VINEGAR PROFESSOR Gift Guide 2023

Welcome to the inaugural Vinegar Professor Gift Guide — a curious catch-all for all things acetic!

Within the world of vinegar, an ever-evolving ingredient, we hope that you find some brightness this holiday season in whatever you use your vinegar-y things for.

Cheers!

Vinegar Professor’s VP,

Michael Harlan Turkell

Acid League’s “Living Vinegars”

Any of Acid League’s premium living vinegars are more than viable choices, but right now it’s worth looking for its Rare Citrus to brighten up those winter salad blues.

American Vinegar Works’ porter malt vinegar

American Vinegar Works’ porter malt vinegar isn’t just for fish & chips, its deep, dark barrel-aged flavors can stand up to stews and sauces too! Want more? Check out these custom 4-packs with a handy tote!

Pineapple Collaborative’s The Natural Wine Vinegar

The ACV

Pineapple Collaborative, proprietors of “The ACV” follow up with their natural wine vinegar series. A collaboration with renowned California winemaker Martha Stoumen, and vinegar alchemist Joanne Krueger of Little Apple Treats. Made from a blend of Sonoma’s finest Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Nero d'Avola grapes, it’s a bottle worth collecting!

Pojer e Sandri’s cherry vinegar

As professed in our piece, the Poetic Nature of Pojer e Sandri, vinegars made by winemakers are profound. This cherry one is a prime example.

Agretto vinegar from Chianti’s famed Montevertine

What happens when one of Italy’s best Chianti makers makes vinegar? Montevertine! Its provenance should be reason enough — but it’s also got balsamic-like depth.

Bonini’s balsamico vertical tasting flight

Of course we’d have balsamico on our gift guide — but what’s cool about Bonini’s is that it offers a vertical tasting flight that starts at 3 years-aged and goes up to 40!

il Buco 20-year old house-aged balsamico

Il Buco Alimentari’s front-of-restaurant marketplace boasts carefully curated Italian wares, including it’s own 20-year-old house-aged balsamico, which rivals those of Modena.

CaraNdini white balsamic vinegar

Carandini, an OG balsamico producer, charmed us with its white balsamic vinegar, called Sweet White Vinegar (the Modenese call it Condimento Bianco). It’s so versatile (see article), that it can be used as a condiment and in cocktails. Another sleeper hit: Carandini’s panettone collaboration with Olivieri 1882!

Kosterina crushed fruit vinegar trio

This Greek pantry/lifestyle company started with olive oil, and followed up with this tangy trio of crushed fruit vinegars, for when you’re craving strawberries, blueberries and tangerines all year round.

Lindera Farms’ Vinegar Club

If you want to join the club, well, there’s one at Lindera Farms for you! Vinegar maker Daniel Lieberson concocts new home-grown creations from his locally and sustainably sourced Mid-Atlantic nature preserve. This quarter’s club features a French onion soup vinegar.

Iio Jozo’s rice vinegar omiyage box

In Japan, an omiyage is a gift or souvenir you bring to, or back, from your travels. In other words, it’s a place-based thank you. Iio Jozo’s rice vinegars are perfect examples of that — Akihiro Iio grows his own rice, to make his own sake, which he turns into vinegar.