This post is sponsored by MARTINI & ROSSI®.

When asked to think of iconic Italian experiences, many come to mind, easily: gliding along the Grand Canal in a gondola; savoring the best pizza in Naples; photographing friends "holding" up the Tower of Pisa; exploring Rome on a Vespa; tucking into a gelato anywhere and everywhere in the country. But there's nothing like toasting with friends as evening turns into night with an Italian aperitivo. 

Core to the aperitivo experience is the drink. Aperitivi are typically made from wines fortified with a blend of herbs, typically mixed with prosecco, tonic, or soda water, and served with a slice of fruit and/or an olive. You have inevitably tipped back an Aperol spritz or Americano in your day. Further, aperitivi are to be enjoyed with cheese, olives and cured meats. True to the word's origin from the Latin to open, the aperitivo is meant to open up the evening, whet the appetite, and invite in a circle of friends. 

While specific aperitivi fall in and out of favor, the aperitivo experience has been with us since the late 1700s. And today it could not be more relevant as we approach socializing again through the lens of the last couple of years. Celebrating life with close friends and family, having genuine experiences about the present not the 'post,' and enjoying life at its most fun and casual, have always been the hallmarks socializing in Italy, and now should be of socializing everywhere. 

So, for those of you new to the aperitivo experience, why not start with the newest aperitivo? MARTINI & ROSSI® Fiero vermouth is a refreshing taste of Murcia oranges from Spain combined with bitter artemisia botanicals. And when mixed with tonic, a MARTINI & ROSSI® Fiero spritz is nothing short of effervescence in a glass. Also, it couldn't be easier to make. Grab a bottle of Fiero, grab a bottle of tonic, pour some of them simultaneously into a glass with ice and cheers! If the ethos of the aperitivo experience is to be casual, then the Fiero is the quintessential aperitivo. 

Including an aperitivo experience at your wedding could not make more sense. Imagine your guests enjoying aperitivi and sampling exquisite meat and cheese boards, as you're putting on the finishing touches for your walk down the aisle. Or consider an aperitivi reception as the ideal transition between the momentousness of the ceremony and the fun of the dinner and party. If the definition of Fiero is to be 'bold,' 'intense,' and 'proud,' how could a MARTINI & ROSSI® Fiero Spritz not be the signature drink at your wedding? 

To be in Italy is to experience a deep connection with beauty, friends and family, and to the love of life. To enjoy an aperitivo is to experience that connection wherever you are. It is time to make the aperitivo experience part of your everyday.

Please enjoy responsibly.