Marnuthem, lauded as world's best vermouth, to up production by 50%
Significant increase in production due to heightened demand after awards
The best vermouth in the world is made in Bell-lloc d'Urgell, in the western Catalan area of Lleida, as recognized by the World Vermouth Awards.
Producers Marnuthem were awarded in the semi-sweet and semi-dry categories for their Rosat 2024 and Blanc 2023 drinks back in May.
Since then, demand for their drinks has skyrocketed, leading the company to opt for increasing production by 50% next year.
Marc Cuenca and Núria Sánchez are the couple behind the vermouth brand that sells 1,000 bottles a year currently. This will be upped to 1,500 by 2025.
Cuenca pointed out that Manuthem's distinguishing feature is that it is a vermouth that "respects wine" and that is why his advice when drinking it is not to put ice in it and to drink it chilled from the fridge.
The Marnuthem brand was born in 2018 as a result of a trip taken by him and his partner, Núria Sánchez, which opened up the world of wine for them,
"We fell madly in love with this world," Cuenca remarks, who adds that due to "circumstances," after a few months, they started making vermouth at their home in Bell-lloc d'Urgell.
The goal was not to make a vermouth to sell but to drink at home, and share it with family and friends.
Friends commented on the high quality of the product they were making, and they saw they had a very different vermouth from the rest of the market, with the peculiarity that it aims to respect wine as much as possible. Excited by the reception of friends and family, the pair decided to launch it onto the market in 2021.
Last year at the World Vermouth Awards their brand received the gold award in the highest category for semi-dry and semi-sweet vermouths.
Marnuthem vermouth has become a premium product available only to a few, as production is very limited, despite plans to increase their output.
Marnuthem is made with grapes from the DO Costers del Segre. The rosé vermouth comes from Carviresa vineyards located in Tàrrega, and the Macabeu from Torres de Sanui, in Lleida.