Cinzano vermouths date back to 1757 and the Turin herbal shop of two brothers, Giovanni Giacomo and Carlo Stefano Cinzano, who created a new "vermouth rosso" (red vermouth) using "aromatic plants from the Italian Alps in a [still-secret] recipe combining 35 ingredients (including marjoram, thyme, and yarrow)".[2] What became known as the "vermouth of Turin" proved popular with the bourgeoisie of Turin and, later, Casanova.[2]

Cinzano Bianco followed, based on a different combination of herbs that included artemisia (wormwood), cinnamon, cloves, citrus and gentian; it was followed by an Extra Dry version.[2] Exports began in the 1890s, to Argentina, Brazil and the USA, among others.[2] In Paris in 1913, Cinzano was the first product to be advertised with a neon sign on its roof.[3]