The one and only comprehensive tasting guide to Sweet White (Blanc, Bianco, Blanco) Vermouth.
Check the individual regional Sweet White Vermouth guides for more detailed information on regional styles and recommended bottles:
If you're new to the world of vermouth, check out my Introduction to Vermouth post to learn some basics, introduce yourself to some of the terminology used, and get a general overview of how these guides are structured (and why). Then join me back here to get into the details!
Alessio Bianco
Origin: Italy
Producer: Tempus Fugit
ABV: 18%
Wine Base: Muscato, Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc
Known Botanicals: at least 15, grand and petite wormwood
Sugar: N/A
Nose: pear, bubblegum, lemon, pine, gingerbread, almond
Palate: bitter orange, honeysuckle, stone fruit, vanilla, marjoram, licorice, wormwood
Finish: wormwood, vanilla, cinnamon, marjoram, pear, grapefruit
Additional Notes: Very pale golden appearance, light body. Wonderfully balanced.
Atxa Blanco
Origin: Spain
Producer: Destilerias Acha, Distributed by De Maison Selections
ABV: 15%
Wine Grapes: Airen
Known Botanicals: at least 5, wormwood, gentian, bitter orange
Sugar: N/A
Nose: fig, raisin, marzipan, millet, vanilla, clove, gentian
Palate: vanilla, bark, cinnamon, clove, orange, poached pear, raisin, date
Finish: wormwood, vanilla, toffee, caramel, orange, cassis, currant
Additional Notes: Pale amber color. Light body. Very confectionary. The bitter notes play on the sugar in a way that almost emulates crème brûlée. This lands somewhere between dry vermouth and a light cream sherry.
Berto Aperitiv dla Tradission
Origin: Italy
Producer: Carlo Quaglia, distributed by Kermit Lynch
ABV: 17%
Wine Base: Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc, Cortese, Arneis
Known Botanicals: at least 16, wormwood, bitter orange, gentian, cardamom, vanilla, coriander, mint, mace, hops, thyme, marjoram, lemon, cinnamon, clove, rhubarb, angelica
Sugar: 140 g/l
Nose: vanilla, cinnamon, raisin, gentian, lemon, marzipan, marjoram, fennel, straw
Palate: grapefruit, cinnamon, wormwood, gentian, mint, eucalyptus, orange, lemon
Finish: cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, lemon, wormwood, orange, clove
Additional Notes: Pale amber appearance.
Bordiga Bianco
Origin: Italy
Producer: Bordiga, distributed by Oliver McCrum Wines
ABV: 18%
Wine Base: Moscato
Known Botanicals: at least 35, wormwood, gentian root, gentian flower, nutmeg, coriander, fennel seed, juniper, cinchona, marjoram, lime, mint, cardamom, orange peel, pepper, vanilla, genzianella flower, sage
Sugar: 190 g/l
Nose: lime, sage, juniper, cinnamon, fennel, coriander, grapefruit, black pepper
Palate: fennel, gentian, chamomile, honey, dark chocolate, toffee, bread
Finish: vanilla, cinnamon, clove, orange, chamomile, nutmeg
Additional Notes: Straw yellow color. Light and oily body. Warming confectionary notes perfectly balanced with bitter citrus.
Brovo Pretty Blanc Floral
Origin: USA
Producer: Brovo Spirits
ABV: 19.9%
Wine Base: Pinot Gris
Known Botanicals: at least 7, vanilla bean, cardamom, elderflower, chamomile, lemon peel, comfrey, angelica
Sugar: 80 g/l
Nose: green cardamom, elderflower, ginger, lemon, line, clove, Mandarin orange, pear
Palate: green cardamom, elderflower, vanilla, mandarin orange, lemon, mugwort, hay, ginger, allspice
Finish: green cardamom, elderflower, clove, mandarin orange, lemon, lime, vanilla, hay
Additional Notes: Golden orange-tinted straw color. Medium-light body. Unfiltered which results in a slightly cloudy appearance. Sweetened with agave nectar. By EU classification, its sugar content would place it in the Semi-Dry category. The botanicals are macerated in both the wine base and the fortifying neutral spirit. Very floral and confectionary with a pleasant bitterness. Full of green cardamom, elderflower, and Mandarin orange from nose to finish. Looks like I picked up an older bottle as the new bottlings have updated labeling and have replaced "floral" with "blanc."
C. Comoz Blanc
Origin: France
Producer: Dolin, distributed by Haus Alpenz
ABV:16%
Wine Base: N/A
Known Botanicals: wormwood
Sugar: N/A
Nose: oregano, juniper, nectarine, lemon oil, tarragon
Palate: vanilla, black cherry, cinnamon, wormwood, orange, cinchona
Finish: wormwood, vanilla, sarsaparilla, faint straw, black cherry, cinnamon
Additional Notes: Very light gold color. C. Comoz Blanc is a lighter, less sweet style of white vermouth. Light/med body, nice round mouthfeel. Warm and confectionary. Surprisingly bitter for a blanc vermouth. Credited with being the first crystal clear vermouth, though not the first white/blanc. This was the original vermouth used in the El Presidente. Shuttered in 1981, but has since been revived by Dolin and reintroduced back into the market.
Carpano Bianco
Origin: Italy
Producer: Carpano
ABV: 14.9%
Wine Base: Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc, Chardonnay, Cortese
Known Botanicals: at least 12, wormwood, thyme, fennel, coriander, ginger, clove, chamomile, hyssop
Sugar: 178 g/l
Nose: gentian, honey, moss, lemon oil, anise, coriander, eucalyptus
Palate: honey, lemon, pine, grapefruit, cinnamon, vanilla, orange, sweet cream
Finish: mineralic, grapefruit, lemon, cherry, gentian, honey, late anise
Additional Notes: Light straw color. Reminiscent of a bitter orange creamsicle.
Cinzano Bianco
Origin: Italy
Producer: Cinzano, distributed by Campari Group
ABV: 15%
Wine Base: Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc
Known Botanicals: at least 4, wormwood, clove, cinnamon, gentian
Sugar: N/A
Nose: cinnamon, apple cider, sea salt, marjoram, thyme
Palate: ripe stone fruit, honey, clove, cinnamon, lemon, vanilla
Finish: gentian, grapefruit, cinnamon, clove, vanilla
Additional Notes: Light straw yellow. Medium/light body. Pleasantly bitter and confectionary, big on dry baking spice notes.
Contratto Bianco
Origin: Italy
Producer: Contratto
ABV: 18%
Wine Base: Cortese, Chardonnay
Known Botanicals: at least 50, wormwood, hawthorn leaves & flowers, coriander, marjoram, bay laurel, chamomile, yellow sweet clover, aloe juice, cinnamon, mint, ginger, angelica root, cardamom, nutmeg, bitter orange peel, gentian, nettle, sweet orange peel, carob tree pods, pimento seeds, felon herb, rhubarb root, hibiscus, sage, cinchona bark, lemon peel, bergamot orange peel, licorice root, sandalwood
Sugar: 190 g/l
Nose: sage, marjoram, lemon, licorice, sea salt, cumin, coriander, curry leaf, gentian
Palate: gentian, wormwood, sea salt, lemon, sage, fennel, vanilla, orange, cinnamon
Finish: wormwood, rhubarb, orange, cinnamon, chamomile, sea salt, cinchona
Additional Notes: Light golden color. Medium body. Bitter through and through. Dense salinity and candied grapefruit notes.
Del Professore Bianco
Origin: Italy
Producer: Del Professore
ABV: 18%
Wine Base: Muscato
Known Botanicals: at least 15, wormwood
Sugar: N/A
Nose: licorice, straw, mahogany, tea, vanilla, clove, tarragon
Palate: ginger, orange, cinnamon, vanilla, rosemary, charcoal, smoked wood
Finish: cinchona, gentian, clove, cranberry, rosemary, anise
Additional Notes: Rich golden color. Oily body. Smoky, bitter herbal notes concede to the confectionary notes when diluted.
Dolin Blanc
Origin: France
Producer: Dolin, distributed by Haus Alpenz
ABV: 16%
Wine Base: Ugni Blanc/Trebbiano
Known Botanicals: 33 total, wormwood, gentian, hibiscus, basil, cinnamon
Sugar: 130 g/l
Nose: bark, menthol, sea salt, pine, banana, vanilla, thyme
Palate: vanilla, white grape, pear, pineapple, lemon, elderflower, oregano, cinnamon
Finish: elderflower, vanilla, pear, cinnamon, lemon
Additional Notes: Pale yellow/green tinge. Light body. Floral with notes of tropical fruit and plenty of vanilla through and through.
El Bandarra Blanco
Origin: Spain
Producer: El Bandarra
ABV: 15%
Wine Base: 50% Garnacha Blanca, 50% Xarello
Known Botanicals: at least 40, including wormwood
Sugar: N/A
Nose: vanilla, mint, cinchona, orange, papaya, lemon, almond, strawberry
Palate: vanilla, wormwood, toasted marshmallow, orange, cinchona, thyme, juniper, candied almonds
Finish: vanilla, wormwood, toasted marshmallow, orange, coffee, cinnamon, ginger, cinchona
Additional Notes: Light straw yellow color. Medium-bodied with a slightly oily texture. Perfectly balanced between the confectionary and bitter. Vanilla and orange dominate the palate. Dilution brings out lots of cream soda notes. More of a ginger heat rather than the expected cinnamon. An absolute delight to sip on its own or in cocktails.
La Quintinye Blanc Vermouth Royal
Origin: France
Producer: La Quintinye
ABV: 16%
Wine Base: Ungi Blanc/Trebbiano
Known Botanicals: 18 total, wormwood, vine flower, angelica root, iris root, cardamom, cinnamon, bitter orange, nutmeg, ginger, cinchona, licorice, quassia amara
Sugar: N/A
Nose: lavender, orange zest, rosemary, grape, vanilla, licorice, eucalyptus, pine
Palate: green cardamom, cinnamon, lemon, ripe apple, clove, gentian, orange
Finish: lemon, licorice, green cardamom, cinnamon, chamomile
Additional Notes: Pale gold color. Light body. Bitter, bright, and citrusy. Fortified and sweetened with Pineau des Charentes.
Lacuesta Blanco
Origin: Spain
Producer: Bodegas Martinez Lacuesta
ABV: 15%
Wine Grapes: N/A
Known Botanicals: at least 20, wormwood
Sugar: 104.5 g/l
Nose: cinnamon, raisin, orange, chamomile, vanilla, clove, pear, cognac, straw
Palate: cinnamon, raisin, honey, chamomile, lemon, vanilla, cinchona, ginger, licorice
Finish: cinnamon, raisin, honey, apple, vanilla, sea salt, wormwood
Additional Notes: Pale orange/deep straw yellow. A cinnamon/raisin bomb. Nice full body despite the low sugar content which technically places it in the semi-sweet category rather than sweet.
Lustau Blanco
Origin: Spain
Producer: Lustau
ABV: 15%
Wine Base: Palomino, Moscatel
Known Botanicals: 9 total, wormwood, chamomile, gentian, marjoram, orange peel, rosemary
Sugar: 144 g/l
Nose: mineralic, sage, sea salt, bark, oregano, raspberry, cinchona
Palate: hazelnut, blackberry, orange, spearmint, sea salt, nutmeg, lemon, vanilla
Finish: hazelnut, nutmeg, wormwood, vanilla, sea salt, blackberry
Additional Notes: Light straw yellow color. A blend of Fino sherry and Moscatel wine. Medium body. Bitter and nutty.
Lustau Rose
Origin: Spain
Producer: Lustau
ABV: 15%
Wine Base: Palomino, Moscatel, Tintilla de Rota
Known Botanicals: at least 5, wormwood, cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla, chamomile
Sugar: 145.5 g/l
Nose: vanilla, thyme, oregano, cedar, sea salt, fig, raisin
Palate: vanilla, orange, strawberry, rose geranium, green cardamom, marzipan, cream, grapefruit
Finish: oregano, marjoram, vanilla, orange, strawberry, cream, rose geranium
Additional Notes: Rose-gold appearance. Vanilla through and through. Reminiscent of an orange creamsicle. A little dilution really helps bring the bitter notes out.
Mancino Bianco Ambrato
Origin: Italy
Producer: Mancino
ABV: 16%
Wine Base: Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc
Known Botanicals: 37 total, wormwood, angelica, chamomile, elderflower, gentian, cinchona, mint, ginger, cardamom, licorice, sweet orange peel, pink grapefruit peel
Sugar: N/A
Nose: angelica, chamomile, elderflower, mint
Palate: sweet orange, ginger, pink grapefruit peel, aloe, chamomile
Finish: quinine, cardamom, licorice
Additional Notes: Golden-amber color. Sweet without the bitter backbone found in other Mancino vermouths.
Mancino Sakura (2018)
Origin: Italy
Producer: Mancino
ABV: 18%
Wine Base: Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc
Known Botanicals: 20 total, wormwood, cherry blossom petals, violet petals
Sugar: N/A
Nose: orange, vanilla, cinnamon, lychee, pineapple, elderflower, papaya, honeysuckle
Palate: cherry blossom, rose, lavender, gentian, grapefruit, lemon oil, raspberry
Finish: wormwood, lemon, vanilla, cherry blossom
Additional Notes: Light rose color. Limited release originally for the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Tokyo.
Martini and Rossi Bianco
Origin: Italy
Producer: Martini & Rossi, distributed by Bacardi Limited
ABV: 15%
Wine Base: Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc, Catarratto
Known Botanicals: at least 14, two different wormwood varieties, dittany, raspberry, vanilla flowers, rose, violet, chamomile, Spanish lemon peel, bitter orange peel, cascarilla bark, quassia bark, orris root, Ceylon cinnamon
Sugar: 160 g/l
Nose: cumin, oregano, tobacco ash, bay leaf
Palate: vanilla, baked apple, cinnamon, lemon oil, bay leaf
Finish: marshmallow, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon
Additional Notes: Pale yellow tint. A vanilla bomb. Light/medium body.
Martini and Rossi Riserva Speciale Ambrato
Origin: Italy
Producer: Martini & Rossi, distributed by Bacardi Limited
ABV: 18%
Wine Base: Moscato D'Asti
Known Botanicals: at least 18, three different wormwood varieties, red sandalwood, Roman chamomile, Chinese rhubarb, dittany, raspberry, vanilla flowers, rose, violet, Spanish lemon peel, bitter orange peel, cascarilla bark, quassia bark, orris root, Ceylon cinnamon, Ecuadorian yellow cinchona bark
Sugar: 169 g/l
Nose: honey, honeysuckle, black pepper, peach, clove, banana
Palate: woody bitterness, lemon oil, honey, clove, strawberry, black pepper, Chinese rhubarb
Finish: cinnamon, vanilla, grapefruit, nutty, sea salt, black pepper
Additional Notes: Deep amber color (hence “Ambrato”). Vermouth di Torino. Not technically a bianco vermouth as Martini describes it as a new style, but sugar content and color allow it to straddle the line. Rich and complex.
Mata Blanco
Origin: Spain
Producer: Mata, imported by Ole & Obrigado
ABV: 15%
Wine Base: Godello
Known Botanicals: at least 5 including wormwood, bitter orange, sage, thyme, star anise
Sugar: N/A
Nose: tamarind, clove, orange, sea salt, vanilla, worshestershire
Palate: brown sugar, bananas foster, vanilla, cinchona, orange, fig
Finish: cinchona, vanilla, allspice, cacao, orange, strawberry
Additional Notes: Green tinted straw yellow. Medium body. Sweetened with grape must. Fortified with neutral grape distillate. Botanicals are macerated in base wine for 40 days before filtration and fortification.
Maurin Blanc
Origin: France
Producer: Maurin, distributed by Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits
ABV: 17%
Wine Base: N/A
Known Botanicals: N/A, wormwood
Sugar: N/A
Nose: gentian, orange, lemon, clove, cinchona, cinnamon, apple, raisin, juniper, banana
Palate: orange, lemon, cinnamon, clove, hay, apple, cranberry, green cardamom, gentian
Finish: orange, vanilla, clove, mushroom, lemon, cinchona, raisin, straw, fennel
Additional Notes: Rich amber color. Similar to the Maurin Dry, but obviously more robust on account of the higher sugar content. Has the most movement on the palate of any Maurin aromatized wine, making for a particularly interesting expression. Works well in cocktails.
Perucchi Bianco
Origin: Spain
Producer: Perucchi
ABV: 15%
Wine Base: N/A
Known Botanicals: at least 40, wormwood
Sugar: 126 g/l
Nose: clove, cinnamon, honey, orange, jasmine, baked apple, vanilla, gentian
Palate: baked apple, ginger, cinnamon, clove, gentian, cherry, orange, lemon, jasmine, honeysuckle
Finish: ginger, vanilla, orange, clove, allspice
Additional Notes: Light straw color. Claims to be the oldest vermouth producer in Spain. Mild, light body.
Routin Blanc
Origin: France
Producer: Distillerie des Alpes
ABV: 16.9%
Wine Base: Sauvignon, Jacquere
Known Botanicals: 18 total, wormwood, vanilla, thyme, cinnamon, elderflower
Sugar: 110 g/l
Nose: apple, thyme, elderflower, lemon, honey, orange
Palate: lychee, cinnamon, orange peel, chamomile, honey, cinchona, baked apple
Finish: raisin, clove, cinnamon, tarragon, vanilla, orange
Additional Notes: Pale yellow color. Sweet on the palate with a medium/light body. Begs for dilution. Chambery style vermouth. Technically a semi-sweet white vermouth rather than a sweet white vermouth on account of sugar content.
Scarpa Bianco
Origin: Italy
Producer: Scarpa
ABV: 17%
Wine Base: Cortese (70%), Muscato (30%)
Known Botanicals: at least 8, wormwood, angelica seed, bitter orange peel, green cardamom, cinchona bark, Swertia bough, coriander seed, elecampane root
Sugar: 145 g/l
Nose: gentian, poppy, spearmint, grapefruit, eucalyptus, green bell pepper, coriander
Palate: lemon, grapefruit, gentian, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg
Finish: grapefruit, vanilla, cinnamon, cinchona
Additional Notes: Golden color. Vermouth di Torino. Thinner body with a bitter palate that sweetens on the finish.
Vidte Blanco
Origin: Spain
Producer: Vinos de Terruños
ABV: 15%
Wine Base: Muscat
Known Botanicals: wormwood
Sugar: N/A
Nose: white grape, sage, cinnamon, nutmeg, apple, eucalyptus, forest floor
Palate: orange, green apple, pine, grapefruit, lavender, vanilla
Finish: wormwood, cinnamon, pear, grapefruit, orange
Additional Notes: Golden color. Very light body. Bitter, bright, and very acidic.
Notably Missing: Gancia Bianco, Guerin Blanc, Maurin Blanc, Miro Blanc, Montanaro Bianco, and Parini Bianco. Will accept donations of any missing vermouths.
Vermouth Guides
Check the individual regional Vermouth guides for more detailed information on regional styles and recommended bottles:
Dry Vermouth
Sweet White Vermouth
Sweet Red Vermouth
Quinquina and Americano
Gentian Liqueurs
Please send updates and corrections to brian@corpserevived.com.
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