Saison Aperitifs

Melbourne, Victoria

REPRESENTATION - QLD

HISTORY & ORIGINS
Saison Aperitifs was founded in Melbourne in 2020 by chef Dave Verheul, best known as chef-owner of Embla. His aim was simple: to make vermouths and amari that are brighter, fresher, and more seasonal than traditional European examples. The name reflects the mission — bottling the essence of each season.

Verheul first experimented with house vermouth at Embla in 2018. When the pandemic slowed restaurant life, he developed the idea into a business, and the first release sold out in a week. Production grew with the support of a collective of winemakers who lent space and equipment, allowing Saison to stay small-batch but consistent. In just a few years, the brand has expanded nationally and into five export markets, helping define a “new Australian” style of aperitif.

INGREDIENTS & SOURCING
Each Saison aperitif is built around a single core ingredient at peak ripeness, supported by botanicals that enhance but never overshadow it. Fruits, herbs, and flowers are foraged or sourced from small-scale growers, with multiple Australian-grown wormwoods providing the bitter spine.

This local-first sourcing means every release is unique — rhubarb from two family farms, 60 kg of pineapple quinces, or wild-picked holy thistle all feature depending on the season. Ingredients are handled with a chef’s touch, often arriving straight to Embla’s kitchen pass to be processed. No two bottlings are alike, embracing the natural variations of harvest.

PRODUCTION & ETHOS
Saison’s style combines kitchen techniques with winemaking craft. Fruits are roasted in a wood-fired oven for depth, herbs gently infused, and blends rested in oak or solera systems for complexity. The result is layered but restrained — clear flavors with balance and freshness.

Unlike heavier European vermouths, Saison’s aperitifs are about half as sweet and intended to be enjoyed neat, over ice, or in cocktails. Innovation is central — from using koji and walnuts in vermouth to an artichoke-driven amaro — but always guided by taste and restraint. Verheul’s chef’s palate ensures each ingredient has purpose, yielding aperitifs that express season, place, and craft.

Drink better. Drink bitter.

SAISON APERITIFS X MISCHIEF BREW AMARO TONIC - 24 X 250ML CANS - 7% ABV

The Saison Aperitifs x Mischief Brew Amaro Tonic (24 x 250ml cans, 7% ABV) is a refreshing, ready-to-drink spritz that blends the herbal depth of Amaro with a crisp, zesty tonic. Bright, bittersweet, and perfectly balanced, it offers a lively aperitif-style drink that’s convenient, sessionable, and ideal for casual gatherings or easy enjoyment straight from the can.

SAISON APERITIFS WHITE FLOWERS VERMOUTH - BIANCO | DRY - 750 ML

The Saison Aperitifs White Flowers Vermouth – Bianco Dry (750ml) is a delicate, aromatic vermouth that highlights bright botanicals and floral notes layered with subtle citrus and spice. Fresh and refined, it offers a crisp, dry palate with gentle bitterness, making it perfect for a refreshing spritz, a refined martini, or simply enjoyed over ice with a slice of lemon.

SAISON APERITIFS SPRING RHUBARB VERMOUTH - 750 ML

The Saison Aperitifs Spring Rhubarb Vermouth (750ml) is a vibrant, seasonal vermouth that captures the tart freshness of rhubarb balanced with botanicals and gentle spice. Bright, slightly bitter, and refreshing, it delivers a crisp, tangy palate with layered aromatics, making it perfect over ice, lengthened with soda, or as a lively twist in cocktails.

SAISON APERITIFS FALLEN QUINCES VERMOUTH - 750 ML

The Saison Aperitifs Fallen Quinces Vermouth (750ml) is a rich and aromatic expression that celebrates the golden sweetness of ripe quinces, layered with warm spice and gentle herbal bitterness. With its lush, autumnal character and balanced complexity, it’s delicious served neat over ice, paired with cheese, or used to add depth and fruit-driven elegance to cocktails

SAISON APERITIFS RED VERMOUTH - 750 ML

The Saison Aperitifs Red Vermouth (750ml) is a bold and aromatic vermouth crafted with layers of rich botanicals, warming spices, and a touch of bitterness balanced by subtle sweetness. Deeply complex yet smooth, it offers notes of dried fruit, herbs, and spice, making it ideal for classic cocktails like a Negroni or Manhattan, or simply enjoyed over ice with a slice of orange.

SAISON APERITIFS BLACK WALNUT VERMOUTH - 750 ML

The Saison Aperitifs Black Walnut Vermouth (750ml) is a deep, robust vermouth that highlights the earthy richness of black walnuts balanced with warming spices and herbal bitterness. Complex and velvety, it carries notes of dried fruits, nuts, and gentle sweetness, making it an exceptional choice for after-dinner sipping, pairing with dark chocolate, or adding depth to bold cocktails.

SAISON APERITIFS ARTICHOKE VIN AMARO - 750 ML

The Saison Aperitifs Artichoke Vin Amaro (750ml) is a uniquely crafted aperitif that brings together the earthy, savoury depth of artichoke with layered botanicals, gentle bitterness, and a subtle sweetness. Complex yet approachable, it offers a refreshing balance that makes it perfect served neat, over ice, or as a distinctive twist in classic cocktails.