Irene Licia Melloni: The Balsamic Storyteller Preserving Time in Barrels and Books

A Legacy Distilled in Silence and Oak

Born in Genoa in 1982 but Emilian by blood, Irene Licia Melloni inherited more than just family tradition — she inherited a calling. Nestled in the Reggio Emilia Apennines, her family’s ancient acetaia, Il Vascello del Monsignore, has been crafting Balsamic vinegar since 1770. For Irene, the vinegar barrels don’t just hold liquid — they hold memory, mystery, and meaning.

The Art of Becoming a Mastro Acetaio

With a background as rich as her craft, Irene holds a BA in Mass Communication from London, a Mini MBA from Edinburgh, and a Master in Web & Digital Marketing from Verona. But her most treasured title? Mastro acetaio — a rare designation that speaks of refined taste, tradition, and trust. Since 2006, she has run her acetaia with both passion and precision, ensuring each drop of Il Principe Nero tells a story centuries in the making.

Preserving Culture Beyond the Barrel

More than a master of vinegar, Irene is a steward of her homeland. She regularly organizes cultural events, charity fundraisers, and heritage initiatives that revive and celebrate the identity of the Apennines. Her life’s work is a symphony of entrepreneurial spirit and cultural devotion — where the past is not forgotten, but beautifully reimagined.

The Writer Within the Artisan

In 2020, Irene uncorked another side of her artistry — storytelling. Her debut novel Fontanhaus – Not a Book Like the Others (Albatros Il Filo, 2022) flows like her vinegar: aged, tender, and full of depth. It’s a reflective journey through imagined and lived moments spanning a year, written with the same care she devotes to her craft. The book’s popularity sparked a second print run, and Irene is already immersed in her next literary creation.

A Life Where Time Matures Beautifully

As Irene tends to her barrels and pens her next novel, she continues to prove that preserving life isn’t always about sealing it away — sometimes, it’s about letting it breathe. Letting it be shared. Letting it become story.

From tastings in her acetaia to the pages of her books, Irene Licia Melloni invites us to experience time — not as a clock ticking, but as something to savor.

📍 Il Vascello del Monsignore – Ancient Acetaia since 1770

Cervarezza Terme, Ventasso, Reggio Emilia, Italy

Visits by appointment | Tastings | Cultural Events

📚 Fontanhaus available now – second edition in print

📖 New novel in progress

👉 Follow her journey: @Aire82 & @ilvascellodelmonsignore

Closing Thought:

“Maybe the secret to preserving life isn’t locking it away, but releasing it through stories — slow, fragrant, and full of feeling.”

— Irene Licia Melloni