BICERIN, VERMOUTH AND APERITIVO
Vermouth is deeply connected with Turin’s aperitivo history and its social rituals.
An aromatised wine that became a symbol
Vermouth di Torino emerged in the late eighteenth century in the world of the Savoy court and Turin’s liqueur makers. Wine, botanicals and spices created a product that would become one of the city’s international signatures.
Aperitivo as ritual
Vermouth makes full sense within the aperitivo ritual. Drinking before a meal, accompanied by small savoury bites, turns a beverage into a social practice built around meeting, time and conversation.
From shop counter to cocktail glass
Vermouth di Torino is still enjoyed neat, but it is also fundamental to mixed drinks. This dual identity — local tradition and international cocktail language — explains the lasting strength of Turin’s aperitivo culture.
Keep aperitivo simple
Vermouth is one of Turin’s strongest gastronomic symbols, but it does not need to become a lecture. A well-served glass, a few savoury bites and enough time to sit down are enough to understand the ritual.
Where it makes most sense
Historic cafés, wine bars and cocktail bars in the centre are the natural places to try it. If possible, choose somewhere that serves vermouth neat as well as in cocktails, or where staff can explain what you are drinking.
