When we hit the wine trails in Italy last fall Modena was not on our list. Yes, we know Modena is well know for producing balsamic vinegar. Sure, we have been fans of this vinegar for a long time. However, we have since discovered that Modena is also home to fast cars and slow food. Before heading to Italy for a wine media conference in Lombardy we decided to add Marche and Umbria to our wine country travel plans. Because of the routes we took we passed through Modena twice; and so on our return to Milan we planned a quick stopover. Our plans were simply to check out the vinegar for which it is so well known.
Modena, Italy: Checking out Balsamic Vinegar © Spaswinefood
Balsamic vinegar is always in our kitchen because we use to make cabbage salads, and the glaze for caprese salads.
Balsamic Vinegars © Spaswinefood
Given that we visited Modena we just had to checkout the balsamic vinegar production. We discovered that near the hotel there was a producer, Leonardi. Since 1871 the Leonardi family has made vinegars from the grape must of Lambrusco and Trebbiano grapes grown on the Modena hills.
Leonardi, Aceto Balsamico Di Modena IGP © Spaswinefood
Leonardi, Aceto Balsamico Di Modena IGP © Spaswinefood
For further details on balsamic vinegar, and their production visit the Leonardi website. For sure I have lots to learn about what makes a good balsamic vinegar.
Earlier in Todi, Umbria we were introduced to balsamic vinegar from North Italy.
Plaza, Todi © Spaswinefood
In fact seeing balsamic vinegar in Umbria prompted us to make a stop in Modena later.
Italy’s Slow Food and Slow Wine Movements
Lombardy is where we began our wine country explorations, followed by Marche and Umbria wine regions. Earlier during WMC22 I attended a session on Italy’s Slow Food and Slow Wine Movements.
Italy’s Slow Food and Slow Wine Movements: In the name of productivity, the ‘fast life’ has changed our lifestyle and now threatens our environment,” wrote Carlo Petrini in the Slow Food Manifesto. In “An Introduction to Italy’s Slow Food and Slow Wine Movements ” join winemakers and wine/food writers for a conversation about what it means to grow food and make wine in a way that’s “good, clean, fair.” Learn how the Slow Food movement led to Slow Wine in Italy, then in the US, China, and beyond. How does a winery to get into the Guide? What is regenerative agriculture? Why is everyone, including Patagonia, talking about it? Is this just more greenwashing or does it make a difference for the planet or the palate? What contributions can we in wine media make to the conversation? Source:WMC22
Italy’s Slow Food and Slow Wine Movements © Spaswinefood
Panel: Italy’s Slow Food and Slow Wine Movements © Spaswinefood
That session served as an introduction for me to Italy's Slow Food and Slow Wine Movements. My notes from that session have been sitting on my desktop until now. Yes, Modena is certainly part of this movement. Then last month on a United Flight I came across an article related to this topic in their inflight magazine.
Slow Food and Fast Cars © Spaswinefood
The article highlighted an upcoming event May 11-14 and offered some suggestions.
Suggestions for In/Around Modena © Spaswinefood
The article for sure prompted me to write this post.
Modena: Home to Fast Cars, Slow Food and More
During our brief visit to Modena we stayed at Hotel Real Fini Baia del Rei. It was perfect for a night stopover. We did notice plugins to electric cars, and a Tesla in the back parking lot. As for fast cars, we did not see any.
Electric Car Plugins © Spaswinefood
Overall dining out in Italy is pretty amazing, especially if you stick to local restaurants. In this we lucked out at our Modena hotel because it had a great restaurant.
For a wine that evening we decided on a Lugana wine.
Ca Maiol, Lugana DOC 2021 © Spaswinefood
This was an easy choice because earlier at #WMC22 in Desanzo del Garda I tasted a Ca' Maiol Molin 2021.
Ca' Maiol Molin 2021
Ca' Maiol Molin, Lugana DOC 2021 © Spaswinefood
For more on Lugana wines see my earlier post.
For my main plate I choose a mushroom risotto, and John a meat plate.Mushroom Risotto © Spaswinefood
Meat Plate © Spaswinefood
Then for dessert we chose a fabulous sweet potato pie.
Sweet Potato Pie © Spaswinefood
Dinner was indeed fabulous.
Yes, I knew Modena was known for its balsamic vinegar however, now I know more about the range of vinegars available. Obviously, I realize that we have missed out on developing a full appreciation of Modena, as being home to fast cars and slow food.
Needless to say, our humble rented car is not one of the fast cars.
Not an Italian Fast Car © Spaswinefood
What I have now learned always be open to new discoveries. For sure Modena, has much more to offer than we experienced in our brief stopover. After breakfast next morning, it was off to Agriturismo Relais Tenuta il Cigno, our last stop, just 25 km south of the Milan Airport. We returned to Lombardy where we began wine country explorations. While in Italy we enjoyed exploring the Marche and Umbria wine regions. I invite you to join me in our wine travels in Italy and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook. I am so looking forward to future vine-filled explorations in Italy.
CHEERS!
Sharon
October 2022
Modena, Italy
© Spaswinefood
One Modena Evening © Spaswinefood
Wine Travels, Italy © Spaswinefood
