ezzich Organic Red Wine Vinegar 250 ml. Robust organic wine vinegar made from Franconian Dornfelder grapes – 6% acidity, in a small bottle to get to know it.

ezzich Organic Red Wine Vinegar 250 ml is a naturally fermented wine vinegar made from organic Dornfelder red wine, produced by the ezzich vinegar manufactory in Großhaslach, Ansbach district, Middle Franconia. The ingredients list contains only red wine; the acidity is 6%. No sugar, no concentrate, no added flavoring – 250 ml of dark vinegar for vinaigrettes, pan sauces, and braised dishes, for tasting, or as a small gift.

Organic Red Wine Vinegar from ezzich is an "active" vinegar, and the producer means that literally. The vinegar is not heated after fermentation, so the acetic acid bacteria remain alive in the bottle. For this reason, a "mother of vinegar" may form over time – a gelatinous layer that the producer considers a hallmark of quality. You can simply pour off the vinegar or strain it through a tea sieve. It is based on organic Dornfelder from the Winzerhof Hofmann in Ergersheim, a dark, robust grape variety from Middle Franconia. Its tannins and color are transferred into the vinegar: deep, fruity, and acidic enough to stand up to tomato, onion, and meat.

Dark fruit, tannins, and a long finish of acidity

The red wine vinegar smells of red wine and dark berries; the acidity rises freshly into the nose. On the palate, it is full-bodied and tart; the 6% acidity is strong but remains rounded. Underlying this is the fruit of the Dornfelder, reminiscent of blackberry, and the finish is long and slightly astringent from the tannins.

Compared to the Organic White Wine Vinegar from the same producer, it is darker, heavier, and spicier. Those looking for a light vinegar for leaf salads and fish will find it too robust. For anything involving tomato, legumes, or meat, it is exactly right.

Vinaigrettes, pan sauces, and beetroot

The producer recommends the red wine vinegar for tomato with mozzarella, tomato salad, and for seasoning red cabbage, lentil soup, and vegetable soups. Furthermore, it is the perfect vinegar for a robust vinaigrette: one tablespoon of vinegar, one teaspoon of mustard, three tablespoons of oil, salt, pepper, and diced shallot. Use it to dress beetroot salad or a lentil salad with feta.

After searing steak or lamb chops, deglaze the pan with a splash of vinegar and scrape up the browned bits. Add a knob of butter, bring to a quick boil, and you have a ready-made pan sauce. For onion jam, slowly braise red onions in butter, add sugar and a generous splash of vinegar, and let it reduce. It goes well with cheese, burgers, and bratwurst. And in gazpacho, a tablespoon of vinegar ensures that the tomato, cucumber, and bell pepper taste fresh.

Our tip: Cut red onions into fine rings and soak them for an hour in red wine vinegar with a pinch of salt. They will become mild, bright pink, and pair perfectly with cheese sandwiches, bowls, and grilled meat.

A wine vinegar from Großhaslach, handmade

The ezzich vinegar manufactory is located in Großhaslach, a district of Petersaurach in the Ansbach area. Daniela and Roberto Rotella started it in October 2021 after Roberto had the idea at a vinegar seminar in Austria in 2016. He is a trained restaurant professional and makes the vinegar; Daniela handles distribution and final quality control. The original eight varieties have grown to over 20. The name is the Middle High German spelling of "Essig" (vinegar), and their slogan "Fränkisch. Sauer. Gut." (Franconian. Sour. Good.) is doubly true for this vinegar: the Dornfelder also grows in Middle Franconia at the organic Winzerhof Hofmann in Ergersheim.

Fermentation is carried out using the trickle method. The acetic acid bacteria sit on a carrier material in reactors with plenty of oxygen; spraying and rest phases alternate, and the mother of vinegar forms naturally. Bottling and labeling are done by hand in small batches, which is why the color may vary slightly from batch to batch. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place, and the vinegar will keep almost indefinitely.

For tasting and gifting

The 250 ml bottle is just right if you want to get to know this vinegar from Franconia or only use dark vinegar occasionally. As a small gift, it looks great paired with a bottle of olive oil. Those who use it daily should reach for the kitchen-sized Organic Red Wine Vinegar 500 ml. If you prefer something milder and sweeter, try the Organic Red Wine Balsam from the same maker. You can find all varieties on the ezzich vinegar manufactory brand page.

It is not suitable for light-colored sauces, asparagus, or fish, as its color and tannins would be too prominent.

A robust organic red wine vinegar made from Franconian Dornfelder in a small bottle – for vinaigrettes, pan sauces, and pickled red onions.