Martini

They were an unlikely duo: a shrewd entrepreneur and a master herbalist. But when Alessandro Martini and Luigi Rossi took over the National Wine & Spirits Distillery in a small village near Turin, magic happened. It was in 1863 that Martini's entrepreneurial spirit and Rossi's creative genius created a vermouth that has endured for more than 150 years. From the aromatic plant extracts of the famous vermouth to the golden effervescence of Asti wines, MARTINI's influence spans continents and decades. Yet its essence will always be steadfastly rooted in the Piedmont region.

The art of blending at MARTINI is a skill passed down from master to master for eight generations. It is up to Giuseppe 'Beppe' Musso, the Master Blender, and Ivano Tonutti, Master Herbalist, to continue the legacy of the original Master Blender, Luigi Rossi. Beppe has been part of the MARTINI family since 1994. He selects the wines and supervises the delicate blending process, together with Ivano, who tastes more than 500 botanicals a year to ensure that only the highest quality ingredients are used in the making of MARTINI. Only Beppe and Ivano know the secret recipes, which are closely guarded behind lock and key.

MARTINI's Asti is brought to life by Sparkling Wine Master Blender Livio Prandi. Working with many of the 300 small growers in the Asti region - collectively known as the Conferenti - he continues MARTINI's longstanding and loyal commitment to the region's artisans. The result is a selection of sparkling wines that combine tradition and modernity in a true celebration of the Bianco Moscato grape.

Its location in Piedmont also brings it close to the Asti region, where Martini has used Bianco Moscato grapes to make Asti Spumante since its earliest beginnings. The fine vintage Prosecco is made in Pessione with 100% Glera grapes grown in Veneto. In fact, those subtly balanced golden bubbles are as synonymous with the MARTINI heritage as the perfectly blended vermouth.

The small village of Pessione was carefully chosen to produce MARTINI because of its proximity to the winemakers of Piedmont, the botanically rich foothills of the Alps, the vermouth trade of Turin and the port of Genoa. Located on the Turin-Asti-Genoa train line - between the wine-producing hills of Monferrato and Genoa (the gateway to international markets) - MARTINI travels the world from this small spot. Yet the company has always held firm to its roots and has even developed a community programme to support the people of the village.

Today, visitors from all over the world come back to Pessione to explore the heritage of its most famous export. With the Casa Martini, the Wine Museum and the Mondo Martini Gallery, this small rural spot is a magnet for the world's top bartenders, wine lovers and cocktail enthusiasts.