.venturischulze.com/