Aperitivo Cappelletti
Aperitivo Cappelletti is a wine-based red bitter from Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy — 17% ABV (34 proof), 750mL — made by Antica Erboristeria Cappelletti since the early 1900s and known locally as "Il Specialino." Built on white wine (Trebbiano, Pinot Bianco, Garganega) rather than neutral spirit, it's a bittersweet aperitivo colored naturally with carmine, drier and more vinous than Campari or Aperol. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA, and build a more elegant Spritz.
- ABV: 17% (34 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Base: White wine (Trebbiano, Pinot Bianco, Garganega) — not neutral spirit
- Botanicals: Bitter orange, cinchona bark, gentian, rhubarb root, alpine herbs
- Color: Natural carmine (cochineal) — no artificial dye
- Origin: Aldeno, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy; imported by Haus Alpenz
The Red Bitter That Predates the Category
The Cappelletti family has been making aperitivi and amari in the hills south of Trento since the early 1900s, now in its fourth generation under Luigi and Maddalena Cappelletti. Aperitivo Cappelletti is among the oldest styles of classic red bitter still in production — but its wine base sets it apart from every Campari-style bitter on the shelf. That vinous foundation gives it lighter body, natural acidity, and a drying finish, so a Negroni or Spritz built on Cappelletti lands brighter and less sweet. Browse more aperitifs and the full Cappelletti range.
Tasting Notes
Ruby red in the glass. The nose is bittersweet — bitter orange and blood orange over rhubarb root, gentian, and alpine herbs. The palate is light-bodied and vinous, with citrus peel and gentle bitterness balanced by the wine's natural acidity; the finish dries out cleanly, a world away from the syrupy finish of mainstream red bitters.
How to Enjoy
The signature serve is the Specialino Spritz: equal parts Cappelletti and dry prosecco over ice with an orange slice. It also makes a drier Negroni (paired with gin and sweet vermouth) or an Americano over soda. Important: because it's wine-based, Cappelletti oxidizes — refrigerate after opening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aperitivo Cappelletti?
A wine-based red bitter aperitivo from Trentino, Italy, made by the Cappelletti family since the early 1900s. It's bittersweet, lightly carbonated-ready, and drier than Campari, with a white-wine base instead of neutral spirit.
How is Cappelletti different from Campari or Aperol?
Three things: a white-wine base (Campari is spirit-based), natural carmine coloring instead of artificial dye, and a drier, more vinous, less sweet profile overall.
Do I need to refrigerate Cappelletti after opening?
Yes. Unlike spirit-based bitters, Cappelletti's wine base means it will oxidize like a vermouth — keep it refrigerated after opening.
Make your next Spritz a Specialino — get Aperitivo Cappelletti delivered from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.