It's time for Aperitivo!

Photo from www.aperolspritzuk.co.uk

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What do Italians drink for their aperitivi? Wine is always a popular option in Italy, and one of the most common aperitivo wines is prosecco, a light sparkling wine from the Veneto region of Italy. It's so good that once you've tried it you may find it difficult to go back to Champagne!

If you get tired of drinking your prosecco plain, you may want to try one of the many variations. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Bellini, a Venetian invention of prosecco mixed with white peach purée. It is followed by the Rossini and the Tiziano, obtained by mixing prosecco with strawberry purée  or grape juice, respectively. And of course there is the Mimosa which mixes prosecco with fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Another extremely popular prosecco variation from the Veneto region is the Spritz: prosecco mixed with Aperol, a bright orange herby liqueur, and garnished with an orange slice.

Finally, there's the Negroni that combines gin, red vermouth (usually Martini Rosso), and Campari. This is not a drink for the faint of heart (or liver), but when served over ice and drunken slowly, it can be quite delicious.