Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz, the bubbly, bright orange aperitif is a must-have when visiting Italy. It’s made using four distinct ingredients: the aperitif Aperol, the sparkling wine Prosecco, soda or unflavoured sparkling water, and an orange slice for garnish. Pair the drink with olives, cheeses, fresh fruits, or popcorn.

The drink’s story starts in 1900s Padua, where the trend of the pre-dinner drink was growing, and two enterprising brothers, Luigi and Silvio Barbieri wanted to create a new aperitif unique to the city. After seven years of research, in 1919, they created Aperol. The recipe is a secret but includes oranges, herbs, and roots. This recipe has remained unchanged since it was first created.

There was much gastronomical experimentation during the years that followed and it was only around the 1950s that the Aperol Spritz was born. Spritz is a type of cocktail that dates back to the 19th century when Austro-Hungarian soldiers tasted Italian wines and found them too strong for their tastebuds. So they spritzed their glasses with water to dilute the flavour. Following an advertising campaign, the Aperol Spritz rose to fame as a luxurious, fashionable drink and spread across the country. Over time, its popularity grew, and the drink is now a staple at bars and cafes across Italy and much of the world.

Fun fact: on 29 June 2012, over 2,600 of the beverages’ fans gathered at the Piazza San Marco in Venice and achieved the Guinness World Record for the Largest Aperol Spritz Toast.