Authentic Italian Drinks

Italian drinks, of many different types, play an important role in Italy. Everyone, worldwide, knows and loves Italian food. Afterall, who can resist a hot, crunchy crostini, a sinfully creamy plate of fettuccini alfredo-twirled, of course, not cut--or a generous slice of fresh-baked pizza? Not to mention the gelato! But what about the signature drinks of Italy? If you haven't been there, you may be hard-pressed to come up with anything other than wine, but anyone who's spent any amount of time on "the boot" knows that the Italians take their beverages as seriously as their entrees. (And their appetizers...and desserts....)

In Italy, dinner is a social event that can easily last several hours, and it's customary to begin the festivities with an aperitif to stimulate the appetite. An aperitif may be a soft drink for the kids or the teetotalers in the crowd, but is most often wine, cocktails, or liqueurs. One of the most popular cocktails is the Bellini, a champagne-and-peach-puree concoction invented at Harry's Bar in Venice. Its pinkish hue calls to mind the colors used in toga paintings by its namesake, 15-century Italian artist Giovanni Bellini.

Also popular is the highly alcoholic (25% or so) Campari, a dark red bitters commonly enjoyed with soda water, wine or in cocktails. Citrus lovers may want to try the famous Limoncello, made in Southern Italy. This sweet, pale yellow drink is made from the zest of the lemons rather than the juice, so it is fruity without being sour. While traditionally served as a digestif, it can also be enjoyed as an aperitif. Other flavored liqueurs include Frangolino (strawberry), Maraschino (cherry) and Nocino (nut).