L’Aperitivo: What was once a tradition shared by Italians each evening has evolved into a global symbol of leisure, heralded by the pop of a cork and the froth of Prosecco in cities from London to Miami to Los Angeles. Across the world, aperitivo hour has come to be recognized as the marker of Italian cocktail culture reclaimed, even while it has adopted new looks as it has spread from the piazza to the pool, the beach, the front stoop and beyond.
The engine behind the aperitivo’s rise to juggernaut status, without doubt, is the inimitable Italian Spritz, for which the recipe couldn’t be simpler: red Italian bitter liqueur topped with sparkling wine, garnished with an orange slice. Equal parts bitter, sweet and refreshing, it’s the drink that has become the patron saint for a generation of aperitivo drinkers—and one that’s ripe for riffing from bartenders professional and amateur who are eager to play in the burgeoning aperitivo space. Swap out the Prosecco for off-dry MARTINI & ROSSI Rosé Italian sparkling wine to achieve a pink-hued Piedmontese spritz, or try the cool, fresh Asti for an aromatic moment. Change the liqueur to elderflower, the garnish to fanciful (raspberries, herbs, cucumber slices, lime wheels and more), top with Prosecco and call it a French Spritz.
Not far behind the Italian Spritz’s rank in aperitivo royalty is the Negroni Sbagliato, that more-refreshing variation on the red bitter and sweet vermouth classic wherein gin is swapped out for Prosecco, resulting in a low-proof, sparkling take (whose moniker may mean “mistaken,” but is truly anything but). Switch the Prosecco for either Asti or Spumante rosé, garnish with an array of citrus slices or add a splash of grapefruit to yield unexpected layers of flavor and a drink to suit any evening mood. Then, there’s the new-look MARTINI & ROSSI® FIERO 50/50 COCKTAIL: This modern take on the Spritz features a wine-based red bitter and derives its bubbles from tonic, all in a simple 50/50 serve that is the definition of “aperitivo press and play.”
