Get the best of fruity, plummy tastes with a
tangy kick in this agrodolce vinegar, which in Italian means "sweet and sour". The extra bit of sweetness comes from the
grapes being harvested later in the ripening process than usual to allow the
natural sugars to further develop on the vine. Its deep red color and rich
flavor speak to the delicious zinfandel grapes from which it is made.
Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste
The Katz Late Harvest Zinfandel Agrodolce
Vinegar is produced with love using the traditional Orleans Method; a style of
vinegar production developed in France around 200 years ago. It is now rarely
practiced as today's technology allows vinegar to be force-fermented in a few
short hours with blasts of oxygen. Newer methods lose out on the full-bodied
taste and nutritional benefits of the traditional Orleans Method vinegars, which
are slow-aged in large oak barrels using a mineral rich starter called 'mother
of vinegar". The resulting deep cranberry colored elixir isn't ready to hit
your table until it has been hand crafted on the Katz family farm and aged in
55 gallon oak barrels for at least a month. Good things come to those who wait.
Health Benefits
Vinegar produced in the Orleans method is ahead
of your grocery store variety because the slow aged process retains more of the
beneficial minerals. In studies, wine vinegar has been correlated with lowering
glycemic levels in patients with type II diabetes. Other exciting benefits include that acetic acid in red wine vinegar aids in lowering fat production when
fatty foods are consumed. Also, when added to food, it tends to lessen the amount of salt needed to enhance flavors.
We all know too much sodium is linked to many health concerns, so go
crazy experimenting with all the exciting ways vinegar can expand and sharpen
your palette!
Uses
The
Late Harvest Zinfandel Agrodolce Vinegar works wonders right out of the bottle
or when thrown in the pan to caramelize.
- Add
delicious complexity to the liquid for poaching pears
- Raw and
cooked tomatoes shine with a splash of this vinegar over salads or added to
sauces and dishes like ratatouille
- Use as the
key ingredient in a marinade for richly flavored meats like lamb or duck
- Make a show
stopping reduction that could be used to drizzle over fresh figs wrapped in
Prosciutto and mint
- Include in a
dressing for a blue cheese, walnut and fresh peach salad
Information Sources
See
full Slow Food Ark of Taste Orleans Method Vinegar Article
Katz & Co Zinfandel Agrodolce Vinegar Product Description
Please Note: Any sediment that may settle on the bottom of your bottle is a
sign of the natural, handcrafted process in which the vinegar was made. Though
not necessary, the vinegar can be simply filtered through a strainer, and
poured back into the bottle.
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