More than four centuries have passed since the ancestors of the Giusti family set up their first wooden vinegar barrels in the attic of their home on Via Farini in the old town of Modena.
Today, Giusti balsamic vinegars of Modena add the finishing touch to dishes by top chefs around the world and can be found in the most exclusive gourmet shops in Italy and across the globe.
Today, in the seventeenth generation, the Giusti family remains just as dedicated and passionate. They have remained true to the craftsmanship intertwined with their history, producing balsamic vinegars that have shaped the identity of the city of Modena and its people and enriched their history.
Winners of prestigious awards
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Giusti family received numerous prestigious medals and exported their exclusive Modena "black gold" all over Europe. Thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of Pietro and Giuseppe Giusti, the oldest balsamic vinegar producer in Modena presented its products in Paris, Brussels, Vienna, and Antwerp, embodying true Modenese craftsmanship – a centuries-old secret kept jealously in the attics of Modena.
The world fairs of the Belle Époque brought great recognition and success to Giusti, crowned in 1929 by the royal title of "Official Supplier to the Royal House of Savoy" granted by King Vittorio Emanuele III.
Perfection according to Giusti
Drawing on centuries of tradition, Giuseppe Giusti was one of the first to write down the rules for making the perfect balsamic vinegar. His text, compiled for the 1863 Modena Agricultural Fair, emphasized three key factors: the selection of grapes, the quality of the barrels, and time. A careful approach to raw materials, the long aging period of the vinegar, and—most importantly—the use of centuries-old barrels passed down from generation to generation are what make Giusti balsamic vinegar exceptionally valuable even today.
An art passed down for centuries
The quality of the grapes, the boiling methods, the filling and decanting operations, and a long—or even very long—aging period are elements that a great balsamic vinegar maker must masterfully control to achieve a perfect result. The task of the balsamic vinegar master—the guardian of this ancient art—is to constantly monitor the quality of the vinegar, evaluating the following key indicators:
- a deep and shiny dark brown color,
- an intense aroma with delicate notes of grapes and precious woods,
- acidity that develops during a slow acetification process,
- a complex bouquet of flavors resulting from aging in different types of wooden barrels.
The master carefully monitors how this precious liquid evolves in the barrels, following the traditional method with precision and patience.
A family vocation
Today, the Giusti company is led by Claudio and Francesca together with Luciano—the new generation of the family, whose life and work are inextricably linked to their hometown of Modena. Exceptional importance was attached to the “acetaia”—the vinegar attic, which was considered an essential part of the family wealth. The vinegar master was usually a family member who was initiated into the secrets of this ancient craft at a young age. It is a historical tradition that lives on to this day—a vocation, dedication, and masterful skill passed down from generation to generation.