Vermouth, Amari, Bitters Flashcards
What is the largest subcategory of aromatized wines?
Vermouth
When and where are the earliest findings of aromatized wines?
1250 BCE in China
5400 BCE in Iran
Explain Hippocras
A Greco-Roman beverage of wine infused with wormwood. Highly sought after in ancient times; believed to have healthy and invigorating tonic affects`
What are the 4 categories of aromatized wine, and how do they differ?
- Vermouth - fortified, flavored with wormwood and other natural herbs, fruits, spices etc
- Vin Amari/Chianti - unfortified, uses a variety of bitter and herbal flavorings
- Quinquina - fortified, flavored with cinchona bark
- Americano - fortified, flavored with wormwood and gentian
Definition requirements for aromatized wine under the EU
- Obtained from a wine base of 75% (before enhancement)
- May have added grape must, to which alcohol has been added
- Flavored with natural flavoring preparations, herbs, spices, foodstuffs
- sweetened and may be colored with caramel
- ABV range of 14.5% to 22%
What are the exceptions to the ABV requirement for aromatized wine?
“Extra-dry” - min 15% ABV
“Dry” - min 16% ABV
What are the finished sugar levels for aromatized wines?
Extra Dry - less than 30g/L Dry - less than 50g/L Semi-Dry - 50-90g/L Semi-Sweet - 90-130g/L Sweet - more than 130g/L
Definition requirements for aromatized wine under the US
- Product based in grape wine
- fortified with brandy or other alcohol to a minimum 15% ABV
- flavored with herbs and other natural aromatic flavoring
- produced with or without the addition of juice, sugar, caramel coloring
Where does the word ‘vermouth’ come from?
Derived from the name of artemisia (wormwood), known as ‘vermut’ in Germany
How do bittered wines differ from typical vermouth?
They are unfortified
Explain: Chinato d’Erbetti
A well-known example of bittered wine from Piedmont, Italy. Chinato Barolo is made from Piedmont’s Barolo wine, which is stepped with a proprietary selection of bitter herbs.
Explain: Cardamaro
One of the few bittered wines available in the US, flavored with cardoon and blessed thistle. It is based on Moscato wine and also comes from Piedmont, Itlay.
What is the defining characteristic of Quinquina?
Cinchona bark is used as the primary botanical, rather than wormwood with typical vermouth
Explain: Bonal Gentiane Quina
Mistelle base infused with gentian root, cinchona, and a variety of herbs from the Chartresue mountains. Flavor is sweet, bitter, and woody
Explain: Dubonnet
One of the lightest products in the quinquina category. Originally created in Paris, but produced by Heaven Hills Distillery since World War 2