Esquimalt - Sweet Rosso Vermouth

Victoria-made vermouth that earns its place at the table before the meal, not after. The residual sweetness and bitter herbal backbone make it the right pour over ice alongside charcuterie or sharp cheese, where the bitterness cuts fat and the sweetness ties everything together.

Esquimalt Wine Co. is a small, independent producer based in Esquimalt, BC, focused on crafting vermouths and aromatized wines using a base of British Columbia wine.

Their Sweet Rosso Vermouth is made in the traditional Italian style, fortified and infused with a proprietary blend of botanicals that includes local and foraged herbs alongside more classic vermouth ingredients.

What sets this bottle apart is its regional identity: the wine base is sourced from BC grapes, and the botanical selection reflects a Pacific Northwest sensibility rather than a straightforward imitation of European benchmarks.

At 500ml, it is sized for regular use without waste, which suits vermouth well given that an open bottle benefits from being consumed within a few weeks. Customers will find it most useful as the sweet vermouth component in a Negroni or Manhattan, though it holds up equally well poured over ice with a twist of orange.

For a bottle shop in Kitsilano with a clientele that values local craft production and cocktail-forward buying habits, this vermouth offers a genuinely compelling local alternative to imported standards like Carpano Antica or Martini Rosso.

It supports a BC producer doing specific, intentional work in an underrepresented domestic category.