Our first trip to Italy was in 2003 and was the most enlightening experience of our lives. Everything is larger than life, truly and in every way. We tried to patronize restaurants and shops that were popular with locals to get the true Italian vibe. We began to notice that most Italians enjoy a cocktail in the evening before heading to dinner often with a small bowl of olives, nuts or potato chips (yep, potato chips).Our favorite city for observing this custom was in Santa Margherita Ligure where La Passeggiata (evening promenade) began around 5:00pm with locals and tourists alike nicely attired strolling through the streets stopping for a gelato or aperitivo. We have cherished memories of our boys (then seven- and nine-years-old) being drawn into a local soccer game where the language barrier was irrelevant.
In Italy, the aperitivo (pre-dinner cocktail) of choice is the Aperol Spritz. In the Veneto region alone, around 300,000 of these wine-based Aperol cocktails are sucked down daily, according to Campari, the company that makes Aperol. Like all spritzes which are wine-based cocktails made with a bitter liqueur and a splash of soda. The aperitivo is meant to stimulate the appetite but not weigh down the palate, or get you too smashed.
Everyone has heard the expression “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” but when it comes to an Aperol Spritz, it should be when in Santa Margherita, use Santa Margherita Prosecco for your aperitivo! According to the Campari Company, the official Aperol Spritz recipe calls for 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol, a splash of club soda and is usually garnished with an orange slice. It is light on alcohol and refreshing.
3 oz. Santa Margherita Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
2 oz. Aperol liqueur
1 oz. club soda
Ice
Orange slice for garnish
Fill a large rocks glass with ice. Fill the glass with prosecco, add the Aperol and top with club soda. Stir well and then add the orange slice. Cincin!
Disclosure: While we received a complimentary bottle of Santa Margherita Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore for review purposes, the opinions included herein are honest and unsolicited.
