Olivia Cerio, Italian Spirits Portfolio Ambassador for Campari America, explains how the iconic summer spirits brand scores big with tennis fans
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00:00The Aperol Spritz has become iconic in recent years.
00:07I believe it's been the official drink of the summer for at least five years running.
00:12It's not just the color that makes it iconic, though, it's the simplicity of how we make
00:16it.
00:17How do we do it?
00:18Prosecco first.
00:19Yes, you want your Prosecco first, sort of like third, three quarters of the way up.
00:24Aperol goes in second.
00:25Two parts.
00:26How much?
00:27Two parts?
00:28Three, two, one.
00:29It's very detailed, super simple.
00:30Not only do I love the color, but the flavor.
00:33That means you're a true Aperitivo fan.
00:36No question.
00:37Okay, and then we're just topping it off?
00:39Just a little splash of soda on top.
00:40Just one part soda, that finishes it off, and then you really can't miss the orange
00:45slice.
00:46Let's see how I did.
00:49And that's the beauty of it.
00:51Even I can make a good Aperol Spritz.
00:52I am not a good bartender.
00:53And if you ever forget, it's on the back of the bottle.
00:55As I mentioned, it's been the drink of the summer for years now, but I want to go back.
01:00Where did this cocktail come from?
01:02Aperol.
01:03Well, it started with Aperol, really as the main ingredient here, obviously, where I talk
01:06about Aperol.
01:071919 is when this brand launched.
01:09A lot of people think it might be a newer brand.
01:11It's been around for over a hundred years.
01:12I need a drink.
01:14We can take a cheers.
01:151919?
01:16This brand launched in 1919.
01:17Silvio and Luigi Barbieri, two brothers from Padua in the Veneto region, launched the brand,
01:24and the rest is history, literally.
01:26So when did the Aperol Spritz happen and why?
01:29Aperol Spritz happened around sort of the Venice area.
01:32The Venetian Spritz has been a popular cocktail.
01:35But the Aperol Spritz really exploded in the last handful of years.
01:40But the Spritz as a cocktail has been around for some time.
01:43But we've really seen this resurgence of aperitivo hour, transcending just Italian eating and
01:48drinking culture.
01:49So the Aperol Spritz is perfectly poised.
01:52I first had it in Italy more than 25 years ago, and it was a long time before it came
01:58here.
01:59Yes.
02:00Why?
02:01And when did it arrive?
02:02So Aperol got to the United States in 2008.
02:03So not very long ago.
02:05So it's still a young brand as far as, you know, brands are concerned.
02:08And did it hit right away, or was it a slow?
02:10It's taken some time.
02:11So Campari Group has really put a lot of effort into this brand in the last handful of years,
02:15as you've mentioned.
02:16But it's also been a very organic thing.
02:18People are just really gravitating toward this brand.
02:21People are really gravitating toward this cocktail.
02:24And whatever we're doing is working, and the people are really enjoying it.
02:27Okay, so when was it that the moment happened that you realized it is everywhere, it has
02:33arrived here in the United States?
02:34I would say a handful of years ago, like you said.
02:36A couple summers ago, I really started to feel the momentum heat up.
02:40But something about this summer feels different.
02:42The Aperol Spritz really feels like it's on fire this summer.
02:45And I've worked for Campari almost seven years.
02:47People are thirsty for this sort of like savoring life's simple pleasures, I think.
02:53People are taking a slice out of Italian eating and drinking culture, right?
02:56They are going on vacation, coming home, wanting to recreate that experience, having friends
03:01over in their backyard, putting out beautiful spreads of meat and cheese.
03:04We're not saving things for special occasions anymore.
03:07Tuesday can be a special occasion.
03:09You know, so people are drinking these Aperol Spritz and really extending that social situation
03:13with their friends because it's low alcohol.
03:15There's always some snacks around.
03:16It feels very sophisticated, but at the same time, it's very light and it's very easy to
03:20drink and it's like something for everyone.
03:22For those that haven't had it, you look at it and you think it's overwhelmingly sweet,
03:26but it's actually the bitter that makes it unique.
03:28It's very well balanced.
03:29Have our palates evolved a little bit?
03:31Oh, yeah.
03:32Humans, I mean, definitely people's palates evolve and you can build acquired taste toward
03:35a little bit more bitter things, like we've seen the rise of the Negroni cocktail.
03:40But this is definitely a very well balanced, lightly bittersweet.
03:43You see that we're at the U.S. Open, and why is it such a perfect fit with this iconic
03:49sporting event?
03:50Well, I mean, the U.S. Open and Aperol have a couple of things in common, such as we love
03:53bringing people together.
03:55The sun is often out.
03:56There's definitely like a jovial, very joyful energy in the air.
04:00Social media is certainly central for the rise of Aperol and the Spritz.
04:06Yeah.
04:07Can you quantify it?
04:08Where are you seeing it?
04:09Is it TikTok?
04:10Is it Instagram?
04:11It's everywhere.
04:12For like this generation that's also very active on social media, it's like it's transcending
04:16all generations.
04:17It's transcending all sorts of like platforms.
04:19But specifically with social media, people are really excited about the Aperol Spritz
04:23in photos and these photo moments.
04:26So we're seeing, you know, like I said, vacations, vacation pictures.
04:29It's very unmistakable to see a bright orange cocktail on your table.
04:324.7 million views of Aperol Spritz on TikTok.
04:36Have you seen the gigantic Aperol Spritz?
04:39I have.
04:40On TikTok?
04:42That has really exploded.
04:43The fishbowl.
04:44Emily in Paris is also an interesting tie-in.
04:47Tell me about how that works and why is that the right thing?
04:50They're going to be releasing their episodes soon that take place in Rome, right?
04:53But anywhere you go in Italy, you're seeing Aperol Spritz.
04:56We had Ashley Park in here and she's a big fan of Aperol Spritz.
04:59She's a big fan of tennis, so she came to the Spritz bar.
05:02And Ashley was actually sporting some of the gear, some of the swag, which we have here.
05:06There's a nice skirt.
05:07You've got this.
05:08I do.
05:09I have the knit top.
05:10There's this really cool polo.
05:12Why?
05:13Why did you decide to make merch?
05:14And how is it taking off?
05:15Yeah, it's taking off really well.
05:16I mean, it's the first time people have been begging for Aperol branded items for so long.
05:20It's the first time we've ever launched an in-house Aperol brand.
05:24So you can buy these items at us-shop.aperol.com.
05:28And people are very, very excited to see them.
05:30Tennis core has been the trend on TikTok that is really synonymous with the Aperol Spritz.
05:36Think it has a little bit to do with everything.
05:37I mean, people are drinking an Aperol Spritz outside at the U.S. Open.
05:42They have their tennis outfit on.
05:43They see this vibrant room.
05:46They want to come in here and have a cocktail.
05:48But also just out in the world, it's really that kind of like celebratory occasion.
05:52It's bringing people together.
05:54You know, whether you're a huge tennis fan or not, if you love an Aperol Spritz and you
05:57love being outside, you love fashion, probably all of those things are going to happen together.