One of my absolute favorite rituals in Italy occurs right before dinner: the Aperitivo.

Whether you’ve been physically laboring in the vineyards all day or if you’ve been relaxing on the beach with a good book, there are no limits as to who can go out for an aperitivo ("aperitif" in English).

How the Italian Aperitivo Works

You start by sending a few messages to your friends to see who’s available for the evening. Where should we meet? What time?
You choose your aperitivo time and location: 7:00 p.m., the bar in the piazza. Nobody is too worried about which bar, as you're bound to run into one another.

7:10 p.m.. rolls around and you’re the first one there.
7:15 – 7:20 and the rest of the crowd trickles in. Let the aperitivo begin!

You order your drink of choice and devour a few crostini (small slices of bread with a variety of tasty toppings) in the meantime. Friuli loves it's Prosciutto di San Daniele or Speck, the latter famous in the small mountain town of Sauris in the Friuli Dolomites. 
You chat with your friends between bites as some peanuts, potato chips and large green olives roll in. If you're lucky, you'll get some cheese in there, too!

The Drinks

The aperitivo drink varies in Italy. The north (Friuli included) is quite partial to Prosecco based drinks, as this sparkling white wine is very well-known in Friuli’s neighboring region: Veneto.

Spritz Bianco - ice, Prosecco, sparkling water, slice of lemon
Spritz Aperol - ice, 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol (bitter alcoholic syrup), splash sparkling water, slice of orange 
Spritz Campari - ice, 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Campari (bitter alcoholic syrup), splash sparkling water, slice of orange 
Spritz Hugo - ice, 4/5 Prosecco, 1/5 elder flower syrup, dash of sparkling water, lime wedge, mint leaves (add a slice of cucumber for extra flavor)
Spritz Rosso - red wine, sparkling water

*hint - feel free to adjust the amount of sparkling water (a.k.a.. soda water) that you use. I tend to pour light on the water. Many recipes I have seen, however, call for a bit more.

Alternative Drinks - For those who don't like mixed drinks, a simple glass of wine, a beer or a variety non-alcoholic drinks will do. Try a Gingerino (orange carbonated drink made of a mixture of spices- unique!) or Acqua e Menta (a mix of sparkling water and green mint flavored syrup) to refresh your tastebuds.

The Spritz Hugo has gotten popular in the past decade and is quite trendy in northern Italy. I've had good "Hugos" and I've had bad ones, but those that I have enjoyed the most contain a slice of cucumber in them. This is a little trick I learned from a bartender. I also notice that many cocktails with Gin are also enhanced by the fresh flavor of cucumber.

Oh, the things I've learned in Italy! : )

A delicious Spritz Hugo

Spritz Hugo - Prosecco, elder flower syrup, fresh mint leaves, a slice of lime, and a dash of sparkling water; the perfect drink to refresh your taste buds on a hot summer day.

A mix of freshly sliced cured meats

A delicious mix of cured meats, the perfect crostino topping.

The Point?

The point of the Aperitivo is to relax. You chat, you have a drink, you decide where to go for dinner if you plan on eating out. Italians know how to put in a hard day’s work, so a refreshing drink at the end of a long day accompanied by some tasty snacks and a good conversation is much appreciated. It’s a good way to socialize and sometimes even just a quick cappuccino break is the perfect way to relax during a hectic day.

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