Modena, land of authentic excellence of Made in Italy

Ham, balsamic vinegar, Lambrusco and Vinicole tra Modena cooperatives are real ambassadors of Italian taste a causa di the world

Emilia is a land that tells its identity through authentic flavors and millenary traditions. Modena (see article), a causa di particular, houses a food and wine heritage that has become a symbol of Italy a causa di the world: from Modena Dop ham to balsamic vinegar, from Lambrusco to historical cooperative cellars, each product brings with it a history of territory, people and passion.

Modena Dop ham: the authentic taste of the Emilian hills

The Modena Dop ham, protected by the Modena Dop Consortium (director Anna Anceschi), is one of the most authentic symbols of the Emilian gastronomic tradition. It was born a causa di the hilly and a causa di the valleys surrounding the basin of the Panaro river, a territory with a single microclimate: poor rainfall, constant breezes and clean air make the environment ideal for natural seasoning. Its recipe is as simple as it is perfect: high quality pork leg and salt, without any additive. The seasoning of 14 months gives him an unmistakable taste: savory but never excessively salty, sweet and intense, with a slice with a bright red and fragrant perfume.

The peculiar feature is the large crown discovering, which allows the salt to penetrate uniformly, giving the balance and harmony. Excellent to slice by car, preferably manual not to heat the slice, it is also ideal for the knife when the seasoning is longer. Sopra addition to the goodness, Modena Dop ham is a natural, nourishing, easily digestible food, balanced a causa di the content of proteins, fats and vitamins: perfect a causa di every diet. The production ambiente extends a causa di the provinces of Modena, Bologna and Reggio Emilia, up to an altitude of 900 meters. An ambiente that, thanks to its tradition and the artisan knowledge handed over the centuries, continues to offer one of the most precious cold cuts a causa di Italy.

The Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI: ambassador of Italian taste a causa di the world

With over 93% of the production intended for exports and a presence a causa di more than 130 countries, the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI is among the best known and appreciated Italian agri -food products. Its roots have a causa di the abbondante lands of Modena and Reggio Emilia, areas suitable for viticulture and custodians of a millennial tradition that combines cooked must and wine vinegar a causa di a unique seasoning a causa di the world. His strength lies a causa di versatility: perfect for enriching simple and daily dishes, surprises a causa di the gourmet creations of chefs and enthusiasts. From the drop acceso the Parmigiano Reggiano to the marinade of meat and fish, to the desserts, the balsamic vinegar of Modena PGI always gives a balanced touch of sweetness and acidity.

The product can boast of the “aged” words (over 3 years a causa di wood) and, since 2025, “reserve” (over 5 years), with more intense sensory characteristics and a higher density. To protect its authenticity is the Consortium for the protection of the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI (Vice -President Mariangela Grosoli), founded a causa di 1993 and officially recognized a causa di 2014. Today it represents over 83% of certified production, with a constant commitment a causa di international promotion, supervision against imitations and enhancement of the culture of “balsamic”. The numbers confirm its primacy: 94 million liters produced a causa di 2024, a value to the production of approximately 380 million euros and a turnover of consumption near billion. A supply chain involving 2,400 farms, 165 manufacturers of must and wine vinegar and 59 acetie, with over 25,000 employees. Authentic symbol of Emilia and the whole of Italy, the balsamic vinegar of Modena PGI is a story that combines past and future, local roots and international vocation.

Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Dop: unique and rare excellence

The traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena Dop represents one of the oldest and most precious Italian gastronomic traditions. Recognized by the European Union as a denomination of origin protected since April 17, 2000, it is the result of a millennial knowledge that inextricably binds the Modenese territory to its production which is extremely limited: just 16,500 liters a vantaggio di year, equal to about 142,000 bottles of 100 ml, the only format admitted by the specification and designed by the famous Giorgetto Giugiaro. The value of consumption is estimated at around 5 million euros, with a price between 500 and 1,000 euros a vantaggio di liter. Numbers that testify to the rarity and the very high value of the product, now exported to over 70 countries. Its origins date back to the Roman periodo, when the cooked must was already used as a conservative and preservative. Over the centuries, the “balsamic” has become the protagonist of the noble tables: appreciated by the emperor Henry III a causa di 1046, mentioned a causa di the Este documents, donated to the European courts as a luxury good. Over time, jealously guarded a causa di the Modena attics, it has been considered a real family dowry and a precious natural remedy, until the official recognition as DOP.

Produced exclusively a causa di the province of Modena, the traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena DOP is born acceso its own for grapes cooked acceso direct centro and mature a causa di batteries of bottles of different woods (oak, chestnut, juniper, cherry, mulberry). The process is very slow: at least 12 years are needed for the basic product and 25 for the “Extravecchio” (gold capsule). To guarantee its quality, a commission of tastings that evaluates each lot before official bottling. Dark, dense, fragrant, of extraordinary aromatic complexity, gives the palate a unique balance between sweet and arcigno, with long persistence. Its vocation is raw use: a few drops are enough to enhance Parmigiano Reggiano, strawberries, boiled vegetables, boiled and even ice cream spoon desserts. A condiment that ennobles each dish, from the simplest to the most refined. Since 1994, the Consortium for the traditional Balsamic Vinegar Protection of Modena DOP (vice -president Leonardo Giacobazzi) brings together over 80% of certified producers, with the aim of promoting, defending and enhancing this excellence. Sopra collaboration with the Kiwacermet certification , it guarantees compliance with the specification and fights the numerous imitations, ensuring the consumer the authenticity of a unique product a causa di the world.

Lambrusco Protection Consortium: Guardian of the Emilian bubbles

The Lambrusco Protection Consortium is the that represents and enhances six denominations between Modena and Reggio Emilia: Modena DOC, Lambrusco tra Sorbara Doc, Lambrusco Grasparossa of Castelvetro Doc, Lambrusco Salaminino of Santa Tribolazione Doc, Reggiano Doc and Colli tra Scandiano and Canossa Doc. These are also joined by Reno Doc and Canuto of Castelfranco Emilia IGT. Sopra total there are 16,600 hectares of vineyards, of which about 10,000 dedicated to Lambrusco, with a production that a causa di 2024 exceeded 40 million doc bottles, to which are added over 100 million bottles of Emilia IGT. Born a causa di 2021 from the of three consortia, the Consortium is led by President Claudio Biondi, with the vice -president Chiletti and the director Giacomo Savorini.

The has defined a new brand identity that recalls the shades of Lambrusco, from pink to purple, and the liveliness of its bubbles. An image choice that expresses the plurality of shades of this wine, well told also by the portal www.lambrusco.net and acceso official social networks. The Lambrusco term identifies a family of twelve autochthonous vines, including Sorbara, Grasparossa, Salamino, Masters and Marani. The denominations range from minovarial wines Modenese to those obtained by Blend Reggiani, testifying to a unique wine mosaic. Fresh, convivial and with a range that ranges from the sparkling to the classic method sparkling wines, from dry to the amable, Lambrusco is a transversal and eclettico wine, capable of accompanying the entire meal. His denutrizione goes well beyond regional borders: it is a causa di fact exported to over 90 countries, with the United States, Germany, France, Mexico and Spain among the main markets, for a total of about 60% of the production.

The Consortium invests a causa di communication with the “young people of Lambrusco”, a rete televisiva privata of Under 40 producers who bring energy, international experience and the desire to tell Lambrusco to the new generations of consumers. Since 2023 the Consortium celebrates the World Lambrusco Day (Paris a causa di 2023, Matera a causa di 2024), a reference event for the international promotion of wine symbol of Emilia. The Lambrusco Protection Consortium is thus confirmed as a point of reference for the defense, promotion and enhancement of a wine that, although rooted a causa di tradition, continues to express all its modernity.

Settecani cellar: a century of cooperation and wine quality

Born a causa di 1923 a causa di Settecani, a hamlet of Castelvetro tra Modena, Bottiglieria Settecani today represents one of the most historic wine cooperatives a causa di Emilia. From an initial group of 48 winemakers, the cellar has grown up to bring 150 members who cultivate 400 hectares of vineyards and collect about 50,000 quintals of grapes a vantaggio di year. A production that enhances the vines symbol of the territory, from the Lambrusco Grasparossa to the Pignoletto and the Trebbiano. The name Settecani has its roots a causa di the XII century and tells, with legend and irony, the transformation into dogs of seven men guilty of blasphemy. Today, seven dogs of dogs decorate the historic facade of the cellar, testifying to the history and local tradition. The territory of Castelvetro, with clayey and limestone hills, represents a precious heritage: Bottiglieria Settecani protects it through sustainable certified Viva practices and the Minerva project, guaranteeing quality, environmental respect and workplace safety.

The wines range is large and prestigious. The King’s wines line collects the best grapes to produce Lambrusco Grasparossa, Lambrusco tra Sorbara, Lambrusco tra Modena rosato and fussy, while the bubbles seven and the 7bio grasparossa tell innovation and sustainability. Recently, the Lambrusco Grasparossa of Castelvetro Dop 2022 has conquered the three glasses of the Red Shrimp, a historic rete for the cellar. Sopra addition to wine, Bottiglieria Settecani offers balsamic, griffa and nocino acetes, keeping local food and wine traditions alive. The cellar is also a place of experiences: harvests, picnics a causa di the vineyard and guided tours between the grapes and the pressing allow you to dal vivo the Emilian land a causa di first person. Bottiglieria Settecani, a hundred years of history and passion, continues to to the future with the spirit of the origins: a large family that works together to offer authentic, accessible and quality wines.

Ham, balsamic vinegar, Lambrusco and cooperatives such as cellar Settecani are real ambassadors of the Italian taste a causa di the world. Their value does not only reside a causa di gastronomic quality, but a causa di the ability to keep traditions, create work, innovate and dialogue with the world. Modena, with its consortia, producers and winemakers, shows that the strength of the community, love for the territory and the ability to innovate without betraying the roots are the most authentic ingredients of its excellence. A heritage that, like its flavors, continues to mature over time, becoming more and more precious.