Modena Balsamic Vinegar Tour: Tastings with Parmigiano and Gelato

Wooden barrels holding decades of balsamic vinegar, tasted at every stage of its transformation.

A guided tour of Acetaia Giusti in Modena where you walk through Lambrusco and Trebbiano vineyards, explore the barrel rooms of a family-run acetaia, and taste six balsamic vinegars (four IGP and two Traditional DOP) paired with aged Parmigiano Reggiano and artisanal ice cream. The tour runs 90 minutes and includes a full explanation of how cooked grape must becomes "Black Gold" through long aging in wood. The vineyard walk is weather-dependent. Ramp and elevator access are available for disabled visitors.

Step-by-step itinerary

Balsamic vinegar tour and tasting

• Walk through Lambrusco and Trebbiano vineyards
• Discover balsamic vinegar production process
• Visit barrel aging rooms
• Taste balsamic vinegars at different aging stages
• Taste vinegars paired with Parmigiano Reggiano and gelato

The experience

The tour starts inside the vineyards themselves. You walk through rows of red and white grapevines in the Modena countryside (weather permitting), surrounded by the plants that produce the cooked grape must at the heart of balsamic vinegar. This is where the story begins, not in a tasting room, but in the fields where the raw material grows. From there you move into the historic acetaia, a family-run operation where the production process unfolds across centuries-old wooden barrels stacked in atmospheric aging rooms.

The tasting is built around contrast and pairing. You taste each vinegar first on its own (tasting the difference between a younger IGP vinegar and a Traditional DOP that has aged far longer), then the same vinegar paired with aged Parmigiano Reggiano at different stages, then with artisanal ice cream chosen to enhance the aromas and balance the intensity. Six vinegars total, each one revealing something different when it meets the cheese or the cold sweetness of gelato. The guide walks you through the origins of balsamic production and the specifics of each variety, so the tasting becomes an education in flavor rather than just a sequence of sips.

The tour is led in English, Italian or French. Wheelchair access is available via ramp and elevator, and the experience suits all fitness levels. If rain, strong winds or excessive heat arrive, the vineyard walk is skipped, though the barrel rooms and tasting proceed as planned. The whole experience runs 90 minutes from start to finish.

What’s included

• Guided tour of the vineyards and barrel rooms at Acetaia Giusti.
• tasting of four IGP and two Traditional DOP balsamic vinegars.
• explanation of production process and the characteristics of each balsamic variety.
• pairings with aged Parmigiano Reggiano and artisanal ice cream.
• live guide in English, Italian or French.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 11:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Arcadia Tour Operator e DMC

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're based in Modena city center and prefer a guided tasting without traveling to the countryside. The acetaia is walkable from public transit.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What exactly is Traditional DOP balsamic vinegar, and how is it different from IGP?

Traditional DOP balsamic vinegar has aged for at least 12 years in wooden barrels following strict rules set by the Modena denomination of origin, while IGP balsamic vinegar follows a less stringent process and can be younger. The tour includes tastings of both so you can taste the difference in depth, sweetness and complexity that time in wood creates.

Can I do the vineyard walk if the weather is bad?

The vineyard walk is suspended if it rains, if winds are strong or if the heat is excessive. The barrel rooms and the full tasting of six vinegars paired with Parmigiano and gelato still happen indoors, so the core of the experience is not affected.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 90 minutes from beginning to end, including the vineyard walk (weather permitting), the barrel room visit, and the guided tasting with pairings.

Is this tour accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, ramp and elevator access are available throughout Acetaia Giusti, and the tour is designed to accommodate disabled visitors. The barrel rooms and tasting areas are all accessible.

What does the tasting actually include?

You taste four IGP balsamic vinegars and two Traditional DOP balsamic vinegars, six in total, each one tasted on its own first, then paired with aged Parmigiano Reggiano at different aging stages, then with artisanal ice cream selected to enhance each vinegar's unique character.