5 Gold Medals – Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI

The Pride of the Acetaia with Plum and Cherry

The 5 Medaglie d'Oro Banda Rossa by Giuseppe Giusti is the house’s most noble Aceto Balsamico di Modena PGI, dense and complex with notes of plum and black cherry. Once a family gift, today it is the pride of Italy’s oldest acetaia.

5 Medaglie d'Oro, known as Banda Rossa, is the complex Aceto Balsamico di Modena PGI from Giuseppe Giusti of Modena, five gold medals strong. It reveals plum, black cherry, and a sweet spice from ancient woods, with a finish that lingers. The most festive drop in the Collezione Storica.

Originally, the Banda Rossa was not a product for sale, but a gift that Giuseppe presented only to his closest family members, full of pride in his own craftsmanship. Today, you too can bring it to your table. With a density of 1.34 and a tremendous body, it is made for those special occasions.

Plum, black cherry, sweet spice

The 5 Medaglie d'Oro has a deep aroma of plum and black cherry, followed by woody spice, dark sweetness, and a long, complex finish.

Complex, spicy, and velvety, it coats your food and unfolds in layers. The old barrels give it a depth that no young vinegar possesses, yet it remains wonderfully balanced rather than heavy. Plum and black cherry lead the start, while the old wood provides the long finish. Those looking for the step just below will find it in the Quarto Centenario, already dense yet a touch younger.

Drops over risotto and aged cheese

The 5 Medaglie d'Oro loves the spotlight: fresh pasta, risotto, Chianina beef, aged cheese, and simple ice cream.

A creamy risotto takes a few drops that glisten darkly and add depth to the plate. Over aged Parmesan or a seared piece of beef, it becomes the highlight, and on vanilla ice cream, nothing else is needed. A drizzle of good olive oil is the only partner it tolerates.

Like all great long-aged vinegars, it belongs raw and added at the very end, never in the heat. A few drops are enough, because here it is about concentration, not quantity. For a popular all-rounder, the dense 3 Medaglie d'Oro is ready to serve.

Maturation in woods from the 1700s and 1800s

The 5 Medaglie d'Oro matures in the house’s oldest barrels, made of French oak from the years 1700 to 1800, filled according to the Solera principle from historic batteries.

Only cooked grape must and aged wine vinegar go into the bottle; the rest is patience. The Acetaia Giuseppe Giusti dates back to the 16th century and has passed down its knowledge for over 400 years. As early as 1863, the vinegar merchant from Modena defined the golden ingredients: good grapes, good barrels, and time, according to Giuseppe Giusti.

In 1929, Giusti was named purveyor to the Royal House of Savoy, and the Banda Rossa continues to carry that standard today. As an Aceto Balsamico di Modena PGI, it is bottled in limited quantities annually in the historic "champagnotta" bottle and arrives to you in the 250 ml size.

You can find the entire award-winning range in our balsamic selection, from the light silver to this pinnacle. The Banda Rossa is its peak, a drop for holidays and for all who seek the best. This is how the pride of Modena tastes.