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Drinking in Italy
In Italy, wine with food is a life style. Italians have been doing wine for many centuries, and know a thing or two about enjoying it. There's nothing quite like a loud Italian dinner with great food and friends, where everyone is slightly more animated than of custom.
Although many Italian children are brought up on wine, it is a standard accompaniment to any meal, there's not a great emphasis on dedicated drinking in Italy. You will find that a sparkling wine may be offered as an aperitif, though cocktails are not traditionally consumed before dinner. Wine quality in Italy has advanced dramatically over the last century, when Italians concluded to export competitive fine wine. In the past, the center was on making a whole lot of wine from whatever was available so the entire family can get drunk and argue loudly at dinner, so the wine was relatively unremarkable (with exceptions, of course). Modern Chianti is much bolder and zestier than old Chianti (the blend proportions have changed: it used to be nearly a third white wine, and now it is almost entirely red Sangiovese), because of the modern focus on really getting quality from the grapes instead of just making a whole lot of wine.
Also, you can find beer, birra, on draught, alla spina, or bottled, national labels and imported throughout Italy. Spirits of all sorts can be found as well, authentic spirits, known as "grappa" is made from the biproduct of the winemaking process. This stiff shot is not for the faint of heart, and is most certainly an acquired taste, you can also find "distillato" which is a touch more expensive, but made from the grape itself, will satisfy a more refined palate. When you have the chance, complete your authentic Italian experience within each region by tasting a local wine, "vino sfuso", often served from the barrel that was used to distill.
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