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Owner-Led Balsamic Vinegar Tour & Tasting in Vignola

All amenities

Family Friendly

Vegetarian friendly

German, French, Italian, English

House

Has animals

Cooking demonstration

home cook

Food Tour

1.5 - 2 hours

Min 1, max 18 guests

Start times: 10:00am, 2:00pm

Meet your host Mariangela, a fun and energetic host (and mother of four) at her family home and vinegar acetaia for a Modena balsamic vinegar tour, followed by a tasting and food pairing. The vinegary is in Vignola and Vignola is 20 km from Modena and 20 km from Bologna. As you walk into her beautiful courtyard you are transported in time. Visiting this old traditional vinegary is a unique experience: you enter a world full of history, visit lofts where the concept of time is lost in the long aging process, and breathe in the delicate perfume of traditional vinegar. Mariangela will welcome you in the courtyard before starting your tour in the tasting room where you will hear about Mariangela's family story of producing balsamic vinegar. Learn about how traditional balsamic vinegar, saba (a grape juice condiment to make dishes more aromatic which has been produced since ancient Roman times), and balsam saba (family recipe for a cooking condiment) are made. Then walk up a spiral staircase to the historic loft (where the magic happens!) and get an insider’s glimpse into how vinegar is aged in a variety of differently sized wooden barrels. Return to the tasting room or a farmer’s table, weather permitting, for a vinegar and saba spoon tasting as well as a food pairing with signature ingredients of the region - Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, Parma ham and bread, and seasonal fruit. Your tour and tasting will last about two hours. On days that Mariangela is away, her mother Giovanna, also an expert at vinegar will be your host.

Notes

Please note that the vinegary is located in Vignola, a town in the province of Modena. Located 20 km from the center of Modena, it is midway between Modena and Bologna. Mariangela can be flexible with time so if you would like to start slightly earlier or later feel free to let her know when making your booking.

Please note that this producer does offer a free tour directly on her site. The difference between their free offer and this experience is that this is a private experience with the owner herself and includes a food pairing and a bottle of saba that you can take home.

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.

Vinegar and saba spoon tasting
Food pairing: Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, Parma ham and bread, and seasonal fruit

More about Mariangela

Mariangela lives in a beautiful home, also the home of the acetaia that her father grew up in that has been in their family for centuries. The family 'acetaia' (Italian for home for vinegar that ages vinegar in barrels) was started by Mariangela’s great grandfather Alfonso, and built for their family’s use. Since then, the lofts of the ancient house in Vignola have been full of vinegar barrels made from organic grapes from their vineyards in Savignano sul Panaro. The acetaia as we know it now, called "La Cà dal Non” (house of the grandfather) was started in 1996 by Mariangela and her brother. While studying at university, Mariangela grew interested in the family tradition and decided to sell vinegar to the public in her grandfather’s name. Traditional balsamic vinegar can take 2-25 years to mature and it makes you respect the process and the time it takes to make a great vinegar. Mariangela loves working with the barrels and is fascinated by the fact that you can work on a product started by someone you have never met. She spent a lot of time in their loft, learning with her father, and her time their now brings back fond memories of her time together with her father, learning their family tradition. Mariangela is excited to share her culture, family history, and the tradition of vinegar making in Modena with travelers.

What others are saying

Oct 21, 2025

"This experience was worth every penny. We learned so much about the process of making high quality balsamic. From start to finish it earned high marks. From Mariangela giving very concise directions for our train travel from Bologna to Vignoli, to her picking us up from the train station and bringing us back, to tasting her wonderful product paired with several different foods, we highly recommend this tour. We can't wait to taste the products we purchased, although their was no hard sell to buy anything. Thank you again to Mariangela (and her Mom) for this wonderful experience and sharing your love and enthusiasm for your family's generations of balsamic production. Grazie!"

Joann

Oct 17, 2025

"What a very special place to visit. Our host was incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about her craft and it was an honor to have it shared with us during our visit. The food pairing with the vinegar samples were absolutely delicious especially the bacon wrapped prunes. Will never look at a bottle of balsamic vinegar the same way again after this day."

Susan

Sep 24, 2024

"If I could give them 10 stars, I would. This day trip was a highlight of our stay in Florence! Marieangela and Giovanna were so welcoming and accommodating. Giovanna picked us up at the train station in the rain and gave us a fabulous tour with all the history of their acetaia. We even had a delightful snack at the end so we could see how the different types are used. Just a wonderful tour!"

charles

Oct 19, 2023

"This tour was one of the best things we did on our trip to Italy. It is a stunning old farmhouse compound that the city grew up against. And Nonna was so personal and enriching, with the process for TRADITIONAL balsamic vinegar very educational. I would most highly recommend scheduling this tour if your interests at all lie in this direction."

Abraham

Mar 15, 2022

"The insight into the operation of the vinegar production that runs in the family was extremely informative and exciting. The tour was great and the story behind it was great. Also top culinary, being able to taste the different types of vinegar. We can only recommend to visit in any case!"

Camilla_ A

Mar 12, 2022

"We were welcomed even though I had made a mistake when making our reservation. Our host and the owner greeted us with surprise upon our unexpected arrival and graciously lead us on informative tour of the family history and current operation of their vinegar production process. I felt that we could not have found a more authentic experience and truly delicious tasting! We purchased some vinegars and will be enjoying our bit of Modena soon with the recipes that came with the gift pack. Prego!"

Helen_W

Dec 28, 2021

"My husband and I had a private tour with the owner. She was so passionate and knowledgeable about this incredible field and product, it was great! We actually learned a lot about the tradition, process, and product. She opened our home to us and showed us her family’s acetaio with barrels that have been in her family for generations. Highly recommend"

MIchelle

Oct 17, 2021

"I booked this tour with the intention of learning more about the history and how the traditional balsamic vinegar is made. Prior to the tour, I was able to communicate with Mariangela by email to make arrangements for transportation since we were traveling from Bologna to Vignola and needed to be picked up from the train station. On the day of the tour, my family and I met Mariangela's mother at the train station. She was so pleasant and provided us with transportation to their home which serves as the headquarters of the Balsamic production. In addition, she gave us the tour and tasting of the different types of balsamic, that they have, including their new Sono JFF which is very tasty. The dishes that she had prepared for us were so tasty, that we wanted more and more. The dishes exemplified the use of the different balsamics, everything was so yummy. After the tasting, we were able to meet with Mariangela who gave us even more information about their products. She spend a lot of time with us, just talking about the region, things to do, etc. She is so personable, and it was a pleasure to spend time with her, her mom in their beautiful home. Hands down a great experience with high quality products."

T7854

Sep 20, 2021

"An absolutely wonderful visit at a family producer, lead by the wife of the owner. Very personable, friendly, informative. But above all the pride and love for their product and the Traditional Balsamic culture came out through out the visit. in the end we enjoyed home made snacks prepared just for us adorned with traditional balsamic. As an old gearhead I visited all the temples of racing in the area. But I rate this visit as the best experience of my time in Emilia-Romana. The drive is a bit out of the way but it gives you a chance to look at the land and the crops these people love and cherish. DO NOT MISS. "

Nicolao

Sep 28, 2020

"This was such a lovely tour! It is a very detailed and personal tour about the history of the family and production of traditional balsamic vinegar. We have learned a lot! Never thought there was so much going on behind the scenes in this neighbourhood. At the end of the tour, you get the opportunity to taste all the different kinds of balsamic vinegar that are made by this family, in combination with some really good appetizers. We loved it!"

npmdek

Jul 06, 2020

"I cannot thank Mariangela enough for sharing her time cooking with us long into the night. We had gotten this class as a father's day gift to spend time with family across time zones and we hit the jackpot! Mariangela is so incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about her family business and beyond generous to share her family recipes. Before class she was accessible via email to help us prepare and following the class to offer additional expertise and inspiration to use her products for days to come. We cannot wait to visit her home in person one day! Grazie, Mariangela!"

Darby

Nov 19, 2019

"We had the absolute pleasure of visiting this family owned and operated balsamic vinegar aceto. Even better that it was just the two of us there that day and we were treated to a fantastic 2-3 hours with Giovanna. We came with little expectation and very little knowledge of traditional balsamic vinegar - other than we really enjoyed the taste of it.Well, we had an amazing experience including family history and the history of balsamic vinegar. Every aspect of the production method and traditions of the vinegar was carefully and passionately explained by Giovanna.We left with a armful of vinegar and some memories that we will treasure for a long time.Got some wrapped in the tour that we forgot to take pictures!!Highly recommend this tour to anyone going to Modena - a little out of the way but just ask your driver to wait for you. Well worth the drive and well worth the visit.Looking forward to opening our bottle of Vittorio on our next family dinner at home."

Greg M

Nov 02, 2019

"Mariangela spent more than 2 hours with just the two of us. She answered all our questions, helped us understand the process and shared her enthusiasm and pride for what her family is producing. We loved our time with her and would highly recommend this tour. "

L2834TWnancyr

Oct 18, 2019

"I have long been a fan of good balsamic vinegar, so when the opportunity to travel to Italy arose, a factory tour was high on my list. Through internet research I selected Ca dal Non. What a wonderful tour! It was, as others have commented, more like a family visit. We had a wonderful time learning the about the history and production of the vinegar, touring the facility, and tasting the delicious products, all in the beautiful setting that has been the family home for generations. Their balsamic is extraordinary, and the information instruction and warm hospitality make the tour a must if you are in the area!"

therovingfoodie

Oct 10, 2019

"Wat een passie voor het vak! We hebben een uitgebreide rondleiding gehad met een duidelijke uitleg. Heel interessant. Op het opgegeven adres verwacht je absoluut niet dit allemaal te vinden. Alles zit achter de muren en vervolgens in de vaten verborgen. Zeker de moeite waard, een aanrader!"

Marcel K

Oct 04, 2019

"Très belle avant midi que nous avons passé avec la dynamique Mariangela!Explications simples et facile à comprendre...en français en plus!!!Dégustation bien appréciée! Produits de qualité! Prix des produits raisonnables!Vinaigrerie recommandée!"

Expedition581979

Sep 06, 2019

"The heading is not my own words but a very apt description by a fellow contributor. First of all, if you are travelling independently, trust your GPS. The property sits behind high walls and a sturdy gate on a housing estate! But enter in a you will find a different world - the locality as it used to be.We spent a great couple of hours learning about the TRUE, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, as well as the family history, which was fascinating. We left feeling as if we had made new friends.This visit represented great value and we would certainly recommend it."

Morpethian1

Aug 14, 2019

"My husband and 2 teenagers went for the balsamic vinegar tour. Don’t let the neighbor hood throw you off. Once you’re inside the walls it’s very different. They house used to be alone in the countryside but now it’s a residential area. Very personal and informative tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable on the making of traditional balsamic vinegar but the family history of the business is also very interesting. We were able to taste different types of vinegar. Then visit the aceteria where they keep the aged barrels. We then were offered a nice snack which pairs well with different types of vinegars. And my 2 teens kept interest the whole time. I recommend this tour if you want a more relaxing and informative kind of tour"

NewBrunswickChampoo

Aug 11, 2019

"Nous avons passé une superbe matinée en compagnie de Giovanna pour découvrir l'histoire de la vinaigrerie et de la famille.Dégustation excellente et recherchée. Nous recommandons pour tout passage dans la région."

loick75

Jun 20, 2019

"This was more than a tour, but more like a visit with a long lost relative. Mariangela and her mother (the matriarch of the family) were wonderful hosts. Walked us through their operation which was part of their century old, renovated home and did a great job of explaining and showing us the process of making Traditional Modena Balsamic Vinegar.. The tasting was eye-opening as was the traditional snacks at the end of the visit. We left with some bottles of their product and an appreciation for the generations of dedicated work to their family business."

Curt L

Apr 04, 2019

"Lovely family run business. The tour was educational and tasty. Great history behind the business and interesting to see the barrels of balsamic in the loft. Vinegar tasting included 6 samples, all lovely. Balsamic sold were of a range of prices from €10 to €80 so you can take something home at any budget. Italian owner had very good English and was lovely. "

Lawaward

No worries booking: free cancellation within 24 hours of booking.
Cancel anytime up to 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus service fees.
If your experience is cancelled within 48 hours of your experience, no refund is provided.

Location

5.0 (20 reviews)

$10 - $18

No worries booking: free cancellation within 24 hours of booking

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