Martini Rosso is a classic sweet vermouth with a rich history and a distinctive flavour profile. Here's a breakdown of its origins, production, and characteristics:
History:
- Origins in Turin, Italy: Martini Rosso's story begins in the mid-19th century in Turin, Italy. In 1863, Alessandro Martini, an entrepreneur, and Luigi Rossi, a master herbalist, joined forces to take over a local distillery.
- Birth of a Classic: Soon after, they created Martini Rosso, a vermouth that quickly gained popularity for its unique taste and quality. It's often considered one of the first modern vermouths.
- Royal Approval: Martini Rosso gained favour with the Italian royal family and became a fashionable drink among the elite.
- Global Expansion: Over the years, Martini Rosso's popularity spread beyond Italy, and it became a staple in bars and households worldwide.
Production:
- Wine Base: Martini Rosso starts with a blend of carefully selected white wines. The specific grape varieties used are a closely guarded secret, but they typically include Trebbiano and Cataratto grapes from Northern Italy.
- Botanicals: The signature flavour of Martini Rosso comes from a blend of over 40 different botanicals (herbs, spices, roots, and flowers). These include wormwood, gentian, coriander, and others. The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret known only to a few individuals.
- Infusion and Extraction: The botanicals are infused in a mixture of alcohol and water to extract their flavours and aromas. This process can take several weeks.
- Sweetening and Fortification: Sugar is added to the infused wine to achieve the desired sweetness. The mixture is then fortified with alcohol to increase its strength.
- Blending and Aging: The final step involves blending the wine, botanical extracts, and other ingredients. The vermouth is then aged for a period of time to allow the flavours to marry and mellow.
Key Characteristics:
- Sweet and Bittersweet: Martini Rosso has a distinct bittersweet flavour profile. The sweetness is balanced by a subtle bitterness from the botanicals, particularly wormwood.
- Herbal and Spicy: It offers a complex blend of herbal and spicy notes, with hints of citrus, cloves, cinnamon, and other spices.
- Aromatic: Martini Rosso is highly aromatic, with a rich and inviting bouquet.
- Ruby Red Colour: Its signature ruby red colour comes from the addition of caramel colouring.
Martini Rosso is a versatile vermouth that can be enjoyed on its own, in classic cocktails like the Negroni and Manhattan, or as a key ingredient in many other mixed drinks.
Its rich history and distinctive flavour have made it a beloved aperitif and cocktail ingredient for over 150 years.
