What first pops into your head when you hear the word “vinegar”?
For some, it’s the distilled kind that is helpful for all sorts of cleaning projects.
Others may praise the apple cider kind popular in diet trends.
And for us at Fustini’s Oils and Vinegars, we love to think about the rich and authentic balsamic vinegar that we get to share with our guests.
If you’re just entering the world of using vinegars, welcome. This ingredient in its many forms can bring significant health benefits and practical uses for all sorts of things. But it’s important to note that distilled vinegar is quite different from balsamic vinegar, which is also very different from red wine vinegar.
But first, let’s get a sense of what vinegar actually is.
At its core, vinegar is an acidic liquid that is created through fermentation alcohol into an acid. By taking a form of alcohol and fermenting it, the natural bacteria in fruits and starches start to become active with the combination of alcohol and oxygen. That bacteria consumes the alcohol component and creates acetic acid as a result. That acid is what gives vinegar its characteristic sour taste.
It can be made from many different types of liquid, as we’ll explore next.
9 Types of Vinegars to Enjoy
To help you navigate which type of vinegar to use for what purpose, here we share an overview of 9 different types of vinegars you might find in your house.
Balsamic Vinegar
Let’s start with perhaps our favorite kind of vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is a versatile ingredient that can take on many different flavors and consistencies. It is made from cooked or concentrated grape must. This grape must be from whole pressed grapes, which includes the skins, seeds, stems and juice.
Then, that grape must is added in with wine vinegar and aged for a minimum of three years. A key characteristic of the balsamic vinegar is that this process of making the vinegar must occur in the regions of either Modena or Reggio Emilia, Italy.
The balsamic vinegar you’ll find at Fustini’s is also different from what you’ll find on grocery store shelves. Look at the label of a grocery store balsamic and you’ll see additional colorings and flavorings added to the vinegar for taste and preservation. But at Fustini’s all there is is cooked grape must and wine vinegar. If it’s a flavored vinegar, it’ll also include natural fruit or herb flavorings. But that’s it. Just pure, wholesome balsamic vinegar.
Distilled White Vinegar
This type of vinegar is more often used for cleaning rather than in the kitchen. While it can certainly find its way into catsups and pickling, it’s perhaps most loved and used for its cleaning properties that can cut tough grime and grease. It’s made from a clear alcohol, which helps it maintain its clear color.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar, and the following listed, differ based on what type of alcohol is included in the fermentation process to make the vinegar. As its name implies, apple cider vinegar is made from primarily crushed apples. However, in the fermentation process, yeast is added to turn that natural sugar into alcohol.
Like balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar comes with many health benefits due to its natural vitamins and nutrients. Some people add a few teaspoons into their water or tea to get that boost of health benefits. It’s also great in cooking and salad dressings, and even as a preservative in canned goods.
At Fustini’s, our Apple Cider Vinegar is made in small batches from Annurca apples and aged in oak barrels.
Red Wine Vinegar
Red wine vinegar is darker in color, as it’s made from red wine. In fact, red wine vinegar is used in crafting our dark balsamic vinegars. The flavor tends to be fairly bold and savory due to the rich red wine.
Our Vinoso Red Wine Vinegar is a deep red color, has a depth of flavor and tends to have a lower acidity than most aged wine vinegar.
White Wine Vinegar
Similar to red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar is made from, you guessed it, white wine. White wine vinegar makes up the base of all our light balsamics. The flavor of this tends to be a bit lighter than the red wine vinegar, bringing a pleasant and delicate taste. Just like how red and white wine have different tastes, so do their vinegars.
At Fustini’s, you find our Champagne White Wine Vinegar made from the easy-drinking wine. It brings a smooth and subtle sweet flavor.
Rice Vinegar
Did you know you can make vinegar from rice? Rice vinegar is a mild and sweet vinegar that is made from fermented rice, or rice alcohol. Sugars in the rice are converted into alcohol, which is then converted into acid. Often, rice vinegar is used in many Asian dishes such as sushi and stir-fry.
Honey Vinegar
For an extra boost of sweet and tart, a honey vinegar can be the perfect addition. Honey vinegar has the base of white wine vinegar with an infusion of honey. Our Iron Fish Honey Vinegar elevates the flavors even more by infusing it with Michigan honey and aging and bourbon barrels. This exclusive product, in collaboration with Iron Fish Distillery, brings a nice blend of flavors.
Malt Vinegar
Do you ever have to decide between beer or wine? With malt vinegar, you can get that fermentation with beer made with malted grains. This type of vinegar typically has a fairly tart flavor that can be reminiscent of an ale.
Sherry Vinegar
This savory and tangy vinegar is made from sherry wine. It is typically less intense than red wine vinegar but doesn’t carry the same sweetness as balsamic vinegar. Our Sherry Reserva Vinegar is from the Andalusia area of Spain and is aged in oak casks.
Many Vinegars: Endless Flavor
While we sure love our balsamic vinegars, there are some other vinegars that may be worth exploring, too. Fun additions like our bright Iron Iron Fish Honey Vinegar or the smooth Champagne White Wine Vinegar or bold Vinoso Red Wine Vinegar can transform dishes and elevate the flavors to new heights.
Pick up a bottle of balsamic vinegar—or any of our other great vinegar options—in-store or online today!