More Than Just a Drink: Why Aperitivo Is a Daily Ritual
Imagine this…
The sun has just begun its descent into the night, and the sky turns shades of red, orange, and gold. The day is almost over, and you’re on your way to meet your friends. Or maybe your boyfriend. Your girlfriend. Your husband, your wife, your lover, your dog, your cat… maybe even your goldfish. Or simply the couch at home.
The to-do list is either done or pushed aside, and one of the most important moments of the day is about to begin: the aperitivo.
What does “aperitivo” mean?
If you ask the dictionaries, the definitions go more or less like this:
Treccani (Italian Dictionary) Aperitivo (noun, masculine) – A beverage, usually alcoholic (such as vermouth, bitter, dry sparkling wine, etc.), typically consumed before a meal to stimulate the appetite. By extension, it also refers to the combination of drinks and snacks served before lunch or dinner.
Oxford English Dictionary Aperitivo (noun) – A pre-meal drink, typically alcoholic, intended to stimulate the appetite. Originating from Italian, where it refers both to the drink and the ritual social occasion of having it.
Now, with all due respect to the dictionaries, their definitions are accurate… but they fall short.
Because the aperitivo isn’t something you list on a menu. It’s not just a drink and a handful of snacks on the table. It’s something you live, something you inherit, something you feel under your skin.
It’s more than a habit — it’s a cultural code. A quiet ritual, a structured pause that says more than it seems. It’s a shared understanding that every day deserves a soft landing.
Within that simple act lies something deeper: the need for balance, the desire for connection, and the search for small, everyday beauty.
It’s our unspoken way of saying: we got through the day — and that, in itself, is worth honoring.
One way I love to see it?
The aperitivo is one of the last sacred moments where we still agree to meet just to be. Not to do. Not to plan. Not to work. Just to show up — as we are — and be there, together.
That’s why I want to tell you the story behind this quiet ritual born in Italy. Where it came from, what it really means, and why it might be time to start carving out your own version of it. Every now and then.
When Did It Begin?
The concept goes way back: the ancient Romans were already sipping herb-infused wines before meals to help with digestion.
But the word aperitivo, in the way we use it today, was born in 18th-century Turin, thanks to Antonio Benedetto Carpano, the inventor of vermouth: a wine infused with herbs and spices, perfect for sipping before dinner. The idea caught on quickly among the Turin elite and soon spread across northern Italy, especially in regions like Piedmont, Lombardy, and Veneto.
By the 1920s and 30s, the aperitivo had evolved into a true urban social ritual, tied to elegant cafés, the after-work pause, and the bourgeois ideals of refinement and conviviality.
From there, it became part of the Italian DNA. And even today – despite changing cocktail trends, styles, and locations – the heart of the aperitivo is still the same: slow down and connect.
How to do Aperitivo?
Let’s say the aperitivo is informal, but well-structured.
When Does It Happen?
It usually happens before dinner, between 6:00 and 8:30 PM.
Where Does it Happen?
Anywhere — and that’s the beauty of it.
You might find yourself at the corner bar under your apartment, sipping something cold while chatting with the bartender. Or on a rooftop terrace, watching the city lights flicker on as the sun dips below the skyline. Maybe you’re on the seafront, with salty air and wind in your hair, or in a city park, shoes off, picnic-style, with a few friends and a bottle passed around.
Sometimes, it happens on a tiny balcony with just two chairs and a bowl of chips. Or even alone in your bathtub, book in hand, feet soaking, glass of wine balanced on the edge.
Yes — that counts too.
The Ingredients for the Perfect Aperitivo
Spoiler alert: there’s no single recipe. But there are some unwritten rules that almost always work.
A good aperitivo needs three essential ingredients: the right company, a good drink, and something to snack on.
Here’s the basic formula:
The drink: It can be a classic like a Spritz, Negroni, or Americano. Or something simple, like a glass of prosecco, white wine, or a non-alcoholic bitter.The key is that it’s light and easy to sip. This isn’t dinner, and it’s not an after-party. This is aperitivo time.
The food: You don’t need an endless buffet. A few olives, taralli, chips, some slices of cheese or cured meats, or a well-made sandwich are more than enough. The goal isn’t to fill up – it’s to wake up your appetite and fuel conversation.
The company : Choose people who make you feel at ease — or simply choose yourself, after a long day. The right company is what turns a simple drink into a true aperitivo. Because it’s not about how many are there, but how much they mean.
Now it’s your turn to try it.
Make yourself an aperitivo. Invite someone — or don’t. Put your phone away. Take a breath. Watch the sky change color. Let the noise fade. Let the day settle. Let yourself just be.
Because no matter how the day went, you showed up. And that, in itself, is worth toasting to.
Cin cin.
With Love, Maggy
