An Italian evening often runs through three glasses: something bright to start, something to go with the food, and something dark and bitter to finish. You can copy the pattern at home with very little effort.

Glass one: the aperitivo

Aperitivo is the early-evening pause before dinner. The drink is light, a little bitter and meant to wake up your appetite. The most famous is the spritz, from the Veneto region in the north.

  • Make it: fill a large wine glass with ice. Add 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol (or another bitter orange aperitif) and a splash of soda water. Garnish with a slice of orange.
  • Eat with it: green olives, salted crisps, or small cubes of hard cheese. Salt and bitterness get along well.

Glass two: a crisp, simple wine with the meal

With dinner, Italians usually drink wine from the region where they live, and they do not make a fuss about it. A dry, fresh white such as a Vermentino or Verdicchio goes with most starters, seafood and pasta with light sauces. A glass of dry Prosecco does just as well.

  • Serve it: well chilled, in a plain glass.
  • Eat with it: good bread and olive oil, a bowl of pasta, or a piece of Parmigiano Reggiano. Hard, salty cheese is lovely beside a crisp, bubbly wine.

Glass three: the digestivo

After a big meal, many Italians finish with a small glass of amaro. The word means "bitter". These herbal liqueurs are made from roots, bark, citrus peel and spices, and they are meant to be sipped slowly.

  • Pour it: 30 to 40 ml, neat or over one ice cube.
  • Eat with it: a small piece of dark chocolate, or nothing at all. It is a drink for talking.

How to run your own evening

  1. Start around sunset with the spritz and something salty.
  2. Move to the table and pour the dry white or sparkling wine with the food.
  3. Clear the plates, stay in your seats and bring out the amaro.

Keep the pace slow. The point of the Italian evening is not the drinks, but the time you spend over them.

General description of common drinking habits in Italy, which vary by region and family. Please drink responsibly.