Vermouth and Aromatized Wines

Question 1

What city could be considered the birthplace of modern vermouth?

Answer 1

Turin, Italy

Question 2

Name 4 classic cocktails that incorporate vermouth.

Answer 2

Martini
Manhattan
Rob Roy
Negroni
Americano
Bronx
Gibson

Question 3

Who is credited with introducing the first sweet vermouth and when?

Answer 3

Carpano

1786 in Turin

Question 4

Who is credited with producing the first pale, dry vermouth?

Answer 4

Joseph Noilly in 1813

Question 5

What is the general ABV range from vermouth?

Answer 5

16 to 18%

Question 6

(Briefly) explain how vermouth is made.

Answer 6

A low-alcohol wine is made, to which sugar syrup is added before the wine is fortified with the addition of alcohol. This mixture is placed in barrels or tanks with the dry flavoring ingredients. It is stirred periodically before ready to be bottled and drank. Caramel color is generally added for red vermouth.

Question 7

What spice ingredients are commonly used to flavor vermouth?

Answer 7

Cloves
Cinnamon
Quinine
Citrus Peel
Cardamom
Coriander
Marjoram
Chamomile
Juniper
Hysop
Ginger

Question 8

What is Chamberyzette?

Answer 8

A strawberry-flavored vermouth made in Chambery, France

Question 9

What region in France has received an AOP for vermouth?

Answer 9

Chambery

Question 10

What does the term “Italian Vermouth” generally refer to?

Answer 10

Red, slightly sweet, mildly bitter

Question 11

What does the term “French Vermouth” very generally refer to?

Answer 11

Pale, dry vermouths that are more bitter than sweet vermouth styles

Question 12

How long is it generally accepted that vermouth should stay open and what are recommended storing conditions?

Answer 12

Refridgerated; will keep for 1 to 3 months without losing significant amounts of aroma or before turning to vinegar

Question 13

Name 4 vermouths made in the classic “Torino style”.

Answer 13

Cocchi Vermouth di Torino (one of the only to regularly meet the DOC standards)
Carpano Classico
Cinzano Rosso
Contratto Vermouth Rosso
Gancia Rosso
Casa Martelletti Vermouth Classico
Martini & Rossi
Alessio Rosso
Mancino Rosso Amaranto

Question 14

Punt E Mes: who makes it, flavor profile, origins

Answer 14

“Point and a Half”; this is made by Carpano since 1867 and is simultaneously one of the sweetest and also the bitterest of vermouths.
Vermouth Chinato - it has extra quinine
Carpano’s top selling product

Question 15

Antica Formula: who makes it, flavor profile, and origins

Answer 15

Made by Carpano since the 1990s; it is an example of a “vermouth alla vaniglia”… a red vermouth flavored with vanilla and extra sugar to balance it out.
This is based on an old recipe but is not Carpano’s original recipe

Question 16

Where is Carpano based and what is the parent company?

Answer 16

Carpano is based in Milan; the parent company is owned by Branca

Question 17

Alessio brand vermouths: who owns this brand, when and where were they developed

Answer 17

Anchor Distilling/Tempus Fugit Spirits

Debuted in 2014; based on old recipes. Named for Alessio Piemontese, who wrote the 16th century recipes

Question 18

Cinzano: who owns the brand, history, flavor profiles

Answer 18

(chin-ZAH-no)

Currently owned by Campari; based in Turin since 1815, although its history dates to 1757. Classic Turin-style vermouth.

Question 19

Where is Cocchi based and what types of vermouth do they make?

Answer 19

Cocchi is a Torino-based winery known for their array of still, sparkling and fortified muscat wines. They revived their house vermouth in 2011, making the first Vermouth di Torino DOC the US has seen in awhile as well as the vermouth chinato styled Dopo Teatro

Question 20

Where is Contratto based and what styles of vermouth do they produce?

Answer 20

Contratto is a Piemonte-based winery known for sparkling wine. New ownership brought their vermouths back into production (bought by Rivetti of La Spinetta in 2011). All vermouths used the Cortese grape as the wine base.

Question 21

Who was the first Torino Vermouth producer to export their vermouth and also the first to export to the US?

Answer 21

Cora - imported into the US in 1938, but no longer present in the market. Now owned by Bosca as of 1984

Question 22

Where is Dolin based and what styles of vermouth are they known for?

Answer 22

Dolin is based in Chambery - they popularized the dry blanc style in the 19th century. Est. 1821.