Martini Rosso 1 Liter

Martini Rosso is the original red vermouth from Martini & Rossi, founded in Turin in 1863 and central to the Piedmontese vermouth tradition. It begins with a neutral white wine base that is fortified and sweetened, then infused with a botanical mix drawn from alpine and Mediterranean herbs, spices and roots, with wormwood supplying the bittering edge the category is named for. The deep scarlet colour comes from caramelised sugar rather than red grapes, a long-standing feature of the rosso style that also lends a faint toffee depth. Maceration and careful blending hold the sweetness, spice and bitterness in balance so no single element dominates. At 15 percent it is firmly an aperitif and mixer rather than a table wine. The nose is aromatic, with alpine herbs over warm cinnamon, anise and nutmeg and a thread of dried citrus. The palate is sweet and rounded, carrying clove and bitter orange through to a clean herbal finish. Serve chilled over ice with an orange slice, or use it as the backbone of a Negroni or Americano. It also works with savoury nibbles before a meal.