The Best Spritz I Have Ever Had

When I get tired of drinking spritzes, the universe always has a different variation. On a recent trip to Tuscany, I had such a spritz while staying at the hilltop Monteverdi Tuscany. This boutique hotel is located in Castiglioncello del Trinoro and offers stunning views of the Val d’Orcia. The property’s Library Bar overlooks the rolling landscape of UNESCO-protected land. I couldn’t resist looking at the “Spritz Variazioni” portion of the menu. It was like any American tourist visiting Italy.

The drink was bright orange, just like Aperol spritzes, but it had a highly regional ingredient that (no offense) is a cut above Aperol.

Vittoria Bellantonio is the Monteverdi food and beverage manager. She explained that Gabriello Santini makes the local liqueur in Chianciano Terme. My “Italian Spitz” was my first taste. It had a more robust, bitter flavor than other spritz ingredients. April was a local specialty I had never heard of, but I am now a long-time fan.

It was also a pleasant atmosphere. Monteverdi is a restored hilltop village with medieval and ancient roots. Its food and beverage programs are overseen by Giancarla Bodoni (executive chef), who cares about Oreade, the fine-dining restaurant on the property, and Zita, which will open in 2023.

Bodoni boasts a chef’s garden on site that inspires the food and drink menus at both the Lounge & Terrace Bar as well as the Library Bar. To keep the herbaceous vibes going, I decided on the zero-proof La Spuma. It features fresh cucumber, basil, and lime juice. La Spuma cedrata is an Italian soft drink flavored with Calabrian orange fruit.

As the temperature drops, I find it easier to torture myself with a mental reel of summer adventures. The reel freezes when I reach Tuscany, where I enjoy my Aperit spritz above Val D’Orcia.