Today we’re going off-piste briefly to showcase a style of wine that spent a long time in the wilderness before its recent return to fashionability: vermouth. This fortified and “aromatized” wine, infused with various fruits and botanicals, was first a medicinal tonic, then had its heyday as the cool apéritif on those colorful art posters, then became more of an ingredient than a main event—and, for a long time, the only options were a few mass-produced brands, which gathered dust on backbars as they were drained, a half-ounce or so at a time, in the service of Martinis or Manhattans. But, as you may know, vermouth is cool again.
If you go to Spain, there are entire bars, called vermuterías, devoted to the stuff. Apéritif culture is very much a thing all over the world, and we’re lucky to have some very talented winemakers applying their skills to vermouth production, as in the case of Mommenpop—a newish label created by Napa Valley winemaker Samantha Sheehan (Poe; Ultraviolet); Chef Mike Emanuel of Berkeley, CA’s Chez Panisse; and label designer Michael McDermott, who has created the identities of iconic brands such as Favia and Matthiasson. Theirs are all-natural alternatives to the many overly sweet, artificially colored mass-market brands, and today’s three-pack introduces you to the whole Mommenpop lineup in one shot. If your home bar could use an upgrade, this is a great place to start: There are several dozen stylish, easy-to-make cocktails to be had here for just $99, so grab one of these custom 3-Packs before they disappear!