This Italian word known all over the world is an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage that is generally consumed between 5pm and 8pm. Nowadays people do not associate the Aperitivo to a beverage, but the word is used to describe the action of gathering with friends before dinner to have a drink and some snacks.
Drinks and cocktails are what generally characterizes an Aperitivo.
Elisa
The Aperitivo was born in Turin, Italy more than 200 years ago. The official drink of the region is the Vermut, an aromatized white wine that became the symbol of Turin. Initially, people who were affected by lack of appetite used to drink it before dinner because it helped to stimulate the appetite. Over the coming years, this became a tradition and people started gathering in the early evening to have a drink. The Vermut can be drunk straight or is now used as a base for many cocktails.
The most typical and popular Italian drinks that are consumed during an aperitivo are Spritz, Negroni, Bellini, wine, and beer.
But let’s go more in the specific of the regions…
FOOD AND DRINKS
The Aperitivo is generally accompanied by food. It is not a proper meal as it is consumed before dinner, but besides drinking, every bar will offer you some snacks! Chips and nuts are the basic food you can have, but you can also decide to have some more sophisticated snacks.
If you go sailing in one of the most popular destinations in Italy, you must stop in one of the bars on the cost and have an Aperitivo like a good Italian!
In Sardinia the bars will probably propose you to taste different cheeses, the most popular is the Pecorino, accompanied by the bread Carasau. These are all typical delicious products produced on the island. Some fresh fruit during a hot day would also be the perfect combination. The white wine Vermentino or the Ichnusa beer are the typical beverages of the island, so it would be worth tasting them. If you are a liquor lover you must try the Mirto, it is a Sardinian liquor obtained from the myrtle plant through the alcoholic maceration of the berries.
In Sicily, traditional food is not known as the lightest, but every dish is unique and absolutely delicious! The passion and the attention on details that it is used to prepare the dishes are fascinating. One of the best-loved Sicilian snacks are the Arancini: fried rice balls stuffed with sauce, peas, cheese or other ingredients. It is a must if you want a traditional Sicilian treat. The Etnabitter is the typical liquor of the region. It is produced with red-orange peel, white wine, honey, almond, and natural herbs. It is used to create many cocktails, so you will be able to taste it in different ways.
In the Amalfi Coast you will be able to taste a mix of different snacks, some of the more elaborated and others more simple, but with an original taste. A typical snack is the small fried mozzarelle, salty cakes stuffed with potatoes and cheese, Chiacchere – fried pizza dough, but you can also find some places that offer you a simple selection of different types of cold cuts, all accompanied by bread or some white focaccia. Limoncello is a lemon liquor typical of the region. From this liquor, it is possible to create different cocktails and one of the most portals in the Amalfi Coast is the Amalfi Breeze which combines the limoncello with the tang of citrus vodka and the sweetness of cranberries.
Nowadays the Aperitivo is a way of gathering with the family or friends, meeting new people, communicating and discovering new places. It is a tradition and is a great way of making good memories.
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