Aperitivo, the Italian pre-meal drink with appetizers, can be thought of as a heavy happy hour. But as is so often the case with food and drink, Italians have made it an artform. 

Aperitivo comes from the Latin aperire, which means to open. You're opening your stomach before dining. A spritz, or something including a bitter alcohol, is traditional and helps with the stomach opening. But today in Italy, an aperitivo menu usually consists of a bit more: Aperol or Campari spritz, a negroni, Peroni or another beer, and a glass or two of red and white wine.