At sunset, on the terrace at home or in a local bar, breathing the warm sweet Italian air, with delicious morsels of local food and a cool glass of alcohol served in beautiful glasses - this is Italian Aperitivo.  

Here in Italy, we mark the end of the day and the beginning of the evening with the ritual of Aperitivo. A wonderfully civilizing and relaxing part of the day and prelude to supper. The local food and the delicious drinks play a central part but aperitivo is a ritual and we believe that Italian elegance is key to its enjoyment. At The Italian Collector, we have used a selection of Vintage Italian glassware to show how to do aperitivo in style at home.

(Aperitivo originates from the Roman tradition of 'gustatio', a prelude to banquets where friends and guests could socialise, try little pieces of food and drink alcohol in order to increase the appetite for dinner.)

#QuestforBeauty #Aperitivo #Athome

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The Italian Collector's Top 6 Aperitivi

Note to connoisseurs: Serve all in beautiful Italian vintage glasses….. ice, lemon, orange as essential as the spirit. Serve with olives, slices of local cheese, hand cured prosciutto and home made pizzette in vintage aperitivo bowls. 

Campari Soda - bitter and red - for ultimate Italian elegance

Ingredients: Add chilled soda water to campari and serve with a slice of lemon. Preferably in beautiful lilac glasses.

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Aperol Spritz - long and sweet and hugely refreshing

Ingredients: Fill a glass with lots of ice, then add Aperol, Prosecco, soda water and a slice of orange.

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A Glass of Prosecco - if in doubt, this is classic aperitivo

Ingredients: Prosecco or Pink Prosecco 

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Martini Vermouth - the original aperitivo drink created in Turin

Ingredients: Combine Vodka and Dry Vermouth in a shaker, then pour over ice and add an olive.

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Negroni - if James Bond had his time again

Ingredients: Shake Gin, Campari, Vermouth Rosso in a cocktail shaker, pour over ice. Add a twist of orange peel.

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Fresh Lemonade - for the no alcohol aperitivo

Ingredients: Amalfi lemons, sugar, mint and sparkling water

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Serve with delicate vintage Italian bowls, filled with olives, slices of local cheese, hand cured prosciutto and home made pizzette in vintage aperitivo bowls.

Vintage Aperitivo Glasses Shoot 

Models: Martini, Campari, Prosecco and Fresh lemonade. 

Photographer: Natalie Russo @_natalierusso_

Make-up: from the garden & market

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