Along the lines of spritz con aperol, Cinzano sweet vermouth is good with spritz, and Campari (a bitter, red aperitif) bottles these little drinks that are delicious before and after a meal.

I think that everyone tends to start their drinking with the sweet stuff, and my favorite teen drink was the Malibu Rum with Pineapple juice. It was a standard in Spain and I am sure it is available in Italy.

the Bellini is also a delicious, fruity drink (the ones at Harry's in Venice are well worth the pricetag). Mimosas exist in Spain, so perhaps you can find them in Italy.

If she wants to do a shot, see if a bar has any house specialty. I went to a bar in Florence once that did a really delicious strawberry liqueur with cream liqueur, layered for a nice visual effect. It was smooth and not incredibly alcoholic.

How many Texans are on this thread now? I am at home in Dallas for yet another project. . .

Budman - we were on the same track!

>Wine in Italy has sulfites, ...I think all wine has sulfites, it's part of the chemical reaction that turns grape juice into wine, right?<

Yes, all wine has some sulfite.

It's the additional sulfites that are added as preservatives that can be a problem for many people - eg, cause headaches.

This soes not mean that overindulgence won't cause headaches, too. :)

((I))

Isn't google wonderful? :-)

As I make wine, I know we put sulfites in 3 times -- during the Crush, when racking, and when bottling. We don't use as much as they do in making commercial wines. ((b))

<It's the additional sulfites that are added as preservatives that can be a problem for many people - eg, cause headaches.>

ira, where did you get this? ((b))

Iaclaire: I think at least half of us are Texans; do we all want to get out of the state or something?

ekscrunchy: I think ira's recommendation was for texstout, the "accomplished" drinker, rather than his sister.

My college-age daughter likes to drink something she can no longer find in the states - Bacardi Breezers. They are low alcohol and come in 8 flavors. She also likes beer that is mixed with lemon/lime soda called a radler in Germany and a shandy in the UK. I'm not sure what it's called in Italy.

For wine, she likes light white wines and her current Italian favorite is a 2003 DOCG Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Order a carafe of house white wine and a bottle of flat or fizzy water. Have your sister mix hers 1/2 and 1/2.

Another nice drink is an Americano, which is Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda.

Wow - I didn't realize that I would get such great advice. My mouth is already watering in anticipation.

Yes- I am another Texan, albeit currently living in Washington DC. :)

People who don't want to or can't drink also live in Italy. They order water with their food. Their companions who drink order half or quarter liters of wine, or wine by the glass.

If I were taking medications, I wouldn't experiment with liquers whose ingredients you don't know. Many, and perhaps most, Italian liquers are made of strong medicinal herbs, which might not mix well with prescription medicine.

If one's mother knows she can have a glass of wine, but just one, she's probably been drinking Italian wine in the US anyway, so there's no difference. Just sticks to the usual whites and reds. (Maybe stay away from Sagrantimo, which 14 percent alchohol).

As for the 18 year old, unless she's driving or walking home alone late at night, what difference does it make if she gets tipsy? She might want to know Italians mildly disapprove of public drunkeness, but as long as one keeps eating while drinking -- not hard to do in Italy! -- getting drunk usually requires a deliberate effort. Stick to ordering small rather than large quantities of wine if there are just two of you.

Statia,

Unless you know what Aperol is made of and that your mother's medications won't be affected by those ingredients, I'd hesitate to order an Aperol spritz for her.

Also to consider is that many Italian liquers that go down like honey -- limoncello pops to mind -- are made in a base of potent heavy-duty alcohol.

Although I have been in English pubs where ordering something non-alcoholic provoked a dismissive sneer, I have never had a problem asking for water with my meals in Italy (I never drink wine or spirits when I'm driving).

nessundorma, you have a good point, which is why I was seeking very light drinks. She will probably stick to her usual "watered down a bit wine" and only have a taste of anything else that my sister and I order. She does know her limitations, but it's better safe than sorry. Thanks.

I think she's just bummed that on this trip she can't partake in her pre-illness cocktails. ;) And,I know she would love to try some of the local poisons, but we will watch it very closely.

Hi Budman
<It's the additional sulfites that are added as preservatives that can be a problem for many people - eg, cause headaches.>

ira, where did you get this?

At a number of wine tastings that my physician friend and I have attended.

We always ask about the amount of sulfites added.

He agrees that they can cause headaches.

Anecdotal evidence: My SIL, who can't drink wine in the US because it gives her headaches, has no problem drinking wine in Germany, France and Italy.

I admit that this is not good epidemiology. Shall we write a grant proposal? :)

((I))

OK, Ira, that makes more sense of what I was told at the wine tasting.
Thanks!

LCBonitit: Thanks for posting that link. Just for clarification, you can indeed purchase wines with no sulfites. Organic wine. I just had some last week.

In the link you posted, right above "Sulfites do not produce headaches", it states, "There are a few (very few) winemakers who make wines without adding sulfites.  In the US, organic wine must be made without added sulfites.  These are unusual because the wine is very perishable and often have unusual aromas from the aldehydes that are normally bound and rended aroma-less by the sulftes. Look for these wines at natural food stores."

So there may be some naturally occurring sulfites in organic wine, but at least they don't add any like all the other wines.

I sometimes drink dry martini (vermouth) with sprite. Anything with a lot of mixer should be ok. Also, alternating alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks may work.
Carolena

Ira, I will virtually guarantee that the reason your wife does not have headaches has nothing to do with a lower concentration of sulfites in the wine she drinks overseas. Most likely, she is consuming wine with more food in Europe and perhaps engaging in more physical activity while traveling. I have already belabored this far too long but I feel like correcting all of these erroneous notions as best I can. Headaches come from the alcohol in wine! At wine tastings, by the way, we usually spit!

Hey, if the headaches are really getting you down, skip the vino, and remember one of my important mottos from my last trip.

"You'll never be sorry
with another Campari!"
((H))

Hi ek,
>Why in the world is Valpolicella "good for beginners?" This is an often superb wine....<

Because it is **usually** a very light, fruity, slightly fizzy wine.

I agree that there are very good wines from the Valpolicella region - Amarone being the best of them.

((I))