Zingerman’s, a specialty food retailer/e-tailer in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is offering you the opportunity to win a free trip to the La Vecchia Dispensa balsamic vinegar factory in Italy. “Factory” is a relative term: This is fine balsamic vinegar production facility, and the “factory” is one of the charming, centuries-old buildings in this beguiling town.

Zingerman’s, the biggest retailer of La Vecchia Dispensa balsamics in the U.S. features an annual “Balsamic Blowout.” This year, the Blowout is going tubular, with a contest on YouTube.

You have until March 31, 2010 at 9 p.m. EST to make a video about balsamic vinegar and post it on YouTube.com. Then, send the link to balsamicblowout@zingermans.com.

Castelvetro di Modena is a charming town,
with or without the balsamic vinegar. Photo courtesy Chamber of Commerce.

Winners will receive two tickets to Bologna, Italy, on the date of their choice between September 1 and November 30, 2010, one night’s stay at a four-star hotel in the town of Castelvetro and a private tour of La Vecchia Dispensa’s balsamic vinegar factory.

Comment: That’s a long trip for a one-day tour…but it’s worth it to spend a few extra lira on hotels and enjoy the beautiful town of Modena, 15 km due north, nearby Parma and Reggio nell’Emilia, homes of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese industry (and prosciutto, or Parma ham) and Bologna. We recommend a week or 10 days.

Video entries and full contest rules can be viewed at Zingermans.com/BalsamicVideos.aspx.

Buona fortuna! And if you’ve come across this post after the contest deadline, mark your calendar for next year.

• Learn all about balsamic vinegar in our “Balsamic 101” article.
• See how balsamic compares to other types of vinegar.