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Martini is a premium Italian sparkling wine. The brand is owned by the multinational company Martini & Rossi, a world-famous vermouth producer. The company produces dry and sweet wines using traditional technologies of Piedmont. Asti Martini is considered the best-selling wine of this category in the world. The company considers the USA, Great Britain and Russia to be its target markets.
Historical information
The history of the brand began in 1847 with the opening of a small factory for the production of vermouth in the city of Pession in northern Italy. The company was named Distilleria Nazionale di Spirito di Vino. The products were in steady demand, but did not stand out from other manufacturers. The situation changed radically when Alessandro Martini became the manager of the company. The ambitious businessman managed to quickly bring the company to a leading position in the sale of alcoholic beverages in his homeland.
With the arrival of Luigi Rossi in the business, a new round of the company’s development began. The young winemaker was a great connoisseur of medicinal plants and was fond of making various herbal tinctures. It was to his experiments that the company owes the appearance of Martini vermouth, which glorified the company far beyond the borders of Italy. After the departure of the old owners from business, the businessmen became the owners of the company, which later became known as Martini & Rossi. By the beginning of the 70th century, vermouth was already exported to XNUMX countries of the world.
Asti sparkling wine was created in 1870 by a native of Piedmont, Karl Gancha. The winemaker comprehended the secrets of making champagne in France and, returning home from school, set out to create a drink using his own technology. He fundamentally abandoned secondary fermentation in bottles and took as a basis the Moscato Bianco grape variety, which the French did not use to make champagne. The sparkling drink matured in autoclaves and was distinguished by a delicate and sweet taste with many subtle shades.
The owners of Martini & Rossi could not stay away from the new technology, and in 1901 the first batch of Asti Martini sparkling wine was released. For a long time, production was limited to small batches for the domestic market. Everything changed after World War II. British and American soldiers really liked the unusual taste of the drink, and soon the company began shipping its products to the United States and Great Britain. In 1993, the company merged with Bacardi, a well-known rum producer.
Production features
The Moscato Bianco grape cultivation area is Piedmont, 85% of all plantings are located in the region. The vines are planted in the foothills of the Alps at an altitude of 200-500 m above sea level. Muscat berries are smaller than usual, and floral and spicy tones are pronounced in the taste. Harvested in early September, when the grapes reach their maturity.
The resulting raw material is placed under a press and the juice is squeezed out. Primary fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats at low air temperature. During fermentation, sugars turn into alcohol and the strength of the future wine is 5%. Yeast is then added to the wort and placed in tanks for secondary fermentation. The temperature is raised to 20 °C. Fermentation is interrupted when the strength of the wine reaches 7,5-9%. The finished drink is filtered and bottled.
According to EU standards, Asti Martini sparkling wine is classified as sweet. Since 1993, the brand has been assigned the DOCG category, which is given to wines with guaranteed origin and produced according to a specific method. Every year, the manufacturer produces about 80 million bottles of the drink.
Interesting Facts
- The area of Piedmontese vineyards is 9,6 hectares. The special taste of berries is due to limestone soils and continental climate. The region has cold winters and moderately hot summers. Soil in mountainous areas retains water well, cools the roots and slows down the maturation of Moscato Bianco. All vines are planted on the slopes, grapes from the valley are not used in production.
- Since 1958, the company has been sponsoring a team of racing drivers, which acts under the general name Martini Racing. The name of the company is written on the cars, and the body is painted in the colors of the brand. The team included several Formula 1 pilots. The team’s athletes won six high-profile victories in the Lancia Delta Integrale car.
Types of Champagne Martini
Asti Martini, 7,5%
Premium sparkling wine is the most popular drink among buyers. Pale yellow champagne with a dense texture is distinguished by a delicate floral aroma with hints of ripe peaches. The flavor range combines shades of pear, pineapple and wild sage. The manufacturer recommends drinking sparkling wine alone with ice cubes or serving with pastries and fruit cocktails. Pour into pre-chilled glasses.
Martini Rose, 9,5%
To white Muscat, the manufacturer adds Ancilotta grapes, due to which the wine acquires a soft pink color. The product was created with the participation of the world famous sommelier Enrique Bernardo. Champagne is distinguished by noble sourness with a slight hint of citrus zest. Makes a gastronomic party with mussels, squid and cold salmon.
Martini Brut, 11,5%
Champagne with a delicate complex taste is made on the basis of three grape varieties. The manufacturer keeps the details of the recipe a secret. The taste of wine – fresh and very dry, at the finish there are pronounced almond notes. The drink is ideally combined with spicy fish snacks.
Martini Prosecco, 11,5%
Dry champagne with a refreshing taste of green apples and hints of thyme on the finish. The grape varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are used in production, giving the wine a pleasant sourness. Suitable for meat and fried fish. Based on Prosecco, they make up the popular Martini Royale cocktail with the addition of vermouth and lime juice.
Martini Riesling, 11,5%
Riesling grapes for wine production are grown on a small plantation in Lombardy. The strength of the drink is almost not felt. Champagne with a pronounced taste of white grapes and light nutty hints at the finish. Serve chilled with spicy and aged cheeses.
