One of my favorite new drinks here in Italy is the Aperol Spritz.  I also like them with Campari, but my preference is Aperol.  I was making one just now.

“Having a spritz?” asked Fritz.

“Yes,” I said.  “I hurt my back and the Advil just isn’t working.”

“That’ll work,” he predicted.

“No,” I said, “it won’t.  But it will make me not care.”

Unfortunately for you folks back Stateside, Aperol is not cheap.  Twice the price as it is here.  Ouch.  I will be stocking up before we return, that’s for sure.

If you’d like to try one, here is the recipe:

3 parts prosecco

2 parts aperol

1 part fizzy water

Fill wine glass with ice, add the liquids, garnish with a slice of orange, and stir.

Prosecco is a white, sparkling wine.  I had never heard of it, or Aperol, before I came to Italy.  It is also half the price here vs. anywhere in the US.  I get mine, often, from the local wine shop that has it and about 20 other wines on tap.  I bring my own bottles, and we walk out of there with 8 liters of wine for about $20.  This wineshop is why I know Italian numbers.  I could say “quindici” which is 15…and I like the #15 wine which is a frizzante (bubbly) red…but I had to learn the other numbers so I could try the other wines.

You can substitute another sparkling white wine for the prosecco, but I can’t guarantee that it will taste as good.

In Garmisch, Germany, I had an excellent weissbier spritz, using weissbier instead of prosecco.

Locally, they also recommend a limoncello spritz, but in this one, the limoncello replaces the aperol.  Limoncello is another beverage that was unknown to me before coming here, and one that I have taken quite a fancy to.  It is usually served as an after-dinner drink and often is provided without charge at restaurants.  One restaurant in Florence gave Bill and I a second shot of limoncello…we had sent all the kids back to the apartment after dinner and stayed behind to savor a moment of peace and quiet.  The Italians know that everything is better with a little alcohol.