Montanaro, Barolo Chinato Vermouth

FRIARWOOD SAYS
"Whether enjoyed neat at room temperature or over ice, this Barolo Chinato is a true after-dinner indulgence—especially alongside dark chocolate pralines or aged Pecorino. For cocktail lovers, it offers a brilliant twist: swap out your sweet vermouth and use Chinato in a Manhattan, Negroni, or Rob Roy for a richer, spiced complexity that sets your serve apart."

ABOUT THE CHINATO
Montanaro’s Barolo Chinato is crafted with precision and heritage, following the original 19th-century recipe created by Dr Montanaro himself. The distillery’s roots go back to Francesco Trussoni of Gallo d’Alba, inventor of Grappa di Barolo—the first single-varietal grappa. Passed through generations, and now under the guidance of local Piedmontese custodians, Montanaro remains one of Italy’s most respected producers of artisanal vermouths and regional spirits.

This exceptional Chinato blends the structure of Barolo DOCG wine with around 30 botanicals, including cinchona bark, prized for its medicinal history. Once consumed for its therapeutic benefits, today it’s recognised as one of the most elegant and distinctive aromatized wines in Italy.

TASTING NOTES
Silky, deep, and unmistakably Barolo in origin, this Chinato layers black cherry and violet with warming spices and bittersweet herbal complexity. Expect notes of quinine, rhubarb, cinnamon, orange peel, cloves, and gentian. The finish is intense, lingering, and beautifully balanced—equally suited to sipping solo as a digestif or elevating your favourite cocktails.