What is Vermouth and what are the differences between the types of Vermouth?

What is vermouth and what are the differences between the types of Vermouth?

Vermouth is a multicomponent drink flavored with herbs and spices. More precisely, it is a whole family of drinks. Initially, the basis for the preparation served as a white wine. Most often, wormwood is taken as the basis of vermouth flavoring. Translated from the German name and means – wormwood wine. It is the wormwood that accounts for at least half of the aromatic herbs used in the manufacturing of any vermouth. The name of the drink comes from the King of Bavaria during the Middle Ages who “checked” the drink.

What is vermouth?

There is evidence that the first vermouth recipe was compiled long ago in the V-IV c. BC. by Hippocrates themselves. Initially, it was a medicinal drink designed to tone up the body and treat diseases of the digestive tract. But on an industrial scale, it was first made in Italy, in Turin, in 1786. The city is famous for its vineyards, where rich crops and herbs are harvested each year. Therefore, Italy is considered the birthplace of vermouth.

It is in Italy that one of the most famous brands of the drink is produced – Martini. The main competitor is Vermouth Cinzano, famous since 1857 and also originally produced in Turin.

In addition to wormwood, during manufacturing, coriander and juniper fruits, lemon balm, oregano, cloves, ginger, yarrow, cinnamon, etc can all be added. The taste depends on the selected ingredients. Unfortunately, the proportions are kept a secret by the manufacturers.

Initially, vermouths were made from white grape varieties, but the modern drink is also made from pink and red grapes. Wine makes up 80% of the volume of the product. The remaining 20% is made from plant extracts, alcohol (which improves the dissolution and serves as a preservative), and sugar syrup, which makes the drink sweet. During the making of red vermouth, caramel is added. Currently, winemakers prefer to take a wine base with a neutral taste, so as not to affect the spicy aroma of the drink.

To combine a large number of components, winemakers add chamomile, clove, and iris root infusions. A combination of extracts of vanilla, calamus and cardamom helps to consolidate the composition.

Action on the body:

Initially, vermouth was considered to be just a medicinal drink. It helped to tone up the body, improve blood circulation, increase appetite, and stimulate digestion. Like any alcoholic drink, it has warming properties. Thanks to the extract of wormwood, it is able to clean the bile ducts and normalize the production of enzymes.

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