Cocchi Americano

An Italian aperitif wine

Cocchi Americano

A bottle of Cocchi Americano Bianco

Cocchi Americano is an Italian aperitif wine produced by the Giulio Cocchi Spumanti company in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is a type of aromatized wine, which means it is a wine that has been flavored with botanicals, including herbs, spices, and fruits.

History

Cocchi Americano was first produced in 1891 by Giulio Cocchi, a pastry chef from Florence who moved to Asti, a town in Piedmont. The drink was created as a vermouth-style aperitif, designed to be enjoyed before meals to stimulate the appetite. Over the years, Cocchi Americano has gained popularity both in Italy and internationally, becoming a staple in many classic and modern cocktails.

Production

Cocchi Americano is made from a base of Moscato d'Asti, a sweet and aromatic white wine. The wine is infused with a blend of botanicals, including gentian, cinchona bark, and bitter orange peel. These ingredients give Cocchi Americano its distinctive bitter-sweet flavor profile. The wine is then fortified with a small amount of alcohol to increase its ABV to around 16.5%.

Varieties

Cocchi Americano is available in two main varieties:

• Cocchi Americano Bianco: The original version, made with white wine and featuring a light, floral, and citrusy flavor.
• Cocchi Americano Rosa: A variation made with red wine and additional botanicals, giving it a pink hue and a more robust, fruity flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Cocchi Americano is traditionally served chilled, either neat or over ice, with a slice of citrus fruit such as lemon or orange. It is also a popular ingredient in cocktails, often used as a substitute for Lillet Blanc in recipes such as the Vesper Martini.

Related pages

• Vermouth
• Aperitif
• Moscato d'Asti
• Cocktail