Artful Fermentation

Vargas founded Massachusetts-based American Vinegar Works in 2019, sure that there was an untapped market for premium, small batch vinegars. According to a recent profile in Fast Company, he was right. American Vinegar Works is currently producing 12,000 gallons of vinegar each year, 25 times more than it made in 2020. The company sells 16 varieties of vinegar and plans to launch more in coming months.

“Vinegar was the last part of the American pantry that had not improved, and it didn’t make sense,” Vargas said. “I saw an opportunity to bring a slow fermented, fully flavored vinegar to American chefs and home cooks.”