Frequently Asked Questions

Craft Questions

Why are you called Rozendal Vinegar?

Rozendal is the name of our farm in Stellenbosch, South Africa. This is where our vinegars are crafted. It was a natural choice to call our vinegars Rozendal after the place they were born from.

What makes Rozendal Vinegar unique?

Crafting vinegars in the old traditional way, but with a contemporary twist of botanical infusions.

What is botanical vinegar?

Balsamic style vinegars infused with a selection of fresh or dried botanicals chosen for either their culinary or health enhancing properties.

Do you make all your own vinegars?

Yes, we make all of our own vinegars in our cellar on Rozendal Farm. We source select wines from wineries in our region and ferment these wines to vinegar in our cellar.

Do you barrel mature your vinegars?

We are strong supporters of using wood as a medium as it allows the vinegar to breathe, mature and evolve over time. All our vinegars are aged in small oak casks.

How is vinegar made?

Vinegar is made by two distinct biological processes. The first process is called alcoholic fermentation and occurs when yeasts change natural sugars to alcohol under controlled conditions. In the second process, a group of bacteria called Acetobacter converts the alcohol portion to acetic acid. This is the acid fermentation that forms vinegar.

Is the vinegar certified organic?

No, our vinegars are not certified organic. However, we source organic wines and botanicals wherever possible, but our main focus is using quality ingredients and therefore we decided not to limit ourselves to exclusively certified organic.

Is the vinegar raw?

Absolutely, we do not filter or pasteurize our vinegars. We feel that there is so much goodness in live vinegars and their ability to promote health as well as evolve in flavours over time.

How is artisanal vinegar different from industrial vinegars?

It is world’s apart. Industrial vinegar production is a quick process often using substandard alcohol as a base. Our focus is on slow fermentation and maturation processes using quality ingredients as our base. Of course, industrial vinegar production has its place, but we would like to see more handcrafted vinegars out there too.

Usage Questions

How long will my vinegar keep?

The Vinegar Institute conducted studies to find out and confirmed that vinegar’s shelf life is almost indefinite. Because of its acid nature, vinegar is self-preserving and does not need refrigeration. Like a good wine, we believe our vinegars will also get better with time. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight for best results.

How should I use vinegar?

Experiment and have fun with vinegar. Acid is an essential element of cooking. Definitely, not limited to only salad dressings. Follow us on socials to see how you can use our vinegars in fun and interesting ways.