Pianora Erborista Vermouth

Pianora Erborista Vermouth is made from certified organic Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown on the steep terraced slopes of Montorfano, a hill of tectonic origin at the southern edge of Franciacorta in northern Italy. Unlike virtually every other red vermouth on the market, it contains no added alcohol, no food coloring, no burnt sugar or caramel — that deep carmine red comes entirely from the grape skins, not the caramelized sugar syrup that defines most commercial vermouths. This is Formula XII, a deliberate outlier in a category that has standardized around shortcuts. Azienda Agricola Pianora is a small winegrowing estate in Coccaglio that farms its Montorfano vineyard organically and produces this vermouth through slow infusions rather than industrial extraction. The base wine is enriched with elderflower, aromatic sweet flag, three types of wormwood, the barks of Citrine Sandalwood, and China calissaia quinine. Two of the three wormwood varieties are sourced directly from the Montorfano slopes, embedding the vermouth in its immediate terroir. Sweetness is restrained and comes from native plants — elderberry flowers and linden leaves — rather than added sugar, so the final liquid reads as wine first, botanical second. On the nose, elderflower and sweet flag lead, followed by dried-fruit aromatics reminiscent of tawny Port. The wormwood and quinine bark deliver a subtle, persistent bitterness that builds across the palate and lingers well after the glass is empty. Sweetness is integrated rather than cloying, making this closer to a meditation vermouth than a conventional aperitif. Serve it over ice with an orange twist, or pour it straight in a small glass alongside aged cheese, dark chocolate, or roasted walnuts. It works in a low-intervention Negroni or Manhattan, though it's compelling enough to drink on its own after dinner. Pianora Erborista Vermouth is available for pickup at Off Premise in Lincoln Park, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping from our bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave.