The pleasure of having an aperitif before going out for dinner or before coming home from work is, in North-East Italy, more than just a habit: it is a tradition. A tradition which has a lot to do with what the French call joie de vivre: that is the ability to take things as they come, to lighten the atmosphere and, above all, to share time with friends, which, in these parts, is much more than a simple social habit.

Both the Extra Dry and the Brut Conegliano Valdobbiadene can be drunk with countless different foods, therefore allowing, and fantasy permitting, truly delightful cocktails to be enjoyed both in summer and winter. Why? Because Conegliano Valdobbiadene is a moderately aromatic, floral and fruity wine (even the driest versions). It is young, light and fragrant and loves gentleness not strength. It can delight the palate without being too heavy, too sweet or intrusive. In short, it is the perfect ingredient. So what are the 3 most famous cocktails based on Prosecco? Now we are going to tell you:

Spritz: “His Royal Highness”

How can we not start here? Its origins go back to the end of the 19th century, and Austrian soldiers stationed in Veneto and Friuli. They considered the local white wines to be too strong, so they added soda water (spritzen, in fact, means to splash). By the beginning of the 20th century this habit had reached an almost definitive “glorification” in Venice. This great idea is still alive and well today and has literally gone around the world, with the addition of Aperol. Then more “inauthentic” versions became popular, such as with Campari, Cynar, Hugo or a “white” spritz which has no other alcohol added. Above all, in the last case, the excellence of the basic ingredient is everything. A poor quality wine would render the cocktail undrinkable.

The other essential question is the quantity of the ingredients: a good cocktail is always a masterpiece of balance. The perfect spritz has these proportions: 3 parts Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol (or alternative of your choice), 1 part soda water or sparkling mineral water. It can be garnished with a slice of orange or lemon.

Bellini: art in a glass

Contrary to what you may think, Bellini, in this case, is not the famous musician, but a painter. On the occasion of an exhibition in Venice of Giovanni Bellini, known as Giambellino, Giuseppe Cipriani (yes, him… the owner of Harry’s Bar in Venice, who had already invented Carpaccio, a recipe based on raw meat dedicated to the painter of the same name), decided to pay homage to the artist with a cocktail to celebrate his greatness.

A summer recipe par excellence, the Bellini is based on two simple ingredients: fresh white peach and spumante. To obtain the best results for this thirst-quenching drink, avoid using commercially-made juice; instead buy white peaches and blend them until you get a very liquid purée. Then proceed like this: pour the peach juice into a flute, then add very slowly the Conegliano Valdobbiadene until you have filled the glass. As always, the proportions are fundamental: in this case, 1 part peach nectar to 2 parts wine.

Sgroppino: pure freshness

In particular, after a lavish lunch, Sgroppino is seen as a blessing. The name is derived from “Sgropin”, a Veneto term for lemon sorbet, prepared without the addition of milk.

Fresh tasting, thirst-quenching and extremely pleasant, Sgroppino combines the acidity of the sorbet with the fragrance of the spumante. If you don’t like lemon, you can substitute it with another fruit of your choice; the result is always excellent.

But let’s get down to the preparation. Take the sorbet out of the freezer allowing it to soften a little (half an hour is sufficient). Put 8 spoons of the sorbet in a liquidizer together with 200ml of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, and, if you wish, 8 spoons of vodka (but, in our view, not necessary). Blend everything and serve immediately. But pay attention! After a while the alcohol tends to lie at the bottom of the glass. In this case, blend again.

Naturally the story doesn’t finish here. The versatility of Conegliano Valdobbiadene is such that it allows you to create your own cocktail according to your inspiration. And should you do so, don’t keep it to yourself: let us know and we can experiment too. Have fun!

Click on the link here to find the Conegliano Valdobbiadene for your ideal cocktail!