About Us

California Balsamic is a unique line, inspired by flavors from around the world. Our premium quality is fine tuned through sampling, customer feedback and culinary creativity. In the early years, California Balsamic, previously known as, Tres Classique Specialty Foods was a salad dressing and dessert sauce line until 1996 when world traveler and owner, Thomas Allen landed in Ukiah, CA just in time to buy the business. Working on his feet, over the last 15 years, with the encouragement of his customers, Thomas transformed the business into the balsamic company it is today.

 

Before buying the business, Thomas worked at the Osaka Culinary Academy in Japan for one year as an instructor. He was offered the job because he gave a loaf of banana bread as a thank you gift to a woman he met. She happened to be a friend of the manager at the Academy, who had been looking for an American to teach American Cuisine! He got the job and loved it! When he returned to America, he found Tres Classique for sale, and his time at the academy got him the loan! So in a way, a loaf of banana bread started the business!

 

Our products feature the finest fruit essential oils, rice bran oil and 25 star balsamic from Modena, Italy – a custom balsamic made with an exceptionally high quality grape must from the Trebbiano and Spirgola grape that enhance flavor and texture.  The sugars found in balsamic vinegar are a natural sugar from the grapes.  No processed sugar is added to any of our products.