Martini (vermouth): reviews and tips on how not to buy a fake. What is the difference between vermouth and martini? Vermouth Martini Bianco - “King or Queen? Martini in new packaging»

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Martini is a world-famous brand of Italian vermouth, sparkling wines, as well as a variety of alcoholic aperitifs. From its inception to the present day, this drink is considered a kind of symbol of luxury, unsurpassed style, the shimmering world of wealth and presentability. The production and sale of brand products is carried out by a large distillery Martini & Rossi, which is located in the north of Italy in the city (Torino).

It all started when, in 1847, a quartet of ambitious and enterprising businessmen decided to establish their own company, which would specialize in the production and sale of sparkling wines, liqueurs and other alcoholic beverages. The company receives the sonorous name "Distilleria Nazionate da Spirito di Vino", and it quickly manages to gain a foothold in the Italian market.

Things in the winery are starting to go so well that by 1849 its products flooded the shops of France, and then other European countries.
The 1860s are marked for the company as a period of dramatic change and change. So, in 1860, one of the founders of the brand passes away, and this event activates the process of partial reorganization of production.

Three years later, in 1863, new faces are included in the wine business:

• A young and energetic entrepreneur, Alessandro Martini;
• Having worked for the "Distilleria Nazionate da Spirito di Vino" for several years as Teofilo Sola's accountant;
• Leading expert of the company in the field of winemaking, Luigi Rossi.

With their coming to power, the company acquires a new name - "Martini, Sola e Cia". In addition, it was at this time that legendary labels first appeared on bottles of produced vermouth, strongly reminiscent of those that can be seen on a bottle of Martini (Martini) today.

Vermouth is usually understood as a certain type of flavored wine, which is made not only from ripe grape berries, but also from special herbs and spices. And, it should be noted that a similar type of alcoholic beverage existed in the assortment of the company until 1863.

However, thanks to a series of bold and somewhat extravagant experiments conducted by Luigi Rossi, it was possible to find that very unique recipe formula, which is still kept in the strictest confidence. It was the scheme for preparing spicy vermouth developed by a talented Italian that allowed the company to reach a new level, gain popularity and fame not only in Italy, but throughout the world.

In 1864, the first export of the legendary vermouth was made in the history of the company. So, boxes with alcoholic products were sent from (Genova) to the USA. Thus, it is the 1860s that is considered to be the time when the brand begins to earn worldwide fame.

In 1865, an international exhibition of alcoholic products was held in Dublin, as a result of which Martini was awarded a medal of the first degree for Quality. This was followed by a series of no less prestigious exhibitions and presentations in France, Great Britain, Australia and other countries.

In 1878, the export of goods to Russia opens. Among the imported goods was not only the legendary Martini vermouth, but also some sparkling wines.

In 1879, after a long illness, the company's chief accountant, Teofilo Sola, passed away, and Luigi Rossi bought his share in the production. Another rebranding takes place, and the company receives a new name "MARTINI & ROSSI".

In 1893, the brand's products finally acquire their legendary, well-recognized label. This happened as follows: the current king of Italy at that time, Umberto I (Umberto I) issued a decree allowing the use of the image of the country's coat of arms when developing a company logo for products.

From the end of the nineteenth century until the 1990s, the company developed rather statically. The brand had a definite, established customer base, as well as the image of a manufacturer of exceptionally high-quality goods. In addition, there was no other alcoholic company on the market of that period that would be able to compete with MARTINI & ROSSI.

However, this situation begins to change somewhat at the end of the twentieth century, and in order to strengthen its position on the world stage, the brand's management decides to merge the company with another large winery - BACARDI. Thus, in 1992 a new label was formed - "BACARDI-MARTINI".

Types of the legendary vermouth

Currently, the Italian wineries "BACARDI-MARTINI" produce a wide range of different varieties of the legendary Martini vermouth.

Asti

It is Muscat that gives the drink that unique tart flower-honey aroma and golden hue. Most people mistakenly assume that Asti is the same as champagne. Of course, these sparkling wines do have a number of common features, but their production technologies differ significantly from each other. Thus, the Asti preparation technology involves a double fermentation process, which must take place in special hermetically sealed steel vats. It is thanks to this that those same gas bubbles are formed in the drink.

It is noteworthy that the technology for creating Asti wines has been significantly improved by the specialists of the Martini brand, and from now on this drink is not subjected to double fermentation. Thanks to some secret recipe formula, the formation of gas bubbles can be achieved during the first fermentation period in sealed containers.

Today, production is concentrated in Piedmont (Piemonte) in the wine-growing province of Asti ( asti). In total, the brand owns about a third of the global Asti wine market.

In order to feel the whole palette of tastes of Martini Asti, the drink should be cooled to a temperature of about 8-10 degrees Celsius. It should be served in either a wide bowl-shaped champagne glass or a narrower flute.

Rosso

Martini "Rosso" - the same vermouth from which it all began, it has been produced since the distant 1862, and its name is translated into Russian as "red". The drink has a richly sweet, tart taste, which is accompanied by some notes of bitterness. A distinctive feature of this type of vermouth is a sharp aroma with hints of tea.

Extra Dry

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Extra Dry drink appeared. It has a noticeable straw shade, as well as a persistent rich aroma, in which you can catch notes of raspberries, citrus and iris. It is noteworthy that the proportion of sugar in this vermouth is negligible, while the percentage of alcohol is above the norm.

Bianco

The Bianco Martini was launched in the 1910s. It has a distinctive light straw color and a light and mild scent of vanilla spices. The taste is characterized by sweet notes without any bitterness. It is usually served with ice cubes and lemon slices.

Rosato

In the 80s of the last century, a line of vermouths "Rosato" was released. This drink is characterized by a rich, rich aroma of cinnamon and cloves, it has a beautiful noble pink hue. In addition, it is the only one in the production of "BACARDI-MARTINI", which is made by competently mixing red and white wines.

Gold

Martini "Gold" is a unique alcoholic drink, the exclusive packaging of which was developed in collaboration with the designers of the world famous brand "Dolce & Gabbana". The basis of vermouth is dry white wine, which is diluted with a variety of spices, spices and herbs.

1. In 1997, the original Martini bottle changed its shape for the first time in the history of the company to a more elegant and modern one. The logo design has also undergone some minor changes.
2. To create their legendary vermouth, BACARDI-MARTINI uses over 100 varieties of herbs and spices.
3. Almost all vermouths produced by the winery have a sugar content of 16%.
4. In 1977, the Porsche automobile company released a limited line of cars, called the Martini Edition.
5. The Martini drink appears even in Eldar Ryazanov's "Hussar Ballad". At the 73rd minute of the tape, you can see a bottle with the famous label standing on the mantelpiece.

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Currently, the assortment of Martini drinks includes several varieties of sparkling wine and vermouth. The brand's drinks are associated with a beautiful life and allow an appropriate festive atmosphere.

The shape, appearance of the Martini bottle and labels have changed throughout the production of the drink. Only the taste remained unchanged. For the manufacture of vermouth, ingredients are carefully selected, and the recipe is kept secret. It is quite obvious only the presence of wormwood in the composition, which makes the taste of vermouth so recognizable.

If you are one of the admirers of this drink, then you will certainly need information on how to distinguish the original Martini vermouth from a fake. Unfortunately, Martini drinks are counterfeited as often as other brands. It is difficult to distinguish a fake from the original, but with certain knowledge it is possible.

The most significant visual differences lie in the appearance of the bottle and label. For any high-quality alcohol, a prerequisite is the presence of an excise stamp. Apply it evenly and neatly. The best place to buy a Martini is a large or specialty store.

The highest quality glass is used to make the branded bottle. The bottle should be transparent, there should not be a blue or green tint. It is very difficult to make such a bottle, so counterfeiters, in order to save money, use greenish glass. Similar differences are clearly visible in the example below, where the fake drink bottle is on the right.

Another difference is also striking. At the bottom of a fake bottle there is a specific protrusion. This does not happen with the original container.

It is not necessary to turn the bottle over to notice such a protrusion. Everything looks great in this photo.

Quite often, one-color, black, corks are used on fakes. At the top of the original cork, a strip of golden color is noticeable. There is also an inscription in Italian on the top of the branded cork. The letters are golden in color and very neat. In the example below, the fake is on the right - the differences are perfectly distinguishable.

Otherwise, fake manufacturers have learned to exactly repeat the specifics of the original drink, in any case, this applies to a bottle with a label. All elements of the bottle design (label, bottle shape, engraving) are perfectly imitated.

The turnover of counterfeit alcohol in the domestic market has reached such incredible proportions that it is becoming increasingly difficult for an ordinary consumer to buy a quality drink. Elite alcohol is most susceptible to falsification, martini is no exception. In this article, we will look at the signs that you should pay attention to when buying a martini in a store.

Place where martini is sold

You should buy martinis only in large hypermarkets that have a distribution network or stores specializing in the sale of elite alcohol. This measure will significantly reduce the chances of acquiring a surrogate. The fact is that such objects of trade value their reputation and will not put up dubious alcohol for sale. It will not be superfluous to check the certificate of conformity when buying, the seller must show it to the buyer upon request. If there is even the slightest doubt about the authenticity of a martini, it is better to refuse the purchase. Please note that the most popular martini brands Bianco and Asti are most often counterfeited. Also on the counter you can find varieties of martinis that are not sold at all in Russia, for example, Fiero, D’Oro, Bitter.

martini price

If you have a bottle of martini in front of you that costs 10-30% below the average price for this alcohol, most likely this is not a real drink. Entrepreneurial sellers like to tell buyers that the products are confiscated or duty free. This is true in rare cases. Organizations that have a special permit for this are eligible to sell confiscated goods. There are few such companies in Russia. And the sale of goods from duty free in a retail network is illegal and impossible.

Appearance of the bottle

On the right is a fake, at the bottom of the bottle there is a technical ledge that is not in the original. The volume at the bottom is indicated in liters, in the original in cl. The glass of the fake is a little bit "greener" in appearance. Also, a fake is a few millimeters higher than a real martini.

The bottle must be free of damage and chips. Pay attention to the presence of an excise stamp and the date of manufacture. The label must be of good quality material and glued symmetrically, without protruding glue at the edges. The inscriptions on it should be clear, well printed. A poor-quality label indicates handicraft work. From the photo of the original bottle and its fake, placed side by side, you can immediately find the differences.

Taste, color, texture

According to this criterion, only true connoisseurs of the drink can distinguish the original product. Martini (vermouth) refers to aperitifs. It is a dry grape wine infused with herbs. Due to its light taste and pleasant aroma, it is often called a women's drink.

The composition may include (mint, juniper, yarrow, iris, ginger, coriander, cloves, violet, caraway, St. John's wort, immortelle, orange, lemon, rose, cardamom, walnut, raspberry, rosemary, lemon balm, calamus), etc. . The herbs add a lovely floral bouquet to the drink. It is not easy to describe the taste of a martini in monosyllables, since today there are many varieties of it, which differ not only in taste, but also in color. In all variations, martini has a sweet taste with different notes (vanilla, honey, cinnamon, fruit), sometimes sugar or caramel is used in the composition. In small doses, martini is good for the body, it normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, helps with colds and hypertension. As for counterfeit, its harm to health can be irreparable.

Martini Bianco

Refers to dessert alcoholic drinks. It has a citrus flavor with interesting hints of sandalwood, cloves and a delicate aroma with an accent of vanilla. It has a golden straw color, reminiscent of the flowering of a vanilla tree (see photo). It is used both in pure form with the addition of lemon, olives or ice, and diluted with juice or tonic. Martini Bianco is the main ingredient in many popular cocktails.

Martini Asti

Asti sparkling wines are very popular, especially among the female population. Produced in the Italian province of Piemot (this name is indicated on the label of the original product). The preparation of martini is based on the recipe for making champagne, only white muscat grapes are used as raw materials. Unlike champagne, Asti Martini is produced without secondary fermentation. Already the first fermentation takes place in hermetic vats, where bubbles collect in the wine.

There are several varieties of Asti martini:

• "Martini Asti" - white sparkling wine from white muscat grapes;
• "Martini Brut" - white sparkling wine from Prosecco grapes;
• Martini Rose is a romantic pink drink with a pronounced fruity-floral aroma.

Asti DOCG refers to the highest quality wines. When buying, pay attention to the spelling of the name, which is written in English letters. The name "ASTI" on the bottle indicates a clear fake. Quality mark on the bottle in the form of the Asti D.O.C.G Consortium emblem. also a mandatory attribute (see photo). Due to its popularity, a bottle of such a drink can even cost more than a bottle of good champagne. Often Asti Martini is called champagne, although this is not entirely true. Still, Asti refers to sparkling wines.

Modern technologies make it possible to trace the authenticity of high-quality elite alcohol by a barcode. To do this, there are special sites on which it is enough to drive in a barcode and all information about the product will be issued.

Martini will be an actual drink, both at a family holiday and at a noisy party. The main thing is to choose high-quality alcohol, and then you can enjoy its taste.

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There are several varieties of Martini and I have not tried all of them, but most of all I like this drink made from white grapes - “ Martini Bianko».

Bartenders called Martini the king of nightlife and parties. But I think that it is Bianko» should be called queen. It's still more "women's drink", because mostly girls and women prefer it.

Martini (Martini) is an alcoholic drink produced in Italy, more precisely - Italian vermouth. It is a flavored grape wine with the addition of herbal extracts. The drink is named after one of the founders of the Turin distillery - Alessandro Martini.

The first tasting of Martini was in 1863 in Turin, and in 1915 the drink had already gained worldwide fame.

In different types of martini, the proportions, the grape variety and the composition of the herbs and spices included in it change.

My favorite "Martini Bianko" sweet, delicate and light in taste. Vanilla is well felt with a bitter note of wormwood.

The bottle design is new. The shape of the bottle, the inscriptions on the glass, as well as the labels have changed. This new packaging has been in production since June 2016.

Customer: Martini. Agency: AMVBBDO. Art Direction: Richard Conner.

In its pure, undiluted form, I somehow did not quite appreciate this drink, but with citrus juices and ice cubes it turned out a great combination. Freshly squeezed orange juice is best. Some of my friends like it neat with citrus slices, someone mixes it with cola. Lots of cocktail options Martini is on the Internet. Of course, we all have different tastes, but I bet 5 stars and recommend to try.

In our country, it is fortified drinks flavored with alpine wormwood and other types of herbs that have won the greatest popularity. It can be drunk both in its pure form and as a base for alcoholic cocktails. Martini vermouths are also used as part of homemade medicinal infusions due to the content of herbal extracts.
A common drink, like any in general, is often counterfeited. Especially often there is a falsification of such species as Asti and Bianco, which are especially popular. Moreover, if earlier vermouth of “local” production was quite easy to distinguish from the original, today technologies allow dishonest producers to create copies that look almost the same as the original. And buyers have no choice but to learn how to correctly distinguish a fake from a real drink.

Danger of poor quality drink

The consequences of consuming a counterfeit product vary depending on its quality. A low-grade counterfeit is the most dangerous because of the risk of using crude, containing methanol, for its fastening. This monohydric alcohol does not differ in smell and taste from ethanol, but even in small quantities it causes poisoning, accompanied by irreversible disorders in the nervous and vascular systems, often with lifelong disability and death.

A high-quality counterfeit in terms of its properties and safety may not be inferior to the original. However, the production of cheaper components makes it much cheaper than it is offered to inexperienced buyers. In any case, it does not hurt to know the hallmarks of a fake martini.

How to define quality?

One of the main ways to identify low-quality vermouth is to analyze its packaging. "Martini" is a brand with a history, so the manufacturer pays great attention to the quality and appearance of the container:

• like any other alcohol, martini must have an excise stamp with a barcode and a number that can be entered in the ESPAR electronic database;
• a bottle of a real drink is made of colorless glass, has orienting chamfers on the cylindrical part (not on the recesses at the bottom), an embossed company coat of arms and a volume indicator “c1”, not “1L”;
• the cork must have a golden font and must contain MARTINI & ROSSI FONDATA 1863;
• the label on original drinks is always made of good paper, legibly printed, neatly pasted without glue drips, made in the same color scheme with golden inscriptions and edging;
• information on the bottle should contain information about the manufacturer and importer, the name of the drink, alcohol content, date of bottling, volume.

Price. An important indicator is the cost of the product - compare it with several stores. If in some of them the price is 30-50% lower, then he offers a fake. Do not believe the seller's beliefs that he is selling confiscated or duty-free goods. Such a product is sold in specialized stores, and not through hypermarket chains.

Taste. Only those who have tried the original will be able to distinguish real Martini vermouth from a fake in taste. Unfortunately, flavoring herbs somewhat knock down sensitivity, so an inexperienced buyer is unlikely to detect a fake. On the other hand, once you have tasted this drink, you will not confuse its original aromatic bouquet with anything. Therefore, it is recommended to buy martinis for the first time abroad, in the homeland of production.