This is Marche's oldest liqueur business, founded in 1868 by Girolamo Varnelli who lived in Cupi di Visso, in the Sibillini mountains. His knowledge of herbs brought about Amaro Sibilla, based on yellow gentian, cinchona, and other medicinal plants. Then his son Antonio moved the business to Pievebogliana and expanded the range with various products including the flagship Varnelli, a special dry anise and sophisticated interpretation of Marche mistrà. Antonio also imposed organizational structure on the company. In later years Varnelli became a leader in the anise sector, establishing the liqueur as the favourite addition to coffee. Throughout the generations the family's experience in herbs has remained intact along with the old artisan processing methods and secret recipes. Today production takes place in Muccia, in the province of Macerata, with a range of products from anise to liqueurs, bitters, punch and a line of pastries.
