Original Vincotto

Vincotto Originale, the original form of Apulian seasoning

Vincotto Originale by Gianni Calogiuri is reduced grape must, aged for over four years in oak barrels, with no vinegar, no sugar, and no alcohol. It is neither balsamic vinegar nor syrup, but the original Apulian form from which all other varieties of the house are created.

Vincotto Originale is a sweet and sour seasoning made from a single ingredient: the must of late-harvest Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera grapes, slowly reduced and aged for a long time. The Azienda Agricola Calogiuri in Lizzanello near Lecce has been producing it since 1825 according to a family recipe. We offer it in two sizes: 100 ml to get to know it and 250 ml for the kitchen.

Deep, dark, and viscous, it flows from the bottle almost like warm honey. The aroma carries notes of raisins, prunes, and a hint of clove. On the palate, the Vincotto is dense, velvety, and spicy, yet beneath the sweetness lies a fine acidity imparted by the years in the barrel. It keeps everything in balance, which is exactly why it is called agrodolce—sweet and sour—in Apulia.

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