L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano F a m i l y - o w n e d company Ponti has been synony- m o u s w i t h p r e - m i u m v i n e g a r s a n d c o n d i m e n t s s i n c e i t s inception in 1787. Giovan- ni Battista del Ponte, a f a r m e r i n S i z z a n o , P i e d - mont, began producing wine and wine vinegar, laying the foundation for a business that would endure for over two centuries. His artisanal a p p r o a c h , r o o t e d i n t h e quality of local ingredients, s o o n g a i n e d r e c o g n i t i o n , and his son Antonio expand- ed the business beyond local confines, marking the start of Ponti's journey to becom- i n g a g l o b a l l e a d e r i n t h e vinegar industry. O v e r n i n e g e n e r a t i o n s , P o n t i h a s s e a m l e s s l y brought together tradition and innovation. The third generation, led by Guido Ponti, diversified the com- pany's offerings by introduc- ing pickles and preserved v e g e t a b l e s i n o i l . U n d e r Guido's sons, Cesare and F r a n c o , t h e c o m p a n y achieved remarkable growth through strategic initiatives, including the establishment of new production facilities and the acquisition of com- petitors, securing its place as a d o m i n a n t f o r c e i n t h e industry. Today, Ponti is synony- mous with Italian excellence and offers a wide range of products that celebrate the country's culinary traditions while embracing contempo- r a r y t a s t e s . I t s p o r t f o l i o includes an array of vine- g a r s — r a n g i n g f r o m w i n e and apple cider vinegar to the iconic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena—alongside pick- les, preserved vegetables, r e a d y - m a d e s a u c e s , a n d condiments. The Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, made in the company's state-of-the- a r t V i g n o l a f a c i l i t y , h a s become a staple of Italian cuisine worldwide, celebrat- e d f o r i t s r i c h f l a v o r a n d versatility. Ponti's commitment to innovation has also led to the development of specialty products, such as the "Rich and Creamy" High Densi- ty Balsamic Vinegar of M o d e n a , c a t e r i n g t o a growing audience of food enthusiasts seeking premi- um culinary experiences. The company's meticulous production process includes aging vinegars in oak, cher- r y , a n d c h e s t n u t b a r r e l s , which impart unique flavors and textures. Another very famous line of products is Peperlizia, which offers a curated selec- tion of sweet-and-sour pre- s e r v e d v e g e t a b l e s . I n t r o - d u c e d i n t h e 1 9 8 0 s , Peperlizia has become a sta- ple in Italian cuisine, featur- ing products like Borettane onions with Balsamic Vine- g a r o f M o d e n a , S w e e t & Sour Sliced Artichokes, and Mixed Grilled Vegetables. These offerings blend tradi- tional Italian flavors with modern preservation tech- n i q u e s s o t h a t b o t h t a s t e and freshness are preserved. I t a l i a n s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y fond of Peperlizia pickled v e g e t a b l e s a n d o l i v e o i l mixes to top summer culi- nary staples like insalata di riso or insalata di pasta. Other famous products of t h e b r a n d a r e c i p o l l i n e borettane, as well as a wide range of pasta sauces and antipasti. In recent years, Ponti has also entered the market of organic food, w i t h a s e l e c t i o n o f f o u r offerings: sun-dried toma- toes, green olives, artichokes and capers. C o n s i d e r i n g t h i s l a s t c o m m e r c i a l e n d e a v o r , i t isn't surprising to know that Ponti is also known for its commitment to s u s t a i n - ability and social respon- sibility: the company has earned B Corp certification, reflecting its commitment to ethical and environmentally friendly business practices. Ponti's global reach is another reason for pride: today, the company exports to over 70 countries, with a strong presence in Western Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. Recent initiatives include a dedi- cated US branch and tar- geted marketing campaigns to cater to the diverse tastes o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l m a r k e t s . This expansion has solidi- f i e d P o n t i ' s s t a t u s a s a household name, particular- l y i n r e g i o n s w h e r e t h e demand for authentic Italian products continues to grow. Today, the company is led b y G i a c o m o a n d L a r a Ponti, the ninth generation of the family, in a continuity that shows Ponti's wish to keep a balance between hon- oring tradition and embrac- ing innovation. Their stew- ardship has driven recent a c h i e v e m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g Ponti's recognition as the f a s t e s t - g r o w i n g v i n e g a r brand in the US, a notable milestone in its journey of international expansion. T h e t r a d i t i o n o f c o m p i l i n g c o m - prehensive works o f k n o w l e d g e , k n o w n t o d a y a s encyclopedias, finds its ori- g i n s i n a n c i e n t R o m e . Roman scholars worked to systematically gather and d o c u m e n t t h e b r e a d t h o f human understanding, laying the foundation for an ency- clopedic tradition that has evolved over centuries. One of the earliest Roman figures associated with this endeavor was Marcus Ter- entius Varro (116–27 BC), especially in relation to his work Disciplinarum Libri IX, or for us non-latinists, the Nine Books of Disciplines. Even if the text has not sur- vived, it is known to have cat- e g o r i z e d k n o w l e d g e i n t o a r e a s s u c h a s g r a m m a r , rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, musi- c a l t h e o r y , m e d i c i n e , a n d architecture, a systematic approach that influenced the structuring of knowledge in subsequent periods. Following Varro, Pliny t h e E l d e r (AD 23–79) — known for having perished during the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii — authored the Naturalis His- toria ( Natural History), a monumental work compris- ing 37 books, which exten- sively covered topics ranging f r o m n a t u r a l h i s t o r y a n d geography to art and medi- cine. Pliny's dedication to d o c u m e n t i n g t h e k n o w n world was unparalleled, and his work became a reference point for scholars in the cen- turies that followed. The Roman approach to e n c y c l o p e d i c w r i t i n g w a s characterized by a desire for comprehensiveness, organiza- tion, and practical utility: unlike the Greek tradition, w h i c h o f t e n e m p h a s i z e d recording spoken knowledge, Romans aimed to epitomize existing knowledge in accessi- b l e w r i t t e n f o r m s . T h i s methodology was inspired by the Roman ideal of the vir bonus, an informed citizen capable of contributing mean- ingfully to public life. These early Roman ency- clopedists set a precedent for the compilation and dissemi- nation of knowledge, as they preserved information but also reflected the intellectual rigor and curiosity of their time. The legacy of Roman encyclopedism is evident in the structure and purpose of m o d e r n e n c y c l o p e d i a s , including those we consult online everyday, which con- tinue to serve as repositories of human understanding. R o m a n e n c y c l o p e d i a s belong to a foundational peri- od in the history of knowledge c o m p i l a t i o n : t h r o u g h t h e efforts of scholars like Varro a n d P l i n y t h e E l d e r , t h e Romans established a tradi- tion of organizing and pre- serving information that has profoundly influenced the way we gather, organize and access knowledge still today. Encyclopedic works finds their origins in the writings of Varro and Pliny the Elder (Photo: Deyangeorgiev/Dreamstime) Ancient Rome and the birth of encyclopedia Ponti: nine generations of Italian excellence in vinegar and condiments IMPRESA ITALIA MADE IN ITALY TOP BRANDS BUSINESS & ECONOMY Balsamic vinegar, which is often enjoyed with strawberries as seen above, is one of the most popular Ponti products (Photo: Mauro Bartolini/Dreamstime)

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