Two new types of organic vermouth now available
MAVI's first vermouth will be available on the online store from October 21, 2021! There are two types, red and white, both of which are based on organic white wine and are made faithfully according to a secret recipe handed down for generations. This exquisite product has an addictive fruity aroma and sweetness, as well as a unique aroma and bitterness using herbs and spices. It can be enjoyed as an aperitif or digestif, and also as an ingredient in cocktails.
Red: Vermouth di Torino Red
Layered, concentrated flavors and tastes
Red sweet vermouth . Although it is labeled as "red", it is made with white wine as a base and has a characteristic amber color due to the use of burnt sugar. Compared to white vermouth, it has a complex, bitter, and fragrant taste .
A rich herbal and fruity aroma that spreads endlessly. Citrus aromas with green herbs such as mugwort and fennel. And spice aromas accented with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Each scent blends together to create an indescribable harmony. The taste is sweet and fruity, followed by a bitter and fragrant taste. The red has an even bitter taste.
- Product number: 31016
- Capacity: 750ml
- Grape variety: Riesling Italico
- Origin: Piedmont, Italy
- Recommended ways to drink: as an aperitif, digestif, or cocktail ingredient
White: Vermouth di Torino White
A rare organic vermouth that lets you enjoy Italian history
A flavorful organic white sweet vermouth made by steeping more than 20 kinds of herbs and spices in white wine. Compared to red vermouth, it uses sweeter herbs, giving it a refreshing and easy-to-drink taste .
A number of aromas are released the moment you pour it into a glass. The concentrated citrus aroma of orange peel and lemon compote is complemented by a variety of spice aromas. The sweetness and fruitiness that give it body are at the base, and the subtle presence of acidity is well balanced. The white vermouth has a refreshing and sweet taste, and you can enjoy the aftertaste of a refreshing breeze passing through your mouth.
- Product number: 31017
- Capacity: 750ml
- Grape variety: Riesling Italico
- Origin: Piedmont, Italy
- Recommended ways to drink: as an aperitif, digestif, or cocktail ingredient
Introducing the producers - the Rovero family
The producers, the Rovero family, are wine farmers who have been in business since the 17th century in Asti, a famous wine-producing region in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. They have been cultivating wine grapes and making wine since 1880. They also have their own still , and make grappa using the pomace that is left over from winemaking, and brandy using wine.
The winery converted to organic farming in 1985. All of the grapes are hand-picked, and the facility's electricity is provided by solar panels. They grow a wide variety of grapes and produce a variety of organic wines, each of which is individually tailored to express its unique character. The winery also has accommodation and a restaurant, and all of the ingredients served are organically grown on the premises .
About Vermouth
- What is Vermouth?
- What is the difference between red and white vermouth?
- How to store vermouth?
- How to drink it and what are some popular cocktails?
- What are the ingredients in vermouth?
- What is the history of vermouth?
First of all, what is vermouth?
Vermouth is a flavored wine made mainly from white wine, with the aroma of herbs and spices such as wormwood. It is said that the dry type "dry vermouth" is the mainstream in France, while the sweet type "sweet vermouth" is the mainstream in Italy.
Vermouth is divided into red (rosso) and white (bianco), but both are basically made with white wine as a base (though some vermouths are made from red wine).
Vermouth has a higher alcohol content than wine, around 14-20%, so it is often used as an ingredient in cocktails .
Rovero's vermouth is a sweet vermouth , available in two varieties: red and white.
What is the difference between red and white vermouth?
Just as there are red and white wines, sweet vermouths are sometimes divided into "red" and "white". However, both red and white vermouths are basically made from "white wine". (Some producers use red wine or rosé wine.)
The difference between red and white is the color and the ingredients added . Unlike white, red uses burnt sugar . This gives it a beautiful amber color. It also has a bitter taste.
Historically, vermouth was originally only available in white form, but as it became famous around the world, a further variation, "red" vermouth, was created.
The red Rovero vermouth is also made using burnt sugar, following the tradition. The rich aroma and slightly bitter taste will make you feel elegant. One way to enjoy it is to compare the difference with the white vermouth.
How to store vermouth?
Vermouth is not something that is meant to be consumed quickly, so it lasts a long time.
It will last about a year if stored in a wine cellar or refrigerator after opening, but if you want to drink it without any significant change in flavor, we recommend using it within 1-2 months.
After 1-2 months, the flavor will become slightly fuller, but it will not oxidize like wine.
The taste may change slightly, but it will last for several months at room temperature outside of summer.
How to drink vermouth and what cocktails should you make with it?
Vermouth is popular in Italy and France as an aperitif, served well chilled . Of course, it can also be enjoyed during or after meals. If you want to enjoy it plain, try it in a variety of situations. We also recommend mixing it with soda or tonic .
Vermouth is also commonly used as an ingredient in cocktails.
Famous cocktails using sweet vermouth include the Manhattan, also known as the "Queen of Cocktails," and the Italian Country Club, which is made with vermouth, lemon juice, and ginger ale.
Some recommended cocktails using Rovero family vermouth are:
・Recommended cocktails with white vermouth ...White vermouth is characterized by its rich herbal and fruity aroma that spreads endlessly. It also has a strong sweetness, making it feel more mellow than red vermouth. Therefore, the recommended cocktail is the " Sweet Martini ," which uses a little more vermouth. You can directly enjoy the attractive taste of white vermouth while retaining the flavor of gin.
・Recommended cocktails using red vermouth : Red vermouth is characterized by its bitterness and aroma. It has a similar feel to white vermouth, but it is a drink with a prominent herbal and spice aroma, so we recommend making a " Negroni " by combining it with gin or Campari.
What ingredients are used in vermouth?
Vermouth is a white wine that has been flavored by steeping it in a blend of herbs and spices. In Japan, it is classified as a sweet fruit wine .
There are certain rules that must be followed when making vermouth in each region, but the main feature of the newly released "Vermouth di Torino" is that it must use at least 50% local wine from Piedmont, Italy . The Rovero family's vermouth is made using their own home-grown Riesling Italico grapes and white wine brewed on their own premises, so it's only natural that it uses 100% Piedmont wine .
Furthermore , only herbs and spices grown in the Piedmont region can be used, and there are limits on the amount of each ingredient that can be used.
The Rovero family uses more than 20 types of herbs and spices in limited quantities, which gives the vermouth a deep aroma and flavor. The herbs and spices used are as follows:
- Coriander seeds, laurel leaves, chamomile flowers, cinnamon, ginger root, angelica root, cloves, nutmeg, bitter orange peel, gentian root, nettle leaves, sweet orange peel, carob pods, juniper, rhubarb root, iris, clary sage, red china, lemon peel, elder blossom, etc.
The aroma and flavor are rich in complexity, and the aftertaste is long, so if you close your eyes and drink it, the many nuances will come flooding in. Please give it a try.
What is the history of vermouth?
The history of vermouth is very long, and it is said to have originated when Hippocrates, a famous Greek physician, mixed cinnamon and honey into wine and gave it to his patients to drink .
Tracing the origins of the word vermouth, it is said that in Germany, wine mixed with wormwood was named "Wermut" (the German word for wormwood) , which later changed to Latin and became the modern-day vermouth .
During the Renaissance, oriental spices became widely used, and new flavors such as cinnamon, cloves, and rhubarb were developed and added to recipes one after another.
From the mid-15th century, the Piedmont region of Italy began to establish itself as a model for distillation techniques, and in the 18th century, many famous producers were born in Turin, and their name became more widely known. Perhaps thanks to this, vermouth began to change from a medicinal drink to an aperitif , and it became popular in factories, liquor stores, pharmacies, etc.
It was around this time that " Vermouth di Torino " was born, originating from the "Università dei Confettieri e Liquoristi della Città di Torino", a university attended by liqueur craftsmen and confectioners in Turin. It was invented as a new recipe for flavored wine while preserving the traditions of vermouth. "Vermouth di Torino" was born as a type that is suitable for long-term storage by releasing a gorgeous fragrance and having a higher alcohol content than previous versions.
Later, these vermouths were enjoyed by the House of Savoy, who had influence in Italy, France, and Switzerland, and Vermouth di Turin became a globally established brand that respected tradition.
In addition, Italian law regarding vermouth began in November 1933, when "Vermouth di Torino" was recognized as the first flavored wine using the designation of origin system , and it is still protected to this day.
The Rovero family also participated in research into the traditional vermouth-making process in Piedmont in the early 2000s, and continues to contribute to the development of "Vermouth di Torino", which has a long history and tradition.
The Rovero family vermouth, which is bottled with dignity, care, and consideration for the environment, is a rare organic vermouth that allows you to enjoy Italian history . Please enjoy it to your heart's content.
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