Italian Alcoholic Beverages

Amaro is a potent digestif with a silky, sometimes even syrupy structure that originated in the 1800s. It is traditionally produced by macerating several herbs, flowers, aromatic bark, citrus peels, and spices in alcohol, either spirits o... READ MORE

This classic liqueur is made with different combinations of neutral spirits, caramel, sweet or bitter almonds, various herbs, spices, and occasionally apricot kernel oil. Though its name stems from the Italian amaro, meaning bitterREAD MORE

This vibrant red, dry Italian liqueur is produced with a neutral alcohol base that is infused with an extract of various bitters and aromatics such as pomegranate, ginseng, orange peel, the bark of cascarilla trees, and citrus oil. It was invented... READ MORE

Vermouth is a quintessential European aperitif. This sweetened and fortified wine is aromatized with various botanicals, and it is usually classified as red (sweet) or white (dry). The origin of vermouth is ancient and closely connected t... READ MORE

Italian grappa is distilled from fermented pomace—solid components of grapes that are left after the juice has been pressed. The taste profile of grappa varies, and each variety is distinguished for their unique character that depen... READ MORE

Bellini is a classic Italian cocktail made with a combination of Prosecco and white peach nectar or white peach purée. Peach purée or nectar is first poured into a chilled flute glass, and it is then topped with Prosecco bef... READ MORE

One of the most exported Italian white wines, Prosecco is a sparkling wine that comes in three levels of perlage, the bubbliest spumante (sparkling), followed by frizzante (semi-sparkling), and tranquillo (still... READ MORE

This Italian liqueur is made with lemon zest that is left to infuse in a neutral spirit. The combination is mixed with sugar and water, and it is then filtered after a resting period. Although it is enjoyed and produced throughout Italy, limon... READ MORE

Negroni is a cocktail made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Although its origin is unclear, it is believed that this cocktail was invented in Florence in 1919 by Count Camillo Negroni, who wanted to improve his favorite... READ MORE

This full-bodied, red wine is made from Nebbiolo grapes in a small area in Piedmont with a unique soil and climate conditions. It has been produced since the 19th century, and soon after its invention, it became a favorite among the Italian and Eu... READ MORE

Primitivo is an Italian grape variety with quite interesting origins. Research conducted in 1994 proved that the grape is identical to Californian Zinfandel, while it was later discovered that both grapes originated from an old and obscur... READ MORE

The coral-hued Spritz Veneziano (also known as Aperol Spritz) is one of the most popular aperitif cocktails in Italy. It is made with a combination of prosecco (3 parts), Aperol (2 parts), and a splash of soda water. The drink is... READ MORE

Sangiovese is a red grape variety indigenous to Italy that is predominantly grown in Tuscany, but also in other central and southern regions, from Romagna down to Lazio, Campania, and Sicily. It is best known as the main grape used in Chi... READ MORE

Hailing from Padua, this Italian liqueur was invented in 1919 by the Barbieri brothers. It has been produced following the original secret infusion that combines bitter and sweet oranges, rhubarb, herbs, and alcohol. It is characterized by its com... READ MORE

Barbera is the most common grape in Piedmont and the third most-planted grape in the country. It is used in varietals and blends. Nowadays, it is considered to have great potential to produce excellent quality wines, although it was once ... READ MORE

This aniseed-flavored liqueur is made with a clear spirit and usually a secret combination of herbs and spices that further elevate its flavor. Luigi Manzi was the first to commercially produce sambuca in Civitavecchia, in the mid-1800s. ... READ MORE

Though most brands keep their recipe secret, this Italian-style liqueur is typically made with a blend of various spices and herbs such as saffron, juniper, rhubarb, aloe, chamomile, and mint. Because of the extensive list of ingredients, Fern... READ MORE

This pale gold liqueur is distilled from a hazelnut infusion which is blended with various flavoring agents such as vanilla, chocolate, or coffee. The base concentrate is then combined with alcohol, sugar, and water before it is left to age. F... READ MORE

Hailing from Saronno, this renowned amaretto brand is produced with a base spirit, apricot kernel oil, burnt sugar, and 17 different herbs, fruits, and spices. The brand claimed the invention of the original amaretto in the 16th century, and throu... READ MORE

Chianti wine is a red blend from Chianti, a small region in Tuscany, Italy. Made with a minimum of 70% Sangiovese grapes, a wine calling itself Chianti is allowed to be made almost anywhere in Tuscany, and the entire region is divided int... READ MORE

Soave is an Italian wine that comes from the namesake wine region, which is located east of Verona. It is predominately made with Garganega grapes, and occasionally small amounts of Trebbiano di Soave, Chardonnay, or other varieties. Soav... READ MORE

Bombardino is the ultimate Italian winter cocktail made with a combination of brandy, VOV egg liqueur, whipped cream, and cinnamon. In order to prepare it, brandy and warm egg liqueur should be poured into a glass mug, and the co... READ MORE

Made entirely from the Moscato Bianco grapes, Moscato d'Asti is a fragrant, not overly sweet fizzante (semi-sparkling) wine that is produced mainly in the province of Asti and the nearby Alessandria and Cuneo. The wine is delicate, floral... READ MORE

The term sweet vermouth is generally associated with red Italian-style vermouth. Their red color is mostly gained with caramel-coloring, and the examples of the style are typically subtly bitter and usually sweeter than dry vermouth, whil... READ MORE

Nebbiolo is the highly-praised Italian grape that is mostly cultivated and gives the best results in its native Piedmont. Wines made with this red-skinned grape tend to be powerful, age-worthy, and high in tannins as well as acidity. Dist... READ MORE

Mostly cultivated in Campania, Fiano is an old Italian variety that has seen a significant revival since the 1980s. This low-yielding, early-ripening grape is praised for its ability to produce crisp and aromatic wines with a lot... READ MORE

Dolcetto is a red grape that is mostly cultivated in Piedmont. Although its name translates to a sweet little one, the variety is used for the production of dry, medium-bodied red wines. Dolcetto based wines are usually deep ruby... READ MORE

Negroamaro is a red grape variety mostly found throughout Apulia, particularly in Salento, Lecce, Tarento, Brindisi, and Foggia. It is often used together with other regional grapes such as Malvasia Nera, Susumaniello, and Primitivo, alth... READ MORE

Verdicchio is an Italian grape variety that is mostly associated with Marche. It is a versatile grape used in varietals and blends, and it can produce light and refreshing wines as well as more complex examples. Verdicchio wines are usual... READ MORE

Vermentino is a white grape variety predominantly grown in several Mediterranean wine regions, especially in Northern Italy and Sardinia. It is particularly known for producing crisp, aromatic white wines. Vermentino wines are known for their vibr... READ MORE

Barbera d’Asti (DOCG) is an Italian red wine produced on the hilly vineyards in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria in Piedmont. The minimum of 90% Barbera grapes must be used in its production, while the other 10% may be made up ... READ MORE

In the past known as bianchissimo (the whitest), Martini Bianco is a variety of sweetened dry vermouth—fortified and aromatized wine—that was first introduced in 1910. Although the exact recipe is a closely guarded se... READ MORE

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a medium-bodied red Italian wine that is produced in all four provinces of Abruzzo. The wines must be made from at least 85% of Montepulciano grapes, while the only other permitted variety is Sangiovese. Though ... READ MORE

Corvina is an Italian red grape variety that is mostly planted in Veneto. This thick-skinned red grape is best known as the backbone of many blends such as Valpolicella and Bardolino. Dried Corvina grapes are used for th... READ MORE

Bolgheri is an Italian appellation located in Tuscany that is best known for its tannic red wines made from classic Bordeaux grapes. These red wines can be made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or Merlot, or with a blend ... READ MORE

Lagrein is an ancient Italian red grape mainly cultivated in Trentino-Alto Adige in Northeast Italy. The grape has ancient origins, and though it was once common, it was later mainly replaced by Schiava (Vernatsch), which proved to be mor... READ MORE

This red Italian wine is produced in the DOC region that surrounds the city of Alba and in some areas overlaps with Barolo and Barbaresco wine regions. The wine is produced with a minimum of 85% Barbera grapes, with the only permitted addition of ... READ MORE

An Englishman John Woodhouse discovered this fortified Sicilian wine and started producing it on a larger scale in 1796. Because of its instant popularity, the quality of Marsala wines began to deteriorate, but in 1984, stricter regulatio... READ MORE

This powerful red wine is produced from Nebbiolo grapes grown on the nutrient-rich soils around the city of Barbaresco in Piedmont. For a long time, the wine was considered as the less prestigious, lighter cousin of the Nebbiolo-based Barolo, but ... READ MORE

Hailing from Turin, this sweet Italian vermouth was created in the 1862s by Martini Rosso. It is made from wine that is infused with various botanicals such as plants, barks, or flowers. The macerate of the botanicals is added together with carame... READ MORE

Amarone della Valpolicella (DOCG) is a rich, dry Italian red wine made from dried grapes of the varieties Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara. It is considered to be the most prestigious wine of the Veneto region and one of the m... READ MORE

Nero d’Avola is an indigenous Sicilian red grape, whose name, meaning the black of Avola, refers to its distinctive dark color. For most of the 20th century, Nero d'Avola was used as a blending grape, but in the 1990s winem... READ MORE