Vermouth: what kind of drink is this?

Many people, seeing in the menu of the restaurant the name "Vermouth", that it does not even represent. But this is quite a common and delicious drink.

Since ancient times our ancestors liked to experiment with alcohol, especially with wine. They tried to make it more delicious and rich, adding various herbs. So they made "good" from "bad" wine.

Vermouth: what is it?

So, let's try to explain what kind of drink it is, what it is made of and where it came from.

Vermouths are grape wines infused with fragrant plants, especially wormwood. In German, the word vermouth means "wormwood". Although this kind of wine is of Italian origin, and the best drinks, no doubt, do in Italy. For example, everyone knows the "Martini" - Italian vermouth, whose name became a household name. Today in the United States, for example, the word "martini" is generally called any kind of drink of this kind.

The birthplace of the drink

Producing vermouth began at least two thousand years ago in the suburbs of Turin. Plains of Italy - one of the most fertile places in the whole of Western Europe. Since ancient times Italians grow excellent varieties of grapes there. And on the alpine slopes there are plantations of aromatic herbs of various kinds. They then mix with wine.

Composition

The main component of the vermouth is, as already mentioned, wormwood. In some extracts (fragrances) its essence is very high: up to 43%! In addition to wormwood, yarrow, cardamom, mint, cinnamon, nutmeg, black elder and other fragrant plants can also be present in the vermouth.

Kinds

There are two types of this drink: sweet and dry. The first kind of vermouth - what kind of drink and how does it happen? Usually with a heavy consistency, sweet, can be a bit tart on the palate, well seasoned and with a rich aroma. The sugar content in such vermouth is from 10% to 15%. There are three types: white (Bianco), red (Rosso) and pink (Rose). The first is usually straw-yellow, brown or golden in color. There is less sugar in it than in red or pink. And its taste is more gentle and even slightly bitter. The amount of sugar in white vermouth may not reach 10%. Red and pink drinks have a more intense and intense taste.

Dry vermouth - what kind of drink and how does it happen? Unlike sweet, it has a much lighter consistency and less intense flavor. The sugar content in this drink does not exceed 4%. Dry vermouth is only one color - white (Dry, Extra Dry, Secchi, Bitter). Unlike sweet, this drink is much lighter. Dry vermouth belongs to the bitter category (bitter alcoholic beverages).

Vermouth: brands sold all over the world

1. Of course, "Martini" (Italy). It is the main producer of vermouth all over the world.

2. "Gancia" (Italy). Their most famous drink was "Gancia Dry" (Gancia Dry).

3. "Chinzano" (Italy). It differs from the rest with its original tastes. The company produces two exclusive types of vermouth: "Orancio" light amber color with orange flavor and "Limetto" pale yellow shade with the taste of lime.

4. "Neulie Prat" (France). This is the driest drink from all the existing vermouth. Very strong - 16%.

5. "Salvatore" (Spain). Acknowledged aperitif in Russia. This vermouth is produced in the domestic market, it is available and pleasant to the taste.