Martini & Rossi

(n.): Based in Turin, Italy, this company, which produces a variety of vermouths and sparkling wines, is most famous for their Rosso, a sweet Italian-style vermouth. Formed by wine merchant Alessandro Martini and herbalist Luigi Rossi in 1863, the outfit found great success with their proprietary recipe for Rosso, which was imported in the United States beginning in the mid-nineteenth century. The Rosso bottling, which is made from a mix of wine, spirits, herbs, spices, flowers, roots, bark, sugar and caramel for coloring, has a sweet, floral, spicy profile. The company, which is now owned by Bacardi, also produces an extra-dry vermouth, a rosato vermouth (made from red and white wine) and a number of other bottlings.

Tagged: Italy, vermouth