Asti Martini was first produced in 1863 and went by the original name of Canelli white sparkling wine. There was a gradual move from the variety of expressions which customers had previously used to refer to the product to a certain uniformity, until the years 1876-1878, when the product came to the final name of Asti Spumante. It stood out immediately for the success it achieved internationally. Asti Spumante is the undisputed star of any party: as the famous claim says, "No Martini, no party".
In 1863, the Martini, Sola and Compagnia - then Martini & Rossi - was founded in Turin (Italy) by Alessandro Martini, Teofilo Sola, and Luigi Rossi. In 1864 production was centralized at Pessione, where it is still active today. Thanks to the recipe created by Luigi Rossi, the Martini Rosso made the company famous all over the world. Asti Martini, ChinaMartini, Bitter, Martini Dry (1898), Martini Bianco (1910) soon followed. Branches and warehouses were opened in the five continents. The award from the International Exhibition of Dublin (1865) was just the beginning of a long series of recognitions for quality.
Famous artisits created for Martini exclusive posters and advertising campaigns. In more recent times, video advertising become legendary with international celebrities, and unforgettable claims like “No Martini no party”.
Since 1948, publicity and image reached new heights with the spread of the Terrazza Martini. In 1968, the creation of the Martini Racing Team was a real triumph for Martini & Rossi's sporting sponsorship, whose roots can be traced back to the 1920s with the first sponsorships on cycling.
In 1993 the Martini and Bacardi Groups merged, uniting two companies with remarkably similar traditions, culture and historical development.