2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Vermouth Vermouth is an aromatized wine that is drunk pure or combined with other alcoholic beverages in cocktails. Seeds, roots and flowers of various herbs are used for flavoring. Fruits are also used. Usually vermouth is associated with plants such as wormwood, yarrow, elderberry, mint and others. Of the spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and cardamom play an important role.
In addition, they rely on the bark of quinine wood. The colors of elderberry in combination with lemon peel are also not to be overlooked when talking about the production of vermouth. Manufacturers also use rosemary, cloves and bellflower. The main producers of aromatic wine are France, Italy and Spain. Smaller quantities of vermouth are produced in other countries, including Argentina, USA, Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Moldova, Russia. Y is also made from aromatized wine.
History of vermouth
According to historians, vermouth has a much older history than most people suggest and probably appeared in antiquity. Legend has it that the recipe for its prototype was the work of the father of medicine, Hippocrates, who combined some of its ingredients in the 5th century BC.
Otherwise it is considered vermouthas we know it today comes from Italy. The lands of the Turin region are known for their fertility. Here grows grapes of incredible quality, which is used in the production of various wines. Aromatic and valuable herbs can be found nearby, which later become an ideal addition to the grapes. Four centuries ago, vermouth was not very common and therefore knowledge of it was scarce.
According to some sources at the time, an Italian offered the Bavarian ruler the hitherto unknown wine of Hippocrates. The king liked it very much and thanks to that it became popular later. People began to call it Wermut wein, which literally means wormwood wine in German. Thus, the wine produced in Italy became world famous with a German name. The first industrial plant for the production of aromatic wine was built in Turin in the second half of the eighteenth century. In the beginning, wine was made only from white wines, but later others were allowed.
Vermouth production
Vermouth is obtained from white, red and pink grape varieties. For its production it is necessary to prepare a wine base. In fact, it occupies about eighty percent of the volume of the drink. Then plant extract, pure alcohol and sugar syrup are used. Caramel can also be added, as long as the purpose is to produce red vermouth. The specially selected herbs are then dried and pulverized. Subsequently, together with the already mentioned components, they are placed in large wooden barrels.
The whole mixture is left to stand for about three weeks. Next, proceed to cool and filter the liquid. Then it is left to mature. This stagnation usually takes about two months to a year. After this time has passed, it is time for pasteurization. This process slightly dulls the aroma of the wine, but enhances its taste and gives it exoticism. Finally, the liquid is bottled.
Types of vermouth
Distinctive feature of vermouth is its wormwood taste, skillfully combined with hints of other herbs. This gives a certain amount of tartness to the drink, but also sophistication. Five main types of vermouth are known. The first type is the so-called dry vermouth, in which the sugar content is not more than four percent.
The second type is known as white vermouth. It contains three times the amount of sugar contained. Red vermouth is also known, with a sugar content exceeding fifteen percent. There is pink vermouth, which is something like a mix between white and red vermouth. The last type is the so-called bitter vermouth, which belongs to the bitter aromatized wines.
Serving and storing vermouth
Choosing the right drink is very important when you want to leave a pleasant impression on your guests. In case you have a bottle of vermouth, know that this aromatized wine is usually served before a meal, as the idea is to stimulate the appetite. It is customary to drink up to a hundred grams of the drink.
Dry vermouth can be served slightly chilled. According to some alcohol lovers, pure vermouth is drunk in a glass as for whiskey. As with alcohol, only one-third of the container is filled. Ice is added when serving. When combined with other drinks, the aromatized wine is poured into a triangular glass. When vermouth is served after a meal, it can be combined with fruit.
Pay attention not only to the serving of vermouth, but also to its storage. If the bottle of alcohol is left open for some time, the drink will lose its taste. If the amount of alcohol has decreased, it will not be a mistake to transfer the liquid to another container with a smaller volume.
Vermouth in cooking
Vermouth is an integral part of many cocktails, the most famous of which is a martini. We remind you that the favorite drink of many is composed of gin and vermouth. Sweet vermouth can be combined with vodka, brandy, whiskey or cognac. Adding lemon or orange juice to it is also recommended. And because vermouth goes very well with fruit, it manages to find a place in cooking.
Aromatized wine proves to be a great flavoring of fruit salads, prepared with both citrus and typically Bulgarian fruits. In fact, some chefs use a small amount of wine to flavor various pastries such as cakes, biscuits and cakes. Others use it to flavor beef and pork steaks. If you are a fan of chicken trifle dishes, you can also add an exotic touch to your dish with fifty grams of vermouth.
Benefits of vermouth
Vermouth has a number of useful properties. It is not just an alcoholic beverage that contributes to the good mood in the company. It was used as an antiseptic in ancient Greece. The drink improves digestion and stimulates the appetite, so it is highly recommended for people suffering from anorexia.
It also turns out that in combination with other drugs, aromatized wine is able to solve some gastrointestinal problems. According to folk medicine, a mixture of honey and heated vermouth helps with sore throats. The same substance is recommended for coughs and colds.
