Cinzano Logo PNG
The unique taste and unparalleled quality of vermouth are embodied in Cinzano’s bright and fresh logo. The original color composition, typographic graphics, and heraldic motifs reflect Italian pride and commitment to tradition in a modern interpretation.
The history of Cinzano dates back to the 16th century in Piedmont. Records from 1568 mention vineyards and rosolio production in Pecetto Torinese near Turin. In 1707, Giovanni Battista Cinzano received a royal license from the House of Savoy to distill and sell spirits in the region.
On January 6, 1757, his sons Giovanni Giacomo and Carlo Stefano joined the Turin guild of distillers and confectioners, marking the formal foundation of the house. They opened a shop on Via Dora Grossa, producing herbal-infused drinks. By 1776, the business became a supplier to the Savoy court. In 1816, the next generation expanded operations, and by the early 19th century, the family moved into vermouth production. In 1840, Cinzano released its first Italian spumante.
In 1853, the company introduced printed color labels with awards and royal patents. Under Francesco II and later Enrico, the firm focused on vermouth and sparkling wines. By the late 19th century, Cinzano invested heavily in advertising. Campaigns by artists like Adolf Hohenstein and Leonetto Cappiello, along with early neon signage in Paris in 1913, shaped its public image. The modern logo appeared in 1925.
The brand gained wide recognition in the UK through TV commercials from 1978 to 1983. Ownership changed in 1985, passing through International Distillers & Vintners and Grand Metropolitan, then into Diageo in 1997. In 1999, it was acquired by Gruppo Campari, which sold the brand to Gruppo Caffo 1915 in June 2025 for 100 million euros.
Meaning and History
The Cinzano logo is bright and fresh. Its silvery inscription beautifully contrasts the geometry of the red and blue background. The printed letters and “Z” stand out against the rest, making the Cinzano logo very recognizable. Silver is also used for the logo’s rounded rectangular frame.
The color palette of the Cinzano logo has not changed significantly throughout the brand’s history, unlike its symbol. For a considerable period, Cinzano logos were distinguished by heraldic motifs. In 1929, its symbol became a lion’s head. First, the lion looked right, then left, and then it was redesigned and stylized several times.
The current Cinzano logo represents tradition with a modern twist and Italian pride, which characterizes the brand.
What is Cinzano?
Cinzano is a vermouth produced in Italy using a secret recipe with more than 30 ingredients. It’s known that its initial composition included beneficial and aromatic herbs such as yarrow, thyme, and marjoram. The brand’s history dates back to 1757, when the first version of the drink based on Alpine plants was introduced. Cinzano now offers various types of vermouth, including red, pink, and white. Gruppo Campari owns the brand.
1914 – 1920
The history of Cinzano dates back to 1757, when two brothers created a new secret recipe for vermouth. However, the trademark for this invention was registered only in 1914. The logo contained a black-and-white image of a lion. The animal resembled a classic heraldic symbol: it stood on its hind legs, with a curved tail and a protruding tongue. Its fur was shaggy, especially on the tail, and atop its head sat a massive crown adorned with nine balls. The lion held a stylized monogram of the letters “FCC,” which should be deciphered as “Francesco Cinzano e Co.” Francesco was a descendant of one of the brothers who created the unique vermouth recipe.
1920 – 1921
During the Art Nouveau bloom of the 1920s, the sparkling wine manufacturer introduced several new labels. However, they did not replace the traditional design but were used alongside it for special occasions. Among them was an elegant logo with the embossed inscription “Cinzano,” under which was a column of words “VERMOUTH,” “SPUMANTI,” and “TORINO.” The lower lines, centered, were outlined by a wide arc. The brand name consisted of disproportionate letters with sharp curls (e.g., “C”) and excessively long elements (e.g., “z”). Italian graphic designer Antonio Boggeri designed some of the labels from the 1920s.
1921 – 1929
In another case, the word “Cinzano” was placed in the middle. It was aligned horizontally, but a pronounced right tilt created dynamism. The letters had short, sharp serifs. The elongated lower “z” was preserved, and its end was bent in the form of a hook. The raised “C” reminded me of a halo shifted to one side or an open mouth ready to swallow “i.” The top-right corner of the logo featured the small italic word “Vermouth,” and “Spumanti” was in the lower-left corner. The base for the black inscriptions was a white oval outlined in black.
1929 – 1935
In 1929, a black rectangular logo was created. Almost the entire interior space was occupied by the white word “CINZANO,” written in uppercase, bold sans-serif letters. The font resembled a modified Bunya Black by Aring Typeface AB. The letter “Z” was most notable for its size and original design. The designers trimmed its ends at an angle that did not match the slope of the central diagonal. To the left of the alcohol brand’s name was a black-and-white lion bearing the same monogram as on the 1914 emblem. This heraldic motif has always been present on Cinzano labels.
1935 – 1957
In 1935, the rectangle became taller and much more colorful, as it was formed from two triangles placed together: bright violet and red. The frame, which previously had black stripes, was repainted yellow. The black-and-white lion supporting the monogram disappeared altogether. This allowed the inscription to be enlarged and centered, and a registered trademark sign was added in the top-right corner.
1957 – 1966
The designers removed the yellow outline and changed the color scheme. Bright violet turned to dark blue, red to burgundy, and their shades grew pale and unsaturated. It is also known that the lion was used on the Cinzano label in the 1950s, facing left, but it is not represented in this version of the logo.
1966 – 1974
The multicolored rectangular base disappeared, leaving only the inscription. After the update, it was predominantly bright red, with white used sparingly – in the form of narrow stripes drawn inside each letter. Thanks to this design, the logo resembled a neon sign.
1974 – 1990
The 1974 emblem was the work of Landor Associates. The company paid attention to the heraldic lion, making it large and stylized. But the designers moved away from the classic: they removed all elements except the head and changed its shape beyond recognition. The animal fragment was depicted with swirling red stripes, the lower part resembling rays of sunlight, a symbol of dawn, optimism, and hope.
Below was the word “CINZANO” in blue, with thin white lines inside the letters. The font became flatter, and the glyphs slanted to the right. At the same time, the designers moved the letter “Z” down so it wouldn’t protrude from the top, and they lengthened the left diagonal of the letter “A.” After all the changes, “Z,” “A,” and “N” were combined into one design. Quite large gaps were left between the other letters.
1990 – 2000
The developers returned the rectangular base to the logo but made it white and outlined it with a black frame, which was interrupted at the top and bottom by the lion’s protruding parts. The heraldic animal and the monogram next to it were depicted as a pattern of dots. Similar dots ran around the entire perimeter of the rectangle from the inside. The drawing was partially obscured by the black inscription “CINZANO.” The word in the foreground was traditionally set in bold sans-serif letters. The font was the same as on the 1929 emblem.
2000 – 2009
For several years, a colorful logo consisting of dark blue and burgundy triangles was used. They formed a rectangular base surrounded by a golden edge. Inside, as always, was the name of the vermouth. In this version, the word was white, and the font was traditional Cinzano.
2009 – today
The branding agency Lumen changed the logo design, turning the perfect rectangle into a twisted figure with four corners. The designers bent the base and slightly adjusted the inscription to match the logo’s new round shape. It turned out that the side letters were positioned slightly below the central ones, except for “Z,” which always protruded above the line. The golden frame was replaced with a white-and-silver gradient. The glyphs now have black shadows on the left and below. Bright shades of red and blue are used instead of dark ones. The darkening remained only at the edges, creating a sense of visual volume.
Font and Colors
The bold sans-serif font used for Cinzano’s brand name roughly resembles Phosphate RR Solid or DOCK11 Heavy. The vermouth manufacturer has adhered to this style since the late 1920s and has always emphasized the central letter “Z.” The traditional red-white-blue palette has been adapted to modern conditions. The light gradient emphasizes progress and Italian luxury.