LIBATION: The Pirlo
The Pirlo (or Aperol Spritz) is a popular Northern Italian aperitivo, particularly during warmer months in the Lake Iseo and Lake Garda regions. (Photo courtesy of jlastra, Flickr)
LOCATION: Monte Isola, Brescia, Italy
LOCALE: Bar Caffe’ Dei Porti
Via Peschiera Maraglio
25050 Monte Isola
Brescia, Lombardy
LOGISTICS: Perfect for a pick me up or before a big meal. Light, refreshing and low in alcohol (around 11%), Aperol will stimulate the appetite without the bitter bite that Campari can bring. Created in 1919 (and becoming popular after WWII) Aperol features 30 aromatic herbs and spices–including bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb and cinchona.
Ingredients:
3 oz. sparkling wine (such as Franciacorta or Prosecco)
1 oz. Aperol
Splash of seltzer
Slice of orange (for garnish)
Directions:
Fill white wine or rocks glass with fresh ice. Add sparkling wine, followed by Aperol. Top with slash of seltzer. Garnish with an orange slice.
LORE: Meaning “fall” in Brescian dialect, this delightful Northern Italian apéritif–or aperitivo–gets its unique moniker because the bright Aperol (or Campari) literally swirls and falls into the sparkling white wine when mixed. A popular “happy hour” refreshment all around Monte Isola and the quaint villages around Lake Iseo and Lake Garda, also called the “Aperol Spritz” in Venice and the Veneto region where the drink originated.
