A Tasting of Real Parmesan Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar near Modena, Italy

Every Italian dish tastes better with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. We had a chance to visit a producer of this distinctly Italian cheese, together with a family-run balsamic vinegar maker, just outside the city of Modena in Italy. A plate piled high with spaghetti, a piping-hot dish of lasagna, or a slice of your…

Every Italian dish tastes better with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. We had a chance to visit a producer of this distinctly Italian cheese, together with a family-run balsamic vinegar maker, just outside the city of Modena in Italy.

A plate piled high with spaghetti, a piping-hot dish of lasagna, or a slice of your favorite pizza are never complete without a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

But, if your Parmesan cheese does not bear the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) seal for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, then you’ll just have to hop a flight to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy to pick up a wedge of the real deal.

My wife, Tricia, and I visited the Hombre farms outside the city of Modena to sample authentic, 100% organic Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Balsamic Vinegar

We also had a chance to sample another distinctly Italian treat: balsamic vinegar.

At the Società Agricola Acetomodena, we had a chance to try a variety of different vintages of this “black gold.”

From a more common balsamic vinegar that can be used for everyday dishes, to the “grandfather” of vinegars that has been aged for 25 years, we learned to appreciate the incredible flavors of this complex condiment.


For more on Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar in Modena, please feel free to visit Tricia’s blog post.

A special thank you to the Emilia Romagna Tourist Board for hosting us on this experience. Visit their website to learn more about this fascinating region.


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