Contents
Gancha Americano is an Italian 14.5% ABV vermouth based on white wine produced since 1926. The composition also includes sweet oranges, bitter oranges, cinnamon, sandalwood, cloves, nutmeg, cinchona bark. Most often served as an aperitif (alcohol before the main meal) to improve appetite.
Interestingly, the name of the drink has nothing to do with America. Amer is translated from Italian as “bitter”, the manufacturer wanted to show that in terms of its characteristics Gancia Americano is closer to bitters (bitter herbal liqueurs) than to vermouths.
Features
Aperitif Gancha Americano has a pronounced herbal aroma, in which notes of cinchona, gentian, cherry, raspberry, grapefruit, vanilla pie are clearly felt. The taste is bittersweet, spicy, with notes of citrus peel, red fruits and berries, honey.
The drink belongs to the category of vermouths, it is sweeter than Campari bitters and drier than Aperol aperitif. The unique highlight of the brand is the balance between honey sweetness, herbal spice and cinchona bitterness.
Aperitif and vermouth are not synonyms, although they often refer to the same drink. Vermouth – wine-based alcohol with the addition of herbs and sugar, aperitif – any alcohol that causes appetite.
variations
Gancia Americanissimo is a bottle of very aged Gancha Americano vermouth, produced in 1970. For almost 50 years, the strength of the drink has grown to 16.5%, the price has increased by more than 6 times (102 euros against 16 for an unaged counterpart).
Gancia Aperitivo Oro – “gold” edition of the 1960s.
Other types of vermouth Hancha
Gancia Rosso – 16% pink vermouth. Contains red berries and spices. The drink has a long, slightly bitter aftertaste. There is an aged variation from the 1970s.
Gancia Bianco is a 16% white vermouth with a powerful vanilla profile. Contains anise, lavender, pomegranate, apples, pears. There is an aged variation from the 1970s.
Gancia Extra Dry – 18%, rich grape aroma, fresh citrus tones, dry finish.
Manufacturer
Vermouth Gancha Americano is produced by Fratelli Gancia & C. Spa. Founded in 1850, the company was named after its first owner, Carlo Gancia. The brand is famous for its sparkling wine and claims to be the winery that gave the world the first bianco vermouth. Now the production is in the hands of the fifth generation of the Ganca family, and the product line has been replenished with aperitifs.
History
Carlo Gancia, the founder of the company, was born in 1829 in Italy, studied in France, where he adopted the technology of champagne production. Returning to his homeland, the winemaker adapted his knowledge to work with Muscat grapes and in 1865 created Italian sparkling wine.
In 1847, Signor Gancia joined the partners (and then directors) of the company Dettori & C., in which he worked on new flavors of vermouth. For the base, he took young Muscat wine, enriching it with essences of aromatic herbs. In 1927, a branch of the Gancia company opened in Marseille, specializing in the promotion of Bianco and Americano vermouths. Both drinks became very popular, and the production celebrated the centennial anniversary with the launch of a new brand – Gancia Rosso.
Technology of preparation
The manufacturer does not disclose the secret of the drink, stating only that the traditional recipe of 1890 is used in the manufacture of vermouth, and citruses and herbs are included in the composition.
Wine is taken as the basis – as neutral as possible, without a rich bouquet and palette of flavors, to which 30-degree tinctures and herbal essences, sugar are added. The finished drink is filtered and infused for some time in stainless steel containers.
How to drink Gancha Americano
According to the manufacturer’s idea, Gancha Americano is an aperitif, respectively, it is served before a hearty lunch or dinner, chilled to a temperature of +6-8 °C. You can add an ice cube to the glass to emphasize the freshness and aroma of the drink, it is also mixed with soda, fruit juices, sparkling wine.
Gancha Americano is used in cocktails as an analogue of Campari or any other vermouth or bitter, but there is also a recipe designed specifically for this drink: mix equal parts Gancha Americano, Gancha Rosso and sparkling water in an ice-filled shaker, serve in a highball glass with a slice of fresh orange .