Chambéry was once the capital of the historic principality of Savoie. It sat directly along the spice routes in a mountain pass in the Alps. Traders from the far east regularly stopped in the town, leaving interesting spices, flowers, and bittering agents. In the 1800s, producers in the region began experimenting by macerating local Savoie wines with exotic ingredients from around the world, along with local Alpine ingredients, most notably wormwood.

In 1885, founder Philibert Routin was one of many local liquor producers, quickly making a name for himself against his competitors due to his exceptional Vermouth Rouge. His company flourished. The 20th Century brought two world wars and Prohibition, which caused nearly all of the local distilleries and blending houses to close. The house of Routin survived, however, and now is counted as one of two producers still crafting Vermouth in the Chambéry region.