Punt e Mes is a Carpano classic from Turin — a sweet vermouth crossed with a bitter, sitting squarely between aperitivo and amaro — and it is poured at Grappa in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Its name is Piedmontese for “point and a half,” describing a balance of one full measure of sweetness against half a measure of bitterness. We list it because it is one of the great characterful vermouths, more assertive than most, and a wonderful bridge from antipasti into the meal.
About the Producer
Punt e Mes belongs to the house of Carpano, founded in Turin by Antonio Benedetto Carpano, the figure widely credited with creating the first modern vermouth in 1786. Punt e Mes itself was launched in 1870, born in the Carpano bar near the Turin stock exchange; legend holds a trader ordered a vermouth with a measure and a half of bitterness, and the name stuck. The brand has been owned since 2001 by Fratelli Branca Distillerie of Milan, which has kept the historic recipe intact.
Style & Production
Punt e Mes is a vermouth amaro: a wine base aromatized with wormwood and a large blend of herbs, spices and botanicals — including orange peel and quinine — then sweetened and given a pronounced bitter edge. That extra dose of bitterness is what distinguishes it from a standard sweet vermouth, pulling it toward the amaro family while keeping the rounded, fortified-wine body of a rosso. The result is dark in the glass and notably more bracing than typical vermouth.
Tasting Notes
The nose offers bitter orange, dried fig and warm spice. The palate is rich and bittersweet, with dark caramel and dried-fruit sweetness met by a firm, quinine-driven bitterness and a savory herbal depth. The finish is long and decidedly bitter, dry at the very end — a vermouth with real backbone, made for slow sipping.
What to Pair It With
Its bittersweet intensity loves rich, salty antipasti. Pour it with our Charcuterie Board, with Our Hummus, or alongside Heirloom Tomatoes & Burrata. See the full dine-in menu for more.
How It’s Served at Grappa
Punt e Mes is poured at $8, served chilled over ice with an orange twist, neat as an aperitivo, or in a cocktail.
FAQ
Where is it from?
It is made by the house of Carpano in Turin, in Italy’s Piedmont region, and has been produced since 1870.
What does it taste like?
It is bittersweet and bold: bitter orange, dried fig and dark caramel sweetness met by a firm quinine bitterness and a long, dry finish.
Is it bitter or sweet?
Both. The name means a point and a half, describing a full measure of sweetness against half a measure of bitterness, which makes it more bitter than a standard sweet vermouth.
When you’re ready, book a table, explore the cocktail & spirits list, and browse the dine-in menu.
