MARTINI Explores the History of Vermouth

MARTINI, the well-known spirits brand, is exploring the historical journey and development of vermouth, its signature product. The evolution of vermouth spans millennia of wine culture, with its modern form emerging in the late 18th century.

According to current EU regulations, vermouth must consist of at least 75% wine, be sweetened, and fortified with distilled or infused botanicals, crucially including species from the "Artemisia" genus. The name "vermouth" itself originates from the German word "wermouth," which refers to "Artemisia Absintium," also known as wormwood.

The origins of vermouth are deeply intertwined with ancient winemaking practices. Wines in antiquity were often bitter and high in alcohol, leading to the addition of water, herbs, and resins to improve palatability. Bittering agents like wormwood were commonly used as aperitifs. While these methods largely faded in Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, they were preserved and further developed in the East.

Winemaking and aromatization techniques were rediscovered in Italy around the 12th century. By the 15th century, the spread of printed books facilitated the dissemination of knowledge regarding flavored wines across Europe. In the latter half of the 18th century, wine flavored with "Artemisia" (or "Wermouth") arrived in Turin, leading to the birth of "Vermouth of Turin" due to favorable conditions for cultivating grapes and aromatic herbs.

The MARTINI brand was established in 1863 by entrepreneurs Alessandro Martini, Teofilo Sola, and Luigi Rossi. The company has since become a global icon of Italian "aperitivo" culture, with its vermouth products recognized worldwide.