70 Drinks in Italian (And How to Order Them)

Italy is famous for its wonderful food and wine, but its range of beverages extends much further. You can find everything from timeless cocktails to cool non-alcoholic choices, ensuring there's a drink for every taste.

The Italian word for a soft drink is bibita, but many other terms describe different kinds of beverages. This blog post will explore common Italian drink names and the key phrases required for ordering them.

Basic Italian Beverage Vocabulary

We'll begin with the fundamentals! Here is the vocabulary for water, soda, and other common drinks:

Coffees in Italian

In Italy, coffee culture is a fundamental part of everyday life. It serves as a social custom, a morning routine, and an energy boost during the day. Italians are famous for their preference for espresso, which they consume in numerous styles. Learn the vocabulary for your preferred coffee style:

Teas in Italian

While tea doesn't hold the same cultural significance as coffee in Italy, its popularity is on the rise. Italians usually enjoy tea during winter or when feeling unwell, as a warm restorative. It's also common to have tea after lunch or dinner, occasionally with a sweet treat or dessert.

Tea is generally served in a cup or mug with a lemon slice or a bit of honey. Contrary to some European customs, adding milk to tea is not typical in Italy.

Wines and Liquors in Italian

Italians usually drink wine with their meals and often have a small glass of liquor after dinner.

It's traditional to match wine with food that enhances the meal. For instance, red wines like Chianti are commonly served with meat dishes, while white wines such as Pinot Grigio are typically paired with fish.

As a top global wine producer, many Italian wines and liquors share the same names in English. Here are some important terms, along with alcoholic beverages originating from Italy:

To expand your drink-related vocabulary, consider exploring the language learning platform Lingflix.

Regional Specialties

Various Italian regions feature distinct drinks due to factors like climate, local ingredients, and historical traditions.

For example, the Veneto region, known for its warm weather and prosecco production, popularized the Aperol Spritz. In contrast, the cooler Piedmont region favors bicerin, a hot beverage combining espresso, chocolate, and cream.

While traveling in Italy, sampling regional drinks offers a genuine taste of the country's rich culinary heritage!

Sicily:

• Granita di Caffè — Coffee granita, often served with a brioche.
• Marsala — Fortified wine produced in the region of Marsala.

Veneto:

• Spritz Veneziano — A popular aperitif made with Aperol, Prosecco, and soda water.
• Vin Brulé — Mulled wine, typically enjoyed in the colder months.

Tuscany:

• Chianti Classico — A famous red wine made in the Chianti region.
• Vin Santo — Sweet dessert wine often paired with cantuccini (almond biscuits).

Piedmont:

• Barolo — Known as the “King of Wines,” a renowned red wine from this region.
• Bicerin — A layered coffee, chocolate, and cream drink from Turin.

Campania:

• Limoncello di Sorrento — A lemon liqueur produced in the Amalfi Coast.
• Caffè del Nonno — A coffee drink with cocoa and cinnamon from Naples.

Liguria:

• Chinotto — A bittersweet soda made from chinotto oranges, popular in the region.
• Sciacchetrà — A sweet dessert wine from the Cinque Terre region in Italy, made using a traditional wine-making process from sun-dried grapes.

Sardinia:

• Mirto — A traditional myrtle berry liqueur, often served as a digestif.
• Cannonau — A robust red wine produced in Sardinia.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia:

• Ribolla Gialla — A white wine variety unique to the region.
• Grappa di Ribolla — Grappa made from the remnants of winemaking.

Italian Drinking Etiquette

Drinking etiquette in Italy is a key component of the culture, showing a profound respect for beverages and the social interaction of sharing a drink. Remember these points when having a drink with an Italian companion:

• Aperitivo, the pre-dinner custom, is a moment for unwinding and chatting over light drinks such as the well-known Aperol Spritz.
• As noted before, Italians pay close attention to choosing the appropriate wine for their meals, with red wines matching meat dishes and white wines complementing seafood.
• Water is provided in glass bottles or carafes, and both still and sparkling varieties are usually offered.
• Coffee, typically espresso, is a post-meal tradition, usually consumed without sugar or milk.
• After a rich Italian meal, a digestif like Limoncello or Grappa can help with digestion.

Finally, when toasting, remember to make eye contact and say “Salute!” or “Cin cin!”

Useful Phrases for Ordering

Now you're prepared to go out and order your drinks! These basic phrases will help you place your order:

• Posso avere un caffè, per favore? — May I have a coffee, please?
• Un bicchiere di vino rosso, per cortesia. — A glass of red wine, please.
• Mi piacerebbe un Aperol Spritz, grazie. — I’d like an Aperol Spritz, thank you.
• Potrei avere un bicchiere d’acqua gassata? — Could I have a glass of sparkling water?
• Mi scusi, vorrei ordinare da bere. — Excuse me, I would like to order a drink.
• Senza ghiaccio, per favore. — Without ice, please.
• Con ghiaccio, per favore. — With ice, please.
• Scusi, quanto costa? — Excuse me, how much is it?
• Il conto, per favore. — The check, please.

No matter your drink of choice, from water to a delightful alcoholic beverage, this Italian drinks vocabulary will give you a solid foundation.