365343 Mon Jan 29 06:43:18 -0800 2007 16 34 Wine 0 2237434 My husband and I enjoy sherry and Lillet, and wonder if there are any Italian aperitif wines - we've asked an Italian friend and at a couple of Italian restaurants, with no luck. Not a fan of campari - we usually end up having a glass of prosecco. TIA Mon Jan 29 06:43:18 -0800 2007 10985 MMRuth 1 2237509 There are several styles of Vermouth that are appropriate for use as an aperitivo (though I believe that the French make the best Vermouth), there is a wine based aperitivo produced by Cocchi, called Aperitivo Americano (similar to Lillet Blanc). And, while I understand it is largely consumed after dinner in Italy, Barolo Chinato makes a great apertif on the rocks. Mon Jan 29 07:14:21 -0800 2007 2237434 13690 Sam B 1 2237532 This doesn't really sound like what you are looking for, but sweet bubbly yet crisp, tart, bitter-edged Brachetto d'Acqui is a great Italian aperitif wine. Mon Jan 29 07:19:41 -0800 2007 2237434 16728 kenito799 1 2237563 Among the vermouths, Cinzano and Martini+Rossi make a "bianco" that's slightly sweet and often served (like Lillet) as an aperitivo. Italians will often drink amari, or bitterish drinks, before dinner as well as after but if you don't like Campari, then these are probably not for you. Try Punt e Mes, a red-vermouth based aperitif, on ice with a slice of orange or lemon. Mon Jan 29 07:28:28 -0800 2007 2237434 22851 obob96 2 2237585 A resounding second to Punt e Mes. Red vermouth with extra bitters. A knock-out on the rocks but skip the orange and try it with a wedge of lime squeezed into the glass. Mon Jan 29 07:33:59 -0800 2007 2237563 10520 carswell 2 2239173 As I recall, Cinzano bianco is more than slightly sweet, much sweeter than Lillet. I like red vermouth the way the Italians drink it: straight up, cool but no ice, no lemon, in the bottom of a highball glass. The most common aperitif in Rome is a flute of Prosecco. Mon Jan 29 13:29:53 -0800 2007 2237563 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 2239599 Speaking of Vermouth, I would recommend Carpano's Antica Formula. Truly exceptional. Check out this (and follow the various links): http://www.wilsondaniels.com/product.php?id=351 Otherwise, Punt e Mes . . . Mon Jan 29 15:01:30 -0800 2007 2237434 28122 zin1953 1 2240361 I'm kind'a confused with this thread. By "wine" I assume you mean something btw 11% & 14% alcohol? I just checked my (very limited) aperitivi shelf and I read labels going from 16.5% (Cynar) all the way to a whopping ... 26% for Campari. If by "aperitif wine" you mean a wine, then by all means the Prosecco suggested above is the way to go. If, on the other hand, your emphasis in on the "aperitivo", then you get into the muddy waters of vermouths and such, of which I'm not precisely a great fan. If for no other reason that the wine base used in these concoctions is just terrible terrible quality juice. Mon Jan 29 18:16:33 -0800 2007 2237434 28703 RicRios 2 2240977 If the base were bad wine, the vermouth would taste bad. As some cheap ones do. Aperol's only 11%. Mon Jan 29 23:05:38 -0800 2007 2240361 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2241174 I guess what I mean is an aperitivo that is grape based, though I don't think wine is limited by a 14% alcohol content no? I think I've had an Amarone w/ a higher content. What I don't enjoy is the bitterness associated w/ beverages such as Campari. Tue Jan 30 04:08:47 -0800 2007 2240361 10985 MMRuth 3 2241421 Wine categories, at least as far as the US is concerned, are generally based upon TAX revenues and, as such, have little to do with reality. Table wines are wines under 14.00% alcohol, and as such, are taxed at one rate; wines between 14.01% and (IIRC) 21% are taxed at a different rate, and are often described as "fortified" even though no fortification has taken place. Sparkling wines are taxed at yet another rate, and so on and so on . . . . Tue Jan 30 09:05:09 -0800 2007 2241174 28122 zin1953 4 2242506 I don't think I've ever seen a bottle of >14% wine labeled "fortified." Tue Jan 30 12:46:16 -0800 2007 2241421 11369 Robert Lauriston 5 2243148 Robert, I'm sorry if I was unclear. I don't think I ever mentioned anything about labels. "Described as" is quite different than "labeled as" -- or, at least, I thought that was obvious. I regret any confusion. Tue Jan 30 15:06:07 -0800 2007 2242506 28122 zin1953 3 2242502 Some wines can ferment naturally to around 17-18% alcohol, but Lillet and vermouth are fortified. Tue Jan 30 12:45:32 -0800 2007 2241174 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 2251814 Vin Santo - my hands down favorite dessert wine. Here's my recommendation - it's pure heaven and very special. It's approx. $30 for a small bottle - don't even bother with anything cheaper. Felsina Berardenga Vin Santo Chianti Classico 1998 From the winery: Vineyards: Northeast of Siena in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga. Grape varieties: Malvasia, Trebbiano and 20% Sangiovese. The clusters are air-dried on mats until January or February following harvest. Maturation: Seven years in the vinsantaia loft-area in small casks, with the "mother" (thick substance remaining from previous vintages), then 12 months in bottle. Suitable for long cellaring. Characteristics: Passito white wine. "Meditation" or sipping wine to be enjoyed with hard cheeses, including sharp and herbed varieties. Serving temperature: 8-14°C, depending on preference and occasion. Sensory profile: Gold yellow, with coppery highlights. Scents of peach, apricot, ripe pineapple (tropical fruit). The palate demonstrates considerable weight, velvety smoothness, and elegant fruit nicely married to the oak. The finish is satisfyingly lengthy. Thu Feb 01 19:47:52 -0800 2007 2237434 65558 Abacus 1 2252390 The base to make Vermouth is wine, you must add several things, such "herbs" sugar and alcohol, thats why vermouth is over 15º of alcohol; vermouth may be taken as an aperitive but normally you shoul add a little soda wather at least 50%, then it may be taken as an aperitive, by the way, italians are great people coping or comecializing others producctions, Spain is a great productor of vermouth, but in Spain vermouth is not botleled, you get the quantity you want, and a lot of people use vermouth in cooking Fri Feb 02 05:03:17 -0800 2007 2237434 70844 JUANITO 1 2254249 Ferrando Erbaluce di Caluso Fri Feb 02 13:19:50 -0800 2007 2237434 11814 dinwiddie