Drinking in Italy

The Italian Aperitivo

What is it?  It is very similar to the US happy hour.  Friends meet up before dinner to enjoy drinks and appetizers or tapas.  The classic Italian aperitivo drinks differ by region but usually include a mix with Aperol or Campari liquors. They may taste a bit bitter at the first sip, but once you've tried them on a couple different occasions, the taste is quite nice. Most often people will order a glass of wine, or an alcoholic drink like the Americano, Spritz, or Negroni. Although other cocktails are on the menu, such a Mojito or Cosmopolitan, usually drinks should be low in alcohol content and bitter or dry, to softly start your pre-dinner juices flowing.

The Negroni is a mixed drink using Campari, gin, and vermouth. The Negroni came into existence in Florence in 1919 by Count Camillo Negroni.

The Americano is similar to the Negroni, but uses Campari, vermouth, and soda instead of gin.

The Spritz, which is said to have originated in Venice under the Austrian Empire, is a mixed drink using Aperol or Campari (depends on the area or the bartender), sparkling white wine, and soda.  These classics are served in a glass with ice and usually garnished with an orange peel.

Aperol Website

Campari Website

Wine is always an acceptable aperitivo drink, and sometimes much cheaper than a cocktail. If you like sweet or sparkling wines, aperitivo is the time to drink them: Prosecco (sparkling white wine), Spumante (a sweet or dry sparkling white wine), Fragolino (a sweet sparkling red wine), Brachetto (sweet, sparkling red wine) are all excellent aperitivo drinks.  The Bellini, invented at Harry’s Bar in Venice, is a good choice if you like prosecco and peaches but it is not always widely available if the bar doesn’t stock peach juice or puree.  As I posted earlier in my blog I prefer Canella Bellini while in Venice.  Actually I am able to purchase it here and always have a few bottles in my home. 

Canella Bellini Website

What's on the Menu Some bars and restaurants keep it good and simple with a drink, olives and nuts. Others go all out with their food spread, offering different types of fresh pasta, Italian cheeses, grilled or sautéed vegetables, and sandwiches. Some even go outside the traditional Italian offerings by serving up curry chicken, couscous, and other international dishes. 

Italian Beer (Birra - pronounced Beer-ah)

My husband and I have never really been a fan of Italian beer.  However like Ireland I can usually find Corona someplace.  The last time we were in Venice was 2012 and I cannot remember what imports were available.  I feel like we didn't see Budweiser like we did in Ireland. 

Italy is considered to be part of the wine belt of Europe. Nevertheless, beer, particularly mass-produced pale lagers, are common in the country. It is traditionally considered to be an ideal accompaniment to pizza; since the 1970s, beer has spread from pizzerias and has become much more popular for drinking in other situations.  Peroni is the most widespread in Italy which is owned by SABMiller.  Other beers:

Nastro Azzurro

Beba

Castello

Dreher (owned by Heineken International)

Forst

Ichnusa (owned by Heineken International)

Menabrea

Birra Messina

Morena

Moretti (owned by Heineken International)

Theresianer

Italian Wine (Vino - pronounced Vee-noh)

White Wine = Vino Bianco, Red Wine = Vino Rosso, Rose Wine = Vino Rosato
I never have a problem finding a wine I love in Italy.  If you are a wine drinker you will be very happy.  Italy is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, and Italian wines are known worldwide for their broad variety. Italy, closely followed by France, is the world’s largest wine producer by volume. Its contribution is about 45–50 million hl per year, and represents about ⅓ of global production. Italian wine is exported around the world and is also extremely popular in Italy: Italians rank fifth on the world wine consumption list by volume with 42 litres per capita consumption. Grapes are grown in almost every region of the country and there are more than one million vineyards under cultivation.

Prosecco is very popular in Italy. 
Prosecco /prɵˈsɛkoʊ/ (Italian: [proˈsekko]) is an Italian white wine. Prosecco DOC can be Spumante sparkling wine, Frizzante (semi-sparkling) and Tranquillo (still) depending on the perlage. It is made from Glera grapes, formerly known also as Prosecco, but other grape varieties may be included. The following varieties are traditionally used with Glera up to a maximum of 15% of the total: Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera, Glera lunga, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Nero. The name is derived from that of the Italian village of Prosecco near Trieste, where the grape may have originated.

When we were in Skerries which is a little north of Dublin in October we were at a bar/pub where our friend works called Ollies and the Prosecco was flying off the shelf.

Mixed Drinks

You will not have a problem finding your liquor of choice.