{"id":39717,"date":"2022-09-08T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.xtrawine.com\/?p=39717"},"modified":"2022-09-07T16:58:24","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T14:58:24","slug":"the-story-of-vermouth-its-history-and-a-beautiful-vermouth-and-italian-wine-cocktail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.xtrawine.com\/en\/the-story-of-vermouth-its-history-and-a-beautiful-vermouth-and-italian-wine-cocktail\/","title":{"rendered":"The Story of Vermouth \u2013 Its History and a Beautiful Vermouth and Italian Wine Cocktail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The story of Vermouth is an interesting one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we were to trace this wonderful drink back to the very origins of the concept of an aperitif, we could say it goes back all of the way to Ancient Greece. It was during this era when Hippocrates first came up with the idea of an alcoholic drink to be consumed before a meal, setting the stage for what would come to be known as an aperitif<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Vermouth is not an ancient Greek invention. Instead, it is a very Italian drink that builds upon the early concept of the aperitif to become one of the most popular non-wine drinks in Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we explore the general history of Vermouth, share a few things you may not know about the drink, and give you the recipe for a tasty cocktail that combines Vermouth with one of the most popular Italian wines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brief History of Vermouth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vermouth is an interesting drink because it has something of a split history. There are two versions of this drink, both of which can be traced back to Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with the first version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the 16th<\/sup> century, the Germans began creating a drink that combined wine and wormwood that they called Wermut. At the same time, an Italian merchant named D\u2019Alessio began producing a similar drink from his headquarters in Piedmont. He dubbed it wormwood wine, though it had many similarities to the German Wermut. The concept of wine and wormwood eventually made its way to France, where the basic drink was combined with an array of herbs, spices, and roots. This version of the drink eventually found its way to England, where it was called Vermouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This version of Vermouth was very bitter, which demonstrates its roots as an early tonic for stomach issues. After all, bitter drinks were often used to relieve digestive distress and stimulate the appetite during the 16th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is not this version of Vermouth that many think of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the bitter Vermouth gained some measure of popularity, the modern version we know today can be traced back to the late 18th<\/sup> century. In 1786, an Italian merchant named Antonio Benedetto Carpano created a sweeter version of Vermouth that he introduced to the markets of Turin. The drink quickly exploded in popularity, and it became the drink of choice in the royal court of Turin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This version of Vermouth was much sweeter than the version that originates in Germany. It is this sweetness that made it accessible enough for wider acceptance, as Carpano\u2019s version of Vermouth soon spread throughout Italy and, eventually, to the rest of the world. By the middle of the 19th<\/sup> century, Carpano\u2019s Vermouth had practically supplanted the original version and was being used to make cocktails and similar drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, this sweeter version of Vermouth is still consumed around the world. In Italy, it is a popular aperitif used to stimulate the appetite before a large meal. Elsewhere, it is often the chief ingredient in cocktails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three Things You Need to Know About Vermouth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019ve explored the basic history of Vermouth, let\u2019s look at a few interesting facts about the drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact No. 1 \u2013 There Are Three Types<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though all modern Vermouths trace their origins to Carpano\u2019s version of the drink, there are actually several versions available today. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n