Among the highlights, the presentation of the “Keys of the Vinegar Cellars of Italy” to a leading figure in Italian food and wine
Modena, 29 July 2026. The doors of Modena’s vinegar cellars are opening to the public once again to tell the story of one of the most authentic and best-known treasures of the area. Sunday 27 September 2026 will be the main day of the new edition of Acetaie Aperte, the event organised by Le Terre del Balsamico, the umbrella Consortium that brings together the Protection Consortium of Aceto Balsamico di Modena and the Protection Consortium of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena.
A day of celebration across the whole area, during which the participating vinegar cellars will welcome visitors, enthusiasts and tourists with guided tours, tastings and special events, offering the chance to step inside the places where Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP are made, and to learn first-hand from the producers the stories, techniques, traditions and secrets of two products that are symbols of Italian food excellence.
The number of vinegar cellars that have already signed up for the 2026 edition keeps growing, and the organisers aim to beat the record of 48 participants set in 2025, confirming the event’s ability to involve the entire sector and to offer the public an ever broader and richer journey into the world of Modena’s Balsamic Vinegar.
Acetaie Aperte is not only an event dedicated to discovering and promoting the two Balsamic Vinegars of Modena, but also an extraordinary opportunity to promote tourism in the area. Over the years, Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP have played a decisive role in making Modena known around the world, becoming ambassadors of a region where excellence in food goes hand in hand with its artistic and cultural heritage, music, the automotive industry and a unique production tradition.
This heritage is now a major draw for a kind of tourism that is increasingly interested in authentic experiences, in visiting the places where products are made and in meeting the people who safeguard and hand down knowledge and traditions.
“Over the years, Acetaie Aperte has become much more than an event dedicated to our Balsamic Vinegar: it is a privileged gateway to discovering Modena and its surroundings – says Enrico Corsini, President of Le Terre del Balsamico and of the Protection Consortium of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP –. Around the world, Aceto Balsamico di Modena is a defining element of our land and has helped make Modena known to millions of people. Our goal must be to turn this fame into an opportunity for the area, inviting people to come here, step inside the vinegar cellars, meet the producers and discover a heritage intertwined with culture, art, music, motors and Modena’s other great specialities. The growing number of vinegar cellars joining Acetaie Aperte shows how much the producers believe in this path, and we hope that in 2026 we can beat last year’s record of 48 participating vinegar cellars.”
The 2026 programme will also feature events that connect Aceto Balsamico di Modena with the city’s other cultural expressions. In particular, the collaboration with the Modena Belcanto Festival will continue, strengthening the dialogue between food and wine excellence and musical culture that has characterised the promotion of the area in recent years.
One of the most significant moments is scheduled for Friday 25 September 2026, when, at the start of the weekend, a special ceremony will be held for the presentation of the “Keys of the Vinegar Cellars of Italy” to a prominent figure in the Italian food and wine scene. A symbolic award designed to celebrate those who, through their work and activities, help spread Italian food and wine culture and promote its finest products.
“Food and wine tourism is constantly growing, with visitors increasingly interested not only in tasting a product, but in learning about its origins, meeting the people who make it and discovering the places and communities that preserve its history – says Cesare Mazzetti, President of the Protection Consortium of Aceto Balsamico di Modena –. In this context, the Protection Consortia have an important role: alongside protecting and promoting our designations, we have the task of conveying the deeper value of our products. Products such as Aceto Balsamico di Modena are guardians of culture, traditions and knowledge handed down over time, and they offer an extraordinary key to discovering the land they come from. Acetaie Aperte gives people the chance to experience all this first-hand, turning the discovery of a product known all over the world into an authentic experience in the heart of the Modena area.”
The highlight of the event will remain Sunday 27 September, when the participating vinegar cellars will open their doors, each offering its own programme designed to give visitors a unique experience: from tours of the production sites to tastings, from pairings with Modena’s other gastronomic specialities to special activities and events.
A large event spread across the area that, through Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP, once again aims to share with the public the identity of an entire community and to strengthen Modena’s role as a leading destination for Italian and international food and wine tourism.
