Martini & Rossi

Martini & Rossi
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Alcoholic beverages
Founded	Turin, Italy (1863)
Headquarters	Pessione, Chieri, Turin, Italy
Key people	Alessandro Martini; Luigi Rossi; Teofilo Sola; Dante Martini
Products	Vermouth and sparkling wine
Parent	Bacardi Limited
Website	martini.com

44°57′55″N 7°42′02″E / 44.9653667°N 7.7004665°E / 44.9653667; 7.7004665

Martini & Rossi is an Italian multinational alcoholic beverage company primarily associated with the Martini brand of vermouth and also with sparkling wine (for example, Asti). It also produces the French vermouth, Noilly Prat.

History

Historical bottles from Martini & Rossi

The company started in the mid-19th century, as a vermouth bottling plant in Pessione – the Distilleria Nazionale di Spirito di Vino. Three men came to dominate the company, businessman Alessandro Martini, winemaker Luigi Rossi and accountant Teofilo Sola.^[1] In 1863, they changed the name to Martini, Sola & Cia. The Sola family sold out in 1879, and the company became known as Martini & Rossi.^[2]

1892 – The business is taken over by Rossi's four sons.
1929 – The Martini Ball & Bar logo is registered for the first time.
1930 – Rossi's grandsons take over control of the company.^[3]
1977 – The company is restructured with the creation of the General Beverage Corporation.
1993 – Martini & Rossi merge with Bacardi.

Motor racing

The company has been involved in motor racing sponsorship under the Martini Racing banner since 1968,^[4] and was a minor sponsor of Scuderia Ferrari until 2008. From 2014 to 2018 Martini was the title sponsor of Williams F1, with the team officially called "Williams Martini Racing", and the car in the traditional Martini racing colors.^{[citation needed]}

Noilly Prat is the company's French brand of vermouth.

Brands

Vermouth

Vermouth is made from wine with added sugar, alcohol and botanicals (herbs and spices).

Martini Rosso – 1863
Martini Bianco – 1910
Martini Extra Dry – launched on New Year's Day, 1900.^[5]
Martini Rosato
Martini D'Oro – 1998
Martini Fiero
Martini Gold
Martini Royale
Martini Bitter
Noilly Prat, a French vermouth owned by the company

Sparkling wine

Their sparkling wines are all from northern Italy, and are sold under the Martini & Rossi brand:

Martini & Rossi Asti (75cl and blue 25cl bottles) from Piedmont
Martini & Rossi Prosecco (75cl bottles) from Veneto
Martini & Rossi red wine & gin

References

^ "Count Enrico Rossi of Vermouth Firm; Retired Head of Martini & Rossi Succumbs in His Villa in Italy at 66". The New York Times. Vol. 89, no. 29845. 11 October 1939.
^ "The Martini Heritage". Martini. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
^ Stuart, John (25 January 1953). "Rossi, After Study Here, Flies Back to Italy Convinced U.S. Taste Is Shifting to Vermouth". The New York Times. Vol. 102, no. 34700.
^ Blunk, Frank M. (18 January 1967). "New Trophy Is Set Up for Major Auto Races". The New York Times. Vol. 116, no. 39806.
^ "MARTINI Extra Dry". Martini. Retrieved 2008-02-14.

External links

Official website

[1] "Count Enrico Rossi of Vermouth Firm; Retired Head of Martini & Rossi Succumbs in His Villa in Italy at 66". The New York Times. Vol. 89, no. 29845. 11 October 1939.

[2] "The Martini Heritage". Martini. Retrieved 2008-02-14.

[3] Stuart, John (25 January 1953). "Rossi, After Study Here, Flies Back to Italy Convinced U.S. Taste Is Shifting to Vermouth". The New York Times. Vol. 102, no. 34700.

[4] Blunk, Frank M. (18 January 1967). "New Trophy Is Set Up for Major Auto Races". The New York Times. Vol. 116, no. 39806.

[5] "MARTINI Extra Dry". Martini. Retrieved 2008-02-14.

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