Arcadia Spain

One of the pleasures that barcelonins love to do is going out to have a “vermut”.

How do we describe the word vermouth? It is a drink and at the same time it is like a social act.

Let's see what wikipedia says: It is an aromatized, fortified white wine flavored with botanicals (roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, and spices) that goes with a little meal before having lunch. It is originally from Italy, Turin, where Martini’s brand was born.

Vermouth can also be called as “aperitiu”, this word come from latin “aperire” that means “open” and it exists from Middle Ages. It has a lot of sense because the main idea, or the concept is “open your stomach” before have lunch.

Traditionality, in Catalunya, “go to have a vermut” means go to have a little meal before lunch. Mostly catalans often go on Saturdays or Sundays in a sunny day of Spring or Summer, sitting in a terrace of a little bar or even at home.

The vermouth is a social act, it is a perfect excuse to meet with your family or with your friends. It is a  catalan tradition where adults drink vermut or beer and the children non-alcoholic drinks. Olives, chips, anxovies and salt almonds are some of the common meals that goes with vermut. Currently, bars and restaurants offer a huge list of food, little dishes and tapas that go with vermouth.

We had lost this habit and fortunately we have recover it. Nowadays it is being really popular and almost in every neighbourhood you can see that beautiful scenario of people enjoying under the sun having vermut at around 12pm on whatever day at the weekend.

Sometimes the vermut takes longer than it should, and then it becomes as a lunch.

Let’s enjoy a vermouth in Barcelona!