White Vermouth

White Vermouth by Helmut Wermut with Orange Blossom and Lavender

White Vermouth by Helmut Wermut is a light wine aperitif from Hamburg, based on a Palatinate cuvée of Riesling and Müller-Thurgau. Twenty-five herbs, fruits, and blossoms give it the mild sweetness of orange blossom, along with lavender and fresh meadow herbs.

White Vermouth is the light and floral one among the three vermouths that Markus Weiß has been producing in Hamburg under the name Helmut Wermut since 2017. The foundation is not a neutral industrial wine, but a specially blended cuvée from the Palatinate. You can taste this in the fine acidity that runs beneath the floral sweetness and keeps the aperitif fresh.

Orange Blossom, Lavender, and Fresh Meadow Herbs

Floral, mild, and fresh—that is how the white one can be summed up in three words, making it the most approachable of the three Helmut Vermouths.

Vermouth is called "Wermut" in German because it contains wormwood, a silvery-gray aster with plenty of bitter compounds. In this light cuvée, this herb remains pleasantly in the background. Up front are orange blossom, lavender, and meadow herbs, while a fine thread of bitterness runs through the glass underneath. This creates an aperitif that is bitter enough to whet the appetite, and mild enough for anyone who has previously only known vermouth from a martini.

Sweet at first, tart second, lingering third—it is precisely this sequence that makes it a glass for both beginners and connoisseurs.

Neat for your first taste, with tonic for a long evening

When you pour the white one for the first time, leave out the ice, as it otherwise masks the delicate floral notes.

After that, it is served classically in a glass with two ice cubes and a thin lemon zest, just as you would get it in the tapas bars of Barcelona before a meal. If you prefer a longer drink, pour ten centiliters with the same amount of tonic water and add the zest.

The white one also cuts a fine figure in a spritz with sparkling wine and soda water, as its floral notes stand up well to the carbonation. It likes salty accompaniments anyway, so serve with olives, almonds, and a plate of aperitif snacks. Once opened, it keeps for a year or longer according to the manufacturer; stored in the refrigerator, it is always at the perfect drinking temperature.

From Barcelona to the Palatinate Herb Kitchen

Markus Weiß discovered vermouth during several years in Barcelona and missed it so much upon his return that he spent two years tinkering with his own recipe.

Helmut launched at the end of 2017—a name that Markus calls quintessentially German and sees as having a contemporary wink. The herbs, fruits, and spices are steeped in alcohol for at least five weeks before the extract is blended in the Palatinate with the Riesling cuvée from Christian at the Bergdolt-Reif & Nett winery.

Everything is peeled, cut, and picked by hand. Everything passes through their own hands to ensure quality control, according to the manufacturer.

The juries see it similarly: Gold at the Meininger's International Spirits Award 2021, Gold at the Frankfurt International Trophy 2021, and Silver at the World Trophy 2022. If you want to experience the craftsmanship by comparison, place the berry-forward red vermouth next to it, or grab the mini tasting box with all three varieties, which includes the rosé in addition to the white and red. Further bottles for comparative tasting can be found in our vermouth category. 750 ml, 17% vol, contains sulfites.