Acetaia San Giacomo

Davide gave an exceptionally compelling tour - we went from knowing nothing about balsamic to wanting to start our own batterie di balsamico!! Came here on a friend’s recommendation and we wish we had more time… our only regret was not booking the tasting with the lunch with Davide!!! The depth of Davide’s knowledge was truly remarkable. He also gave us amazing recommendations for a local watermelon stand and incredible Michelin guide restaurant just 10 mins away. Thank you Davide and please let us know when you’re next in Woodbridge (or Seattle)!! 🖤

Incredible Products & Incredible People. Truly the most authentic experience, when looking to learn about and taste the real balsamico tradizionale. A producer with principles - origin, method and aging - and this not only for their Balsamico Tradizionale, but all vinegar products, separating them from other producers. Highly recommended for tours, also very accomodating for internationals (great english skills). Beyond their own production, the Acetaia can organize visits to Parmigiano Reggiano producers or other artisans in the area as part of the tour.

Exceptional tour hosted by Davide: Informative, friendly, honest and engaging. Great to come to a small artisan producer driven by passion, rather than a larger commercial setup where real balsamic isn’t the focus. The traditional DOP balsamic was amazing, as were their other products.

A truly authentic and wonderful experience! The tour of the Acetaia was very interesting and informative. Davide was really knowledgeable and welcoming, and guided us through the tasting of lots of different vinegars. We concluded the experience with a delicious aperitivo made with local ingredients and incredible wine. I definitely recommend the tasting experience and the products as well. We couldn’t leave without taking home a few bottles!

We had an excellent experience learning about the process and alchemy of the creation of balsamic di Emilia romagna. Our host Davide was very informative and approachable. We really enjoyed tasting and comparing all of the products and had a lovely lunch with the house made wines. Overall wonderful experience and highly recommend

An Unforgettable Experience with a Passionate Host Yesterday, we had the absolute pleasure of joining Davide for an exceptional tour of the factory, followed by a truly unique and memorable tasting experience. From the moment we arrived, Davide’s warmth and expertise were evident, making us feel both welcomed and intrigued. The tour itself was fascinating—insightful, well-paced, and filled with interesting details about the production process. Davide’s passion for his craft shone through in every explanation, offering us a deeper appreciation for the artistry and dedication involved. The tasting that followed was nothing short of extraordinary. We were introduced to an incredible variety of flavors, each more delightful than the last. What made the experience even more special was Davide’s keen ability to suggest perfect pairings with different kinds of food. His knowledge of taste combinations and culinary harmony was truly impressive, elevating the experience to an entirely new level. Davide is not only a true connoisseur but also a devoted food lover and an outstanding host. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his attention to detail ensures that every guest leaves with a newfound appreciation for the flavors he so passionately presents. If you have the chance to take this tour, do not hesitate—you are in for a remarkable and delicious journey!

I booked the Tour Caseificio, Acetaia e Aperitivo for myself and my husband. From the very beginning, the communication regarding the booking and visit was excellent. Davide, our guide, was excellent throughout. His knowledge and enthusiasm of both products is astonishing..you will learn a lot, there is so much information to take in. The tasting of the Balsamico was as detailled as the rest of the visit, with recommendations of how to use each vinegar. The Aperitivo was a nice way to end the day out. The food was simple but very tasty and served with wine produced by the Acetaia. Of course you have the opportunity to buy the products at both places. The tour takes the best part of the day but that is necessary to understand all the processes in full. You will leave knowing way more than when you arrived. It really is worth making some time to take the tour, I highly recommend it!

In the morning we started with a tour of Caseificio Castellazzo which was a very impressive facility and is highly recommended in addition to the final tour of the acetaia. Our experience touring the balsamico facility with Davide was quite remarkable. The extensive lineage of vinegar here is quite amazing and reflects the living history of vinegar or rather a balsam that was part of italian heritage and families for a long time. As the world moves to modern industrial production styles and the pressure on the artisanal food landscape grows it's up to producers like San Giacomo to not only preserve historical techniques but also look for ways to sustain itself by inventing new products and techniques that are of high quality. As we went through the tasting you can see the influence of time spent in different barrels changed the vinegar. There is also a large collection of literature on vinegar along with other vinegars from around the world that reflects their openness to others and their own evolution. I highly recommend a visit here whether you are a vinegar aficionado or just wanting a novel experience. My hat goes off to what Andrea and the team has built as it's one thing to produce high quality vinegar but another thing to build a culture that supports future generations to come in an industry that is quite small. Bravissimo San Giacomo y grazie mille Davide.