New York, NY, March 20, 2024 – New from northeast Italy, and just in time for World Vermouth Day on March 21, 9diDANTE Paradiso Rosé vermouth (SRP $35) is now making its U.S. debut. A craft vermouth, with the wine component comprising a blend of 100% Piedmont DOC Cortese and Nebbiolo grapes, Paradiso Rosé joins the fast-growing 9diDANTE Inferno Rosso (SRP $33) and Purgatorio Extra Dry (SRP $35). All three vermouths are imported by California-based The Unfiltered Collection
9diDANTE Paradiso Rosé is expected to make rapid inroads in the U.S., launching simultaneously in 14 East Coast states (CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT) via the Monsieur Touton distribution network. In California, 9diDANTE is poised to launch with Domaine & Estates Artisanal Wines of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Additional states are set to follow in the coming months.
9diDANTE (“Nove di Dante” or “Nine di Dante”) is the brainchild of Alex Ouziel, under the mentorship of master blender and vermouth legend, Mario Baralis. Ouziel, founder of Kaliro Spirits and a Bacardi veteran, believes that vermouth’s comeback is here to stay, with premiumization driven by vermouths that place a premium on the quality of wine in their product. “For too long, wine content has been hidden behind a wall of botanicals. I see wine as the first and last botanical, contributing its own singular aromas and textures, in addition to the herbal, spice and citrus ingredients.”
- 9diDANTE is one of only a handful of producers in the Torino region of northeast Italy to use 100% DOC Piedmontese wines made solely from native grapes — a blend of 88% Cortese grapes (white) and 12% Nebbiolo (red) in the case of 9diDANTE Paradiso Rosé.
- All 9diDANTE vermouths are made with 27 botanicals, each essence extracted individually at the distillery near Alba.
- To be enjoyed straight over ice, as well as in cocktails, 9diDANTE vermouths highlight the bitter notes, have a less obviously sweet profile, and conclude in a fresh, vivacious finish.
The diDANTE name refers to Dante Alighieri, author of La Divina Comedia (1320 CE), a revolutionary work in its day, not least for being published in the Italian vernacular as opposed to Latin. Ouziel draws a parallel with his own decision to use DOC Piedmont wine in the composition of 9diDANTE vermouths, as opposed to basic neutral white wines. The poem narrates Dante’s journey through nine circles of hell and nine stages in purgatory, before making it into paradise. Listed on the back label of each vermouth are nine botanicals, each symbolizing the various stages chronicled in the poem. Each bottle cap includes a quote from the poem, and a different circle is highlighted on different bottles. All these allusions equip bartenders and merchants with a memorable story to tell.
9diDANTE Paradiso Rosé Vermouth di Torino Superiore IGP, SRP: $35/750 ml
The Unfiltered Collection: From Swiss-born Jean Hoefliger, a carefully curated portfolio of high-quality, small production wineries from around the world, each providing an exceptional experience, each a unique expression of its unique terroir, delivering and a raw sense of time and place. We believe that wines resemble their makers, and if you know Jean Hoefliger, you understand the unfiltered nature of this portfolio.
Kaliro Spirits was founded by spirits industry veteran Alex Ouziel in 2019. The 9diDANTE vermouth brand is the company’s first project. Honing his sales and marketing skills in the wine and spirits industries, Ouziel spent seven years at Bacardi, latterly as President, Asia, Middle East & Africa, with a seat on the Global Executive Committee. Kaliro Spirits is dedicated to introducing “craft products that both respect tradition and offer new, adventurous tastes.” The name is an amalgam of the ancient Greek words for beautiful (kalos) and moments (kairos).
Monsieur Touton Selection Ltd. headquartered in Manhattan, New York and a global resource for 4,000+ premium wine and spirits, sourced from over 20 countries. While they work with a distributor
network in 46 states, they also operate direct distribution in 10 states: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, DC/Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida.
