It’s finally summer! I thought it might be fun to write about some of the famous summer wine cocktails that get our attention during the warmer months of the year. Let’s begin with the Aperol Spritz. To be honest, I never knew what Aperol was or how the famous Spritz was made. Until…one evening I was sitting at an outside restaurant in the North End of Boston. It was about 4 years ago. The Aperol Spritz was on the drink menu so I thought…why not try it?
It was so unique and flavorful. It really is a great drink to try. It may become a favorite.
I’m sure you’re thinking what does an Aperol Spritz cocktail have to do with wine. Well, here’s the story of this interesting drink.
Aperol became popular in Italy (specifically in and around the cafes of Padua and Venice) in 1919 and especially the post-war 1930’s. It grew in popularity both in Italy and internationally in the 1980’s and 1990’s. It became the cosmopolitan summer cocktail. It boomed during the 2000’s and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019!
Aperol is made from a secret recipe that hasn’t changed since 1919. Since it’s a secret, I can’t give you the specifics but here are some of the ingredients that make up this curious liquor.
Key ingredients include Gentian (a flower that has a sweet but bitter flavor), bitter and sweet oranges, rhubarb, and many different herbs and roots. It is lower in alcohol (11%) and the Spritz formula is light and refreshing.
Tasting notes for Aperol: Aperol’s initial taste is bittersweet with a touch of saltiness. It tastes and smells of oranges and a pleasant combination of herbs and vanilla. Mixed with Prosecco, it makes a delicious, orangy sparkling drink.
I know you’re waiting for the official Aperol Spritz recipe so here it is:
Aperol Spritz
- Fill a white wine glass with ice
- 3 parts Prosecco DOC (here’s the wine connection and if you read my blog last week, you’ll know what DOC means)
- 2 parts Aperol
- A splash of soda
- Oranges to garnish
As you can tell, this is an easy drink to create and will work really well for your summer gatherings. Aperol is fun too! They have flip flops, cool posters, and other fun brand merchandise.
                 
        
Try an Aperol Spritz the next time you are dining al fresco. You will be surprised at how interesting and appealing this summer wine cocktail is!
Salute!