In the glass lies five years of quiet oak ageing, wrapped in Mediterranean herbs and a whisper of vanilla. This is a family tradition that travelled from the Alps to the sun-drenched vineyards of Valencia.
Expert's Description
Valsangiacomo Vermut Reserva is a Spanish vermouth made from the white Macabeo grape, bottled at 15% ABV and aged for five years in American oak barrels. The vermouth comes from the wine house Cherubino Valsangiacomo, whose story began in 1831 in the small Swiss town of Chiasso, where Vittore Valsangiacomo founded a winery bearing his own name. The family later moved its winemaking to Spain, and today the business is run from Chiva near Valencia by the fifth generation of the Valsangiacomo family.
The vermouth recipe itself dates back to 1904 and follows Benedetto Valsangiacomo's traditional formula, originally sold under the name Vermouth Vittore in honour of the founder. In 2016 the fifth generation chose to honour the family's 185-year winemaking history by giving the vermouth the family's own surname: Vermut Valsangiacomo Reserva. The base wine is infused with 24 botanicals of Mediterranean and Alpine origin, including gentian, wormwood, coriander, savory, sage, marjoram, chamomile, elderflower and orange peel, before the vermouth rests for five years in an American oak barrel.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Floral, balsamic aromas meet a soft sweetness of vanilla from the oak.
Palate
Full-bodied and expressive, with herbs unfolding alongside a gentle bitterness and warmth from the oak.
Finish
Long and dry, with a touch of dried herbs and caramelised vanilla.
Specifications
Distillery: Cherubino Valsangiacomo
Region/Country: Valencia, Spain
Type: Vermouth
ABV: 15%
Size: 75 CL
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled over ice, ideally with a slice of orange.
Flavour Profile
Balsamic, Vanilla-forward, Herb-complex, Spanish, Oak-aged
Did You Know?
The Valsangiacomo family's winemaking story didn't start in Spain at all - it began in the small Swiss border town of Chiasso, where Vittore Valsangiacomo founded the family's first winery in 1831, more than 50 years before the family settled in Valencia.
