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Industry
Food & Beverage
Challenge
Ponti is known worldwide for its balsamic vinegars and preserved vegetables — a trusted name in Italian kitchens for over 150 years. But to grow cultural relevance with today’s consumers, Ponti needed to step beyond the plate and into the glass — connecting its products to the vibrant world of Italian cocktails.
Results
4 signature Ponti cocktails featured in Italy Cocktails. High-visibility brand placement in a globally distributed, design-led book. Expanded brand perception — Ponti as both a culinary staple and cocktail essential
Key Product
Creative Strategy, Design & Content
"Will definitely work with Brandtender again, soon! Thank you for the experience!"
Ponti - An Italian Legacy
Ponti is a historic, family-owned Italian vinegar producer with roots dating back to 1787, now run by the ninth generation. It operates multiple facilities in Italy and maintains a global footprint—exporting to over 70 countries—with corporate offices in Paris and New York. As a certified B Corp, Ponti emphasizes quality, sustainability, and a legacy of trust in its food-and-flavor portfolio.The Challenge
Ponti, known for its balsamic vinegars, has been synonymous with quality in kitchens across Europe for over 150 years. But in a world where consumers are increasingly discovering brands through lifestyle experiences, Ponti needed to extend its story beyond the dinner table, as it entered the US Market.
The opportunity? To connect Ponti to the growing culture of Italian cocktail craft — a space where heritage ingredients could meet modern creativity.
The Solution
We partnered with Ponti to bring their products into the world of mixology through recipe development and photography for a major publishing collaboration.
Working alongside author Paul Feinstein for his book Italy Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by Italia (Cider Mill Press), we created four unique cocktail recipes showcasing Ponti products as both hero and hidden gem ingredients.
- Recipe Development: Crafted original cocktails that balanced Italian tradition with modern sophistication — from aperitivi spritzes to balsamic-infused twists on classics.
- Photography: Directed and styled recipe photography to highlight Ponti’s bottles as integral to the experience, not just supporting elements.
- Integration into Culture: Ensured recipes fit seamlessly into a book that profiles bartenders, bars, classic drinks, liqueurs, and 100+ Italian cocktail recipes — positioning Ponti alongside Italy’s most iconic drinking traditions.
"Working with Melinda was wonderful! She was professional, flexible and innovative in the whole process, from beginning to end!
The Results
- Four Signature Cocktails created exclusively for the book, each tied to a Ponti product:
- Negroni Balsamico — a layered twist on the classic Negroni, elevated by aged balsamic.
- Delicato Spritz — a vibrant aperitivo brightened by Ponti’s Dolceagro Il Delicato.
- Sbagliato Rosso — an effervescent balance of cherry balsamic and Lambrusco.
- Caffè Modena — a decadent espresso martini enlivened with chili balsamic heat.
- Photography & Styling: Each cocktail was shot with Ponti products in frame, elevating the brand as part of the cultural ritual of Italian cocktails.
- Book Placement: Recipes published in Italy Cocktails alongside profiles of Italian bartenders, liqueurs, and iconic bars — weaving Ponti into the narrative of Italy’s drinking culture.
Through this collaboration, Ponti stepped into the cocktail world with authenticity and flair. By showcasing its vinegars in a modern mixology context, the brand transcended the kitchen and entered a new cultural conversation.
Ponti is now not only a trusted companion for cooking — it’s an essential ingredient in the evolving story of Italian cocktail craft.
Ready to get started?
