It’s no secret that Venetians, well-known or anonymous, cherish their hometown favorite and, purportedly, Italy’s signature aperitivo (cocktail), the Spritz Veneziano (Venetian Spritz).
Made with the Fratelli Barbieri ‘s secret bitter Aperol, a healthy amount of Prosecco, a splash of soda water, one green olive and a slice of orange, the Venetian Spritz is THE drink of La Serenissima.
On the other side of the country, due west of the Lagoon, is Milan, the Bel Paese’s button-down business and banking hub in the Lombardia region AND an epicenter for world fashion.
Like Venice, Milan, the other half of the old Regno Lombardo-Veneto (Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia), was under Austrian rule (House of Habsburg-Lorraine) for quite some time during the 18th and 19th centuries and fell victim to the occupier’s practice of spritzen (German for splashing), diluting strong Italian wine with splashes of water.
If Venice covets Aperol, then the same can be said of Milan and its beloved Campari.
An alcoholic liqueur, Campari is in the family of amari (bitters) and is an infusion of approximately 80 herbs, plants and fruit. Supposedly, only three members of the Campari inner circle know the exact ingredients that go into this bitter, and they’re not talkin’.
Campari was created back in 1860 by Gaspare Campari, a master drink maker who honed his craft serving up his creations to the elite of Turin. Eventually, he brought his talent, the secret bitter and his namesake brand to Milan where he launched the family business (restaurant, bar and wine shop) under a large Campari sign in the iconic Galleria di Vittorio Emanuele II, the world’s oldest enclosed shopping mall named in honor of the first king of the Kingdom of Italy.
Campari‘s distinctive red color was an immediate hit after its first pour and gave rise to the national pastime of drinking aperitivi — a simple excuse to join up with friends or business partners at a local watering hole to discuss the day’s events, close a deal or plot the future. Yes, we can all give thanks to Signor Campari for this refreshing daily ritual.
Today, Campari, the “red passion,” is the essential ingredient for a host of internationally-known aperitivi: Negroni, l’Americano, Garibaldi, Spritz and other short and long drinks. We’ll get to them all, one glass at a time, starting with the crowd-pleasing Spritz Campari.
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Step-1: Fill a large wine glass with ice
Step-2: Pour in the Campari
Step-3: Add the water
Step-4: Add the Prosecco
Step-5: Float the orange slice on top
Step-6: Cin Cin!
Milan and Venice, once united under a single kingdom during Austrian rule, now separated by two bottles of bitter. If given the choice, which one would you choose, Aperol or Campari?
©The Palladian Traveler
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Mmmmm….and summer is ready to begin! 🙂
Ese — I see you’re already holding a nice, cool aperitivo in your hands. When you finally put it down, ask the barkeep to make you a Spritz Campari. 🙂
I will definitely go for it! What can be better than switching from champagne to a glass of Spritz Campari 🙂
Reblogged this on Rover @Home and commented:
I don’t always re-blog, but when I do it’s likely to be about Venice…or Campari…
Melanie — Glad you thought my piece on the Spritz Campari was worthy of a reblog on your site. You mentioned Venice, and I just happen to have a piece on the Spritz Veneziano cocktail: http://thepalladiantraveler.com/good-cocktails/spritz-veneziano/. TPT
Oh yeah. I’m going to try this. My mouth is watering already.
Great! Tell your friends, too.
Aperol, always! 🙂
Your Veneto bias is showing. 🙂
Campari for me…and those Milanese would be shocked my spritz is ice, Campari, a dash of orange juice a slice of orange and then soda on a hot summer’s day
SueJ — No shock from the Milanese, but maybe a bit of awe. Btw, Campari with OJ is called The Garibaldi. 🙂
I would have to go with Campari, only because I had never heard of Aperol until today (I know, shameful). We will be spending next weekend in a funky little Sierra Nevada town, and I will test the bartender and ask for a Campari Spritz and just see how good they are 🙂
P.S. If they even have Prosecco they will get a gold star 🙂 🙂
Let me know if the barista blinks. 🙂
Reblogged this on Orna O'Reilly – travel & design and commented:
Wonderful blog.
Thanks for the push.
I’m always curious of the jewel-like spritz I see around France… what’s in those? Do you know?
Sure don’t.
I love Campari in summertime!
Glad to hear it, Sue. Cin cin!
Cin cin, indeed 😀
Campari all the way for me. I suppose my German background is why I usually just go with Campari and soda!
Whatever floats your [U]boat!
Nice to highlight the apertivi cocktails of Italy. What’s your preference?
Jennifer — As the writer, I can’t takes sides and choose one over the other. So, I like them both, but, truth be told, I do lean a bit more towards Venice and Aperol.
I’m most definitely a wine-o Tom, but this Campari Spritz you speak of sounds great. We’re off to italy in October, I’ll be sure to try one!