Aperitivo Cappelletti

Wine-Based Aperitif | Italy (Antica Erboristeria Cappelletti, Trentino-Alto Adige) | Vinous Wine Base with Herbs & Citrus Botanicals | 17% ABV

Process & Profile

Aperitivo Cappelletti is a traditional Italian red bitter aperitif made on a wine base, rather than a neutral spirit, giving it a distinctive vinous quality. It’s produced by Antica Erboristeria Cappelletti in Trentino-Alto Adige, with a family recipe dating back over a century. Made using mostly Trebbiano and other white wine grapes, it is infused with alpine herbs, bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb, and naturally colored with carmine. With lower sweetness than many its peers, it offers a pleasantly dry and aromatic experience.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Bright herbal aromas, orange peel, gentle rhubarb, and alpine herb notes

• Palate: Balanced sweet-and-bitter character; vibrant citrus from orange and grapefruit zest, layered with botanical complexity and herbal undertones

• Finish: Dry and refreshing with bitter undertones and a pleasant wine-like, vinous texture

What Makes It Special

• One of the oldest styles of Italian red bitters (nicknamed Il Specialino) still produced today

• Crafted on a wine base, preserving acidity and vinous structure compared to spirit-based aperitivos

• Uses natural carmine for its crimson-red hue, avoiding artificial dyes

• Offers less sweetness and more dryness than standard alternatives like Aperol or Campari, making it ideal for elevated and aperitif-style cocktails

How to Enjoy

Serve over ice with a splash of soda or sparkling wine for a sophisticated Spritz. It also makes a compelling alternative to Campari or sweet vermouth in cocktails like an Americano or Negroni for a drier, more vinous profile. Especially pleasant with a twist of orange.

FAQ

1. What is Aperitivo Cappelletti made from?
   Aperitivo Cappelletti is made from a wine base (mostly Trebbiano), infused with botanicals like bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb, and alpine herbs.

2. What is the ABV of Aperitivo Cappelletti?
   Aperitivo Cappelletti is bottled at 17% ABV.

3. How does Aperitivo Cappelletti taste?
   It offers a bright, herbal nose with orange peel, citrus zest, gentian, and rhubarb, a balanced sweet-bitter palate, and a dry, satisfying finish.

4. What makes Aperitivo Cappelletti unique compared to other aperitifs?
   Its wine base, traditional production method, natural carmine coloring, and balanced dryness set it apart from spirit-based, sweeter aperitifs.

5. How should Aperitivo Cappelletti be served?
   Enjoy over ice, with soda or sparkling wine as a refined Spritz, or use in classic cocktails like an Americano or Negroni for a more vinous twist.