So you’re having a party and fancy giving it an Italian theme? There are lots of traditional Italian foods that make perfect party fare – but what about the drink? Well, there’s plenty of choice, from rich red wines like the famous (and expensive) Brunello di Montalcino to sophisticated cocktails that will get everyone in the party mood.
Aperitifs
The classic way to kick off any Italian style celebration is with a glass of prosecco. This is the Italian equivalent of champagne, traditionally produced in the Veneto in northern Italy. Prosecco is a white bubbly wine – the best is said to come from the vineyards around Conegliano. Prosecco can be frizzante – semi-sparkling, or more commonly spumante – sparkling. Serve chilled prosecco in long, champagne style flutes to get the party off to a great start.
If you want to offer a choice of aperitifs then you could also go for the vermouths, such as Martini or Cinzano which both come from Turin, the home of the aperitif. Or there’s Campari, the red vermouth from Milan, which you can mix with soda water or white wine.
Mix a Bellini
For a special occasion, try mixing some classic Italian cocktails. The most famous has to be a Bellini, which originated in Harry’s Bar in Venice. A Bellini consists of prosecco or champagne mixed with peach puree (or peach juice if you can’t get puree). The peaches should ideally be white!
Alternatively, mix your guests a Negroni. This cocktail consists of gin, Campari and red Martini in equal measures, shaken with a generous amount of ice.
Italian Wines
Italy is best known for its red wines and you’ll have plenty to choose from. The most famous Italian wine is probably Chianti – with Chianti Classico the top choice. Other Tuscan red wines are highly prized, especially Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. But look out for wines from other parts of Italy too. A good talking point would be the wines produced on the fertile slopes of Vesuvius, labelled Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio.
Vernazzia di San Gimignano is the best known Italian white wine, but also look out for white wines from the Maremma in Tuscany and those from the island of Pantelleria. For sweet wines, you could go for the raisin rich flavour of Sciacchetra from the Cinque Terre, or the rich and syrupy Marsala from Sicily. And don’t forget Vin Santo, the amber coloured ‘wine of friendship’.
Bring on the Limoncello
The classic way to end an Italian meal is with a glass of Grappa, a clear potent liquor. If you want something sweet, sticky and colourful then bring out the bottle of limoncello, a bright yellow liqueur made from lemons.
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