{"id":6370,"date":"2014-02-24T18:14:51","date_gmt":"2014-02-24T18:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=6370"},"modified":"2024-11-14T15:24:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T15:24:06","slug":"drink-like-an-italian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian","title":{"rendered":"How to Drink Like an Italian: Traditional Italian Beverages and Customs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One of the finer points of Italian style isn&#8217;t found in fashion boutiques or art museums, but over cocktail hour. After all, in a country where wine flows like water, drinking is a true art. And, like any art form, it has its own set of rules and etiquette.<\/p>\n<p>Heading to Italy? Here&#8217;s how to truly drink like an Italian!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21909\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21909\" class=\"wp-image-21909 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_0449.jpg\" alt=\"A group of people cheering glasses of white wine at a restaurant in Italy.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_0449.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_0449-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21909\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cheers to good times and great company!<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#What_do_Italians_drink\" >What do Italians drink?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Red_and_white_wine\" >Red and white wine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Beer\" >Beer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Cocktails_in_Italy_and_what_%E2%80%9Caperitivo%E2%80%9D_really_is\" >Cocktails in Italy (and what &#8220;aperitivo&#8221; really is)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Most_common_cocktails_in_Italy\" >Most common cocktails in Italy<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Campari\" >Campari<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Aperol\" >Aperol<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Negroni\" >Negroni<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Sbagliato\" >Sbagliato<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Americano\" >Americano<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Spritz\" >Spritz<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Martini\" >Martini<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#All_About_After-Dinner_Digestivos\" >All About After-Dinner Digestivos<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Amaro\" >Amaro<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Limoncello\" >Limoncello<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#Grappa\" >Grappa<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/drink-like-an-italian\/#A_final_note_about_drinking_like_an_Italian\" >A final note about drinking like an Italian<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_Italians_drink\"><\/span>What do Italians drink?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Red_and_white_wine\"><\/span><b>Red and white wine<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Italians take their wine seriously. That said, they\u2019re here to enjoy it\u2014and far from snobby, are usually rather laid-back about choosing a vintage. Wine is meant to go with food, after all, so it is often simple\u2026 and relatively cheap!<\/p>\n<p>For this reason a nice house wine isn\u2019t necessarily a terrible wine (and it&#8217;s usually better than what you&#8217;d find as a house wine in most other countries). Plus, it tends to be a local variety. Start with the basic rules, like to pair red wine with meat and white wine with fish, and ordering local wines, and you&#8217;ll be off to a good start.<\/p>\n<p>Try a classic Chianti in Tuscany, a <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/veneto-wines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Valpolicella in Venet<\/a>o, a Nero d&#8217;Avola in Sicily and a Pinot Grigio or other white wine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. For more, don&#8217;t miss our\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/guide-to-italian-wines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">non-stuffy traveler&#8217;s guide to Italian wines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21816\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21816\" class=\"wp-image-21816 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Walks_Rome_Tuscany-from-Rome_0328.jpg\" alt=\"A woman raining a glass of Italian wine.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Walks_Rome_Tuscany-from-Rome_0328.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Walks_Rome_Tuscany-from-Rome_0328-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21816\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">More wine, please!<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Beer\"><\/span><b>Beer<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While less historically popular than wine, beer is another appropriate alcohol for lunch or dinner. And it\u2019s a must for a cookout or for a pizza night with friends! The famous Italian brands Morena, Moretti and Peroni have been around for a while.<\/p>\n<p>Much more excitingly, however, is that microbrews are becoming trendy, with small, <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/craft-beer-in-italy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local craft brewers popping up around Italy<\/a>. (There are now more than 500 breweries nationwide).<\/p>\n<p>Italian craft brewers typically use high-quality, local ingredients, applying much of the experience gained from wine-making to their beer brewing. Head to a <em>birrificio<\/em> and you can be sure that you\u2019re getting a decent local brew!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cocktails_in_Italy_and_what_%E2%80%9Caperitivo%E2%80%9D_really_is\"><\/span><b>Cocktails in Italy (and what &#8220;aperitivo&#8221; really is)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <em>aperitivo<\/em> is Italy&#8217;s answer to the happy hour: Starting around 7pm and ending around 9pm, pay a flat rate for a drink and you are welcome to eat all you want from the various appetizers offered at the bar. (Here&#8217;s more about <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/italian-aperitivo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">aperitivo in Italy<\/a>).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21893\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21893\" class=\"wp-image-21893 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1835.jpg\" alt=\"A person holding a eaten piece of bruschetta.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1835.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1835-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21893\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Aperitivos<\/em> are the<em> tapas<\/em> of Italy.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Most_common_cocktails_in_Italy\"><\/span>Most common cocktails in Italy<b><br \/>\n<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While wine is common, this is also an especially popular time to have a cocktail. Most Italian cocktail bars will have your classic, internationally-known mixes alongside signature, regional ones.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of our favorites (and don&#8217;t miss our \u00a0post on <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/italian-cocktails-bellini-spritz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the best Italian cocktails for summer<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Campari\"><\/span>Campari<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Invented in Italy in the 1800\u2019s and still produced today in Milan, Campari is a bitter made with liquor and infused herbs and fruit.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s used as the base of many Italian cocktails, such as the Negroni and Americano.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aperol\"><\/span><strong>Aperol<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A liquor nearly identical to Campari, Aperol is much less bitter and has a lower alcohol content.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21898\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21898\" class=\"wp-image-21898 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1167.jpg\" alt=\"A group of people holding spritz and laughing.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1167.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1167-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21898\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Do you prefer Campari or Aperol?<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Negroni\"><\/span><strong>Negroni<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps the easiest to make for its 1:1:1 ratio, this drink is made of one part gin, one part red vermouth and one part bitters, traditionally Campari.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4743\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/italian.cocktails.negroni.sbagliato.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4743\" class=\"wp-image-4743 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/italian.cocktails.negroni.sbagliato.jpg\" alt=\"A refreshing Negroni Sbagliato. Photo by Geoff Peters\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/italian.cocktails.negroni.sbagliato.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/italian.cocktails.negroni.sbagliato-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4743\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A refreshing Negroni Sbagliato. Photo by Geoff Peters<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sbagliato\"><\/span><strong>Sbagliato<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A<em> negroni sbagliato<\/em>, or &#8220;incorrect negroni,&#8221; has a fantastic story to go with this fantastic drink. They say that a bartender in Milan at the famous Bar Basso accidentally grabbed Prosecco instead of gin, mixing equal parts Prosecco, red vermouth and bitters.<\/p>\n<p>Before he could throw out the drink, the guest approved of it&#8217;s taste and the <em>negroni sbagliato\u00a0<\/em>(sbah-lyee-ah-to) was added to the cocktail list! Perfect for an aperitivo or even a brunch, the negroni sbagliato is still as popular as ever.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Americano\"><\/span><strong>Americano<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The bright red Americano is made with part Campari and part red vermouth, with just a splash of soda water.<\/p>\n<p>Its name is supposedly a nod to the American customers who seemed to like the drink so much, but is enjoyed by many an Italian during happy hour, too!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spritz\"><\/span><strong>Spritz<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An especially popular aperitif in northern Italy, Spritz is made with a <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/what-is-prosecco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sparkling wine like Prosecco<\/a>, a dash of a bitter liquor such as Campari or more commonly Aperol and finished with sparkling mineral water.<\/p>\n<p>This is a must-drink when in Venice, where it is abundant and cheap, and perfect for cooling down by the water on a hot day!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21900\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21900\" class=\"wp-image-21900 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1105.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of two people cheering spritz in Trastevere neighborhood.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1105.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Devour_Rome_Trastevere_1105-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21900\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you&#8217;re traveling to Italy, trying a spritz is a must.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Martini\"><\/span>Martini<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A vermouth cocktail (made, of course, with alcohol from the Martini &amp; Rossi brand headquartered in Turin, Italy, surely not with an imported brand!) and mixed with a sparkling wine.<\/p>\n<p>Martini is a cool classic, great for the hip bars of Milan.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"All_About_After-Dinner_Digestivos\"><\/span>All About After-Dinner Digestivos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Having a &#8220;digestive&#8221; refers to the Italian tradition of drinking an after-dinner drink to help digestion.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike the aperitivo, which is often dry or bitter to stimulate an appetite, a digestivo can be bitter or sweet. One of the most well-known is limoncello!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Amaro\"><\/span>Amaro<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Italian for \u201cbitter,\u201d an amaro is made with dozens of different herbs and roots that vary based on type and brand.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Limoncello\"><\/span>Limoncello<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A traditional Italian liqueur made from the zest of lemons,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/limoncello-lemon-liqueur-amalfi-coast-cinque-terre\"> limoncello<\/a> is produced in regions like the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento. It has a bright, zesty flavor with a strong citrus punch, often enjoyed chilled as a digestif after meals.<\/p>\n<p>The lemon peels are soaked in alcohol, and then mixed with sugar and water to create its sweet, tangy taste. Limoncello is typically served in small glasses and is a staple of Italian culinary culture.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22040\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22040\" class=\"wp-image-22040 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Walks_Rome_Amalfi-Boat_0352.jpg\" alt=\"man pouring yellow liquid into a small blue cup\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Walks_Rome_Amalfi-Boat_0352.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Walks_Rome_Amalfi-Boat_0352-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22040\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Limoncello really hits the spot after a wonderful Italian lunch or dinner.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Grappa\"><\/span><strong>Grappa<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A shot of grappa will definitely get things moving after a heavy dinner or to start a long night. A (very) high-proof wine liquor made from grapes, this drink is all Italian: It has to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/what-is-grappa\">made in an Italian territory to be considered true grappa<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Try adding it to your espresso in the morning for a\u00a0<em>caffe corretto\u00a0<\/em>to start your day off right!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21468\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21468\" class=\"wp-image-21468 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/what-is-grappa.jpg\" alt=\"what is grappa\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/what-is-grappa.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/what-is-grappa-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21468\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grappa is an iconic Italian spirit. Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/es\/fotos\/botellas-de-vidrio-negro-en-estante-de-madera-marron-kpTkEF5Eyos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gabriella Clare Marino<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_final_note_about_drinking_like_an_Italian\"><\/span>A final note about drinking like an Italian<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Italians don\u2019t consider alcohol as something that should be vilified, but as a natural and acceptable part of life, one that they want to celebrate and do right.<\/p>\n<p>So take a cue from the Italians and learn how to sip in effortless style (without, of course, overdoing it!)<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22106\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22106\" class=\"wp-image-22106 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Devour_Venice_Sunset-Food-Tour_0083.jpg\" alt=\"a woman pouring wine in several glasses of wine\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Devour_Venice_Sunset-Food-Tour_0083.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Devour_Venice_Sunset-Food-Tour_0083-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22106\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wine is part of Italian culture.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Looking for more tips on eating and drinking like an Italian? Check out our wonderful food tours around Italy. Whether in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/\">Rome<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/venice-tours\/\">Venice<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/naples-tours\/\">Naples<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/\">Florence<\/a>, our local guides will show you the best places to enjoy the best Italian food while soaking up the country&#8217;s amazing history and culture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the finer points of Italian style isn&#8217;t found in fashion boutiques or art museums, but over cocktail hour. After all, in a country where wine flows like water, drinking is a true art. And, like any art form, it has its own set of rules and etiquette. Heading to Italy? Here&#8217;s how to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":21815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[65,126],"ppma_author":[161],"class_list":["post-6370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-and-wine","tag-act-like-a-local","tag-wine"],"authors":[{"term_id":161,"user_id":40,"is_guest":0,"slug":"ginamussio","display_name":"Gina Mussio","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d9497ce1b0417babd82886ad23b18998?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Mussio","first_name":"Gina","job_title":"","description":"Gina is a Midwesterner living in Lombardy, Italy where she writes about Italian culture, travel and food. She is a bilingual primary school teacher by day, forever interested in developing cross-culture communication skills across languages. Gina loves touring Italy's beautiful and tiny borghi with her family and exploring Italy's culture through its culinary history."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6370"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6370"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22180,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6370\/revisions\/22180"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6370"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=6370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}