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.