12th April, 2017 by Kristiane Sherry

The newly-formed Istituto Vermouth di Torino has won an appellation of origin from Italy’s Ministry of Agricultural Policy for Turin vermouths produced in the country’s Piedmont region.

Announced at Vinitaly this week, the new appellation of origin will be overseen by the Istituto Vermouth di Torino with the purpose of protecting, supporting and growing the category.

The Spirits Business understands the appellation of origin has been backed by brands including Carpano, Giulio Cocchi, and Drapo.

Under the new appellation rules, to be marketed as Vermouth di Torino brands must use white wines from the Piedmont region in production.

In addition, other rules state that the wormwood-led vermouths must be made with predominately Italian botanicals and be bottled at a minimum of 16% abv, Nicoló Calza, sales and marketing director at Turin Vermouth, told The Spirits Business.

The introduction of the appellation of origin follows a number of recent bartender-led developments for the category. Last month, noted bartender Simone Caporale led a Turin Vermouth trade masterclass at The Library bar in Singapore, while bartender and entrepreneur Giancarlo Mancino extended his Mancino Vermouth range with a limited edition line exclusively available at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo.

For more on the emergence of the appellation of origin, and other new or proposed appellations and geographic indications, see the May issue of The Spirits Business.