The world's first vintage off-dry vermouth made from semillon

Margan Family Wines has released what it believes is the world’s first vintage off-dry vermouth made from semillon grapes. 

Margan Vermouth is a collaboration between winemaking father Andrew Margan and barman son Ollie Margan. 

The duo decided that the perfect vermouth could be made from the semillon grape blended with aromatic home-grown herbs and spices - and the perfect Negroni was a step closer. 

The duo believes the answer to an interesting Negroni is a drier-style vermouth and a less-aromatic gin. 

"It has been made from a base of semillon grown on our own vineyards and added to spirit that was distilled from the same base wine," says Andrew Margan. "Of the 22 herbs and spices used, to provide the aromatics, the majority of fresh ingredients were sourced from our gardens."

The new drink was released simultaneously with Margan Family Wines celebrating its 20th birthday in the Hunter Valley. 

Andrew Margan is the son of the late Australian food and wine pioneer Frank Margan, and decided to forge a new path with his son. 

“It’s been a really enjoyable process putting this together and we are really happy with the result,” says Ollie. “Vermouth is starting to regain significant momentum in the international bar scene and there is no reason, given our access to unique botanicals and flavours, that Australia shouldn’t be leading the charge. What we have come up with stands alone in the category, which is a really exciting prospect.”

Margan Vermouth is made from the ground up using over  20 aromatic elements including orange peel, star anise and bergamot, the majority of which are sourced from the Margan Restaurant kitchen garden. 

The Margan Vermouth is available from the Margan Cellar Door for $50 online at www.margan.com.au.