La Fuerza Among the 10 Most Admired Vermouth Brands in the World, According to Drinks International

In Mendoza, it’s not all about wine — and a handful of prestigious spirits and high-end beverage brands are proof of that. In 2025, La Fuerza achieved a historic milestone: it entered Drinks International’s global Top 10 ranking, the most influential publication in the world of bars, wines, and spirits. For the first time ever, an Argentine — and Latin American — brand made it onto the list of trending vermouth labels, a ranking that reflects what’s capturing the attention of the industry’s global leaders today.

La Fuerza was born seven years ago with a clear vision: to create a vermouth made with ingredients from Mendoza — wines from Malbec and Torrontés grapes, herbs, and Andean botanicals — and to share it with the world. Today, that dream is being poured in bars across Argentina, the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, always staying true to its essence: an authentic vermouth from the southern hemisphere.

For the first time in its sixteen annual reports, Drinks International included a Latin American brand in its “Top 10 Trending Vermouth Brands.” La Fuerza ranks number 10 on this prestigious list — an enormous recognition for an independent project born from the idea of bringing the identity of the Andes to the world.

Who Makes La Fuerza Vermouth?

“We always conceived La Fuerza inspired by the vermouth tradition that arrived in Argentina with historic brands like Cinzano and Martini. From the very beginning, our dream was to take Argentine vermouth to the world, and being recognized in an international ranking is a sign that we’re on the right path. Plus, being the only non-European vermouth on that list makes us incredibly proud. We actually found out thanks to other producers in Latin America — and we feel it’s also an inspiration for other projects that, from their local identity, seek to make their mark globally,” says co-founder Martín Auzmendi.

Founded in 1967, Drinks International is a global authority on spirits, wines, and bars. Its reports analyze leading categories and highlight the ten best-selling and ten most influential brands around the world.

Also of interest: How to make the best sangria, according to Joe Polenta

Agustín Camps, another co-founder of La Fuerza, adds: “Since day one, our mission has been to share the local identity of Andean vermouth with the world and to showcase the unique character of each variety. Today, we’re present in the United States, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay — and we’ve just arrived in Spain and France. This year, we’re also launching in Brazil.”

The project — also led by Julián Díaz and Sebastián Zuccardi — celebrates an anniversary as well: “In January, it’ll be seven years since we opened our bar in Chacarita and launched La Fuerza Rojo and Blanco, with the idea of reaching the world from this neighborhood corner,” recalls Díaz.

Martín adds: “In Argentina, there’s a very strong aperitif and vermouth culture, but in places like the U.S., we had to start from scratch — explaining what vermouth is, how to drink it, and what makes ours special. What’s amazing is that it works — people connect with it. In Brazil, we’re just getting started, facing a similar challenge, though many Brazilians had already tried it in Argentina, which opens doors for us. Uruguay, on the other hand, has a culture similar to ours, and it’s gone really well. Europe — places like Spain and France — has a massive vermouth tradition, so the challenge there is different: entering an already well-established market. In every country, it’s about learning, adapting, and finding the right way to engage with the audience.”

La Fuerza, the First Vermouth of the Andes

Produced and bottled in Mendoza since 2018, La Fuerza is the first vermouth of the Andes — a blend of natural ingredients crafted using a production method rooted in local research. Its base is made from wine, grape spirit, natural grape must, and a selection of wild botanicals and herbs gathered at the foothills of the Andes. This distinctive identity sets it apart from European vermouths and has made it a symbol of Latin American cocktail culture.

Since its launch, La Fuerza has continued to grow and experiment with new styles. In 2019 it introduced Primavera en los Andes, its first seasonal vermouth; in 2020 came Valientes, a ready-to-drink version that won double gold, gold, and silver at the San Francisco Spirits Awards; in 2021 it unveiled La Fuerza Sideral, the first Argentine vermouth aged in oak barrels; and in 2024 it surprised with Proyecto Local, an initiative that explores botanicals and wines from specific regions to create limited editions.

The first result, Local 01, produced just 996 bottles, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to exploring new expressions while staying true to its Mendoza roots and global vision.

With this international recognition, La Fuerza now stands not only among the world’s great vermouths but also as a symbol of the creative and cultural potential of Argentine and South American mixology.