If I say aperitivo, you might immediately imagine that gentle hour before dinner—the golden light, a chilled glass in hand, and the quiet pleasure of anticipation. For us here in Italy, it is not just a habit; it is a ritual, something I have lived and cherished for years.
The history of aperitivo is deeply woven into our culture. Its origins reach back to ancient Rome, where the gustatio—a small drink with light bites—was served before the main meal to awaken the appetite. Even then, Italians understood the beauty of beginning slowly.
The aperitivo as we know it today, however, truly began to take shape in 18th-century Turin. In 1786, Antonio Benedetto Carpano created Vermouth, a fragrant fortified wine infused with herbs and spices. I always think of this moment as the birth of aperitivo—not just a drink, but a social gesture, an invitation to pause and connect.
By the 19th century, the cafés of Turin embraced this ritual, even tailoring it to welcome women, who at the time were discouraged from drinking on an empty stomach. Aperitivo, with its small accompaniments, became an elegant and acceptable indulgence.
Today, it remains one of the most beloved traditions across Italy. It is never rushed. We gather, we sip, we talk. It is about easing into the evening, allowing conversation to unfold naturally.
Each region, of course, expresses aperitivo in its own way. In Milan, I have enjoyed generous spreads alongside a Negroni Sbagliato—lighter, sparkling, almost playful. In Venice, there is nothing like a Spritz with cicchetti, standing by the canals as the city glows. In Turin, Vermouth is still revered, sipped slowly or mixed into timeless cocktails. Florence offers the iconic Negroni with rustic Tuscan bites, while in Naples, a Limoncello Spritz brings a bright, citrusy freshness that feels like sunshine in a glass.
But beyond the drinks and the food, aperitivo is a feeling. It is that pause between the day and the night, a moment to breathe, to laugh, to simply be together.
Even now, after all these years, I never take it for granted. It reminds me that life’s greatest pleasures are often the simplest ones.
Wherever you are, I invite you to create your own aperitivo moment. Pour something you love, gather those close to you, and linger just a little longer.
Salute—and perhaps, begin dreaming of your next evening in Italy.
