7:00PM. Aperitivo time in Italy!

A well consolidated tradition by many Italians is meeting half an hour before the evening meal to enjoy together an “aperitivo”. The habit of the evening aperitivo has become very popular in recent years but it is a practice that was common during the Romans. The word Aperitivo comes from the Latin “aperire” that means to open, to begin. In fact its purpose is to open your stomach and tickle your appetite.

Aperitivo usually starts at 7:00pm and goes on until 8:30pm. You can choose among a vast range of alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. Every region or city has its own special one and according to the location a similar cocktail can just change the name.

The most popular alcoholic ones are Pirlo (common in Brescia, Lombardy and made with sparkling white wine, Campari or Aperol and soda water), Spritz from Veneto is made with white wine and sparkling water), Rossini (named after the famous classical composer: mashed strawberries and Prosecco sparkling wine or Champagne). Even sparkling or dry white wines are usually served during the aperitivo and the most popular one is Prosecco.

Let us not forget the famous Bellini, created by a barman, at the Harry's Bar in Venice, in 1948.
Non-alcoholic aperitif cocktails are usually a mixture of fruit juice and chopped fruit. They can easily become alcoholic aperitifs adding some gin or vodka. You can also buy already made non-alcoholic soft drinks such as Crodino (most popular - created in Piedmont), San Bittèr made by the San Pellegrino Co. (Bergamo, Lombardy).

Aperitivo is always served with something to much on such as chips, peanuts, cubes of pizza, olives, pickles etc.
In recent years it has become a common practice to prepare a small buffet with cold pasta, pizza, canapés, sandwiches, rice and seafood salads, etc.
These aperitifs are really appreciated among youngsters that can have an aperitif and have dinner paying the aperitif just a little bit more.