Aperitivi

Italian Aperitivo in Santa Rosa — Pre-Dinner Drinks at Capriciano

The Italian art of the aperitivo, served in the heart of Santa Rosa’s wine country.

At Capriciano, an Italian aperitivo in Santa Rosa is always wine-based: a glass to open dinner, poured from 5 PM, six nights a week (closed Tuesdays).

In Italy, the aperitivo is more than a drink — it is a ritual. A moment between the work of the day and the long meal that follows, marked by a glass of something bitter or sparkling, a few small bites, and unhurried conversation. At Capriciano, we honor this tradition with a curated list of Italian aperitivi, sparkling wines, and small plates designed to open the evening exactly as it should be.

What Makes Our Aperitivo Special?

The Italian Tradition
The aperitivo was born in Northern Italy — Asti, Turin, Trentino — as a way to wake the palate before dinner. Wine-based, herbal, gently bittersweet, never sweet, it is meant to be sipped slowly while you settle in. At our Santa Rosa osteria, we keep this tradition alive with three classic wine-based aperitivi, a Prosecco from Valdobbiadene, and Bites from the dinner menu to match.
Highlights From the Aperitivo Menu
  • Cocchi Americano — aromatized white wine from Asti, honey, citrus peel, elderflower, gentle quinine
  • Cappelletti Spritz — wine-based aperitivo from Trentino, rhubarb, orange, alpine herbs, bittersweet
  • Lofi Vermouth — white vermouth from Turin, vanilla, white flowers, citrus, served over ice with lemon
  • Bisol 'Crede' Prosecco Superiore — Valdobbiadene DOCG, the classic Italian sparkling aperitivo
  • Italian White Flight — Grillo, Etna Bianco, Vermentino, three crisp Italian pours
  • Pairs beautifully with our antipasti — Bruschetta al Pomodoro, Capriciano Graze Platter, or Calamari Fritti
Is Aperitivo Right for Your Evening?
Aperitivo pairs beautifully with:
  • A pre-dinner ritual with friends
  • Wine country date nights
  • Settling in before a long Italian meal
  • A casual stop at the bar
  • A few light bites from our antipasti
  • Pre-theater drinks before a night out
  • An early-evening visit to the osteria
  • An intimate evening for two
Whether you are opening a long Italian dinner or stopping in for a single glass with a few bites, our aperitivo program is built to slow you down and ease you in. There is no wrong way to begin an Italian evening — only better and best.
What to Expect at Your Table
Aperitivi at our Santa Rosa osteria arrive the way they should — chilled, in a proper glass, served simply with a twist of citrus or a single ice cube. Pair them with a few antipasti to start, or sip them on their own as you settle in. Your server is always nearby to recommend the right glass for your mood or flag the evening’s specials. No rush, no shortcuts — just the unhurried pleasure of an Italian aperitivo.
Why Choose Our Aperitivo?
Classic Aperitivi From Italy

Our aperitivi are classic Italian wine-based pours — Cocchi Americano from Asti, Cappelletti from Trentino and a white vermouth from Turin. The bitter, herbal, gently bittersweet flavors you cannot find anywhere else.

Built to Be Paired

Aperitivo is at its best with food. Our menu is designed so every glass has a perfect plate to match — from our Bruschetta al Pomodoro to the Capriciano Graze Platter. Tell us what you are sipping; we will find the right bite.

Italian Aperitivo in Santa Rosa: What We Pour Before Dinner

An aperitivo is the glass that opens an Italian dinner: something bittersweet, herbal or sparkling, sipped while you settle in and read the menu. Our Italian aperitivo in Santa Rosa is built on wine, because Capriciano serves beer and wine only. Cocchi Americano, Cappelletti Spritz and a white vermouth lead the list, with Bisol Crede Prosecco Superiore for anyone who would rather start with bubbles, and a Sicilian blood orange soda for anyone who is not drinking. A plate of olives or bruschetta completes it.

Oysters and a glass of white wine, an Italian aperitivo in Santa Rosa at Capriciano Osteria
Bruschetta al Pomodoro on an oval plate beside a glass of red wine at Capriciano Osteria
Grilled bread slices with a white spread and a glass of red wine at Capriciano Osteria
Close-up of Calamari Fritti with fried zucchini and microgreens at Capriciano Osteria

What is an Italian aperitivo?

An aperitivo is a pre-dinner drink meant to wake up the appetite, usually lighter and more bitter than what follows. In northern Italy it is often an aromatized wine or a vermouth, served with something small to eat. Here you might pair yours with Bruschetta al Pomodoro on homemade focaccia, a plate of Marinated Mediterranean Olives, or the Capriciano Graze Platter with the chef’s three cheeses, prosciutto and mostarda di frutta. Small bites like these open the appetite.

Which aperitivi do you serve?

All of our aperitivi are wine-based. Cocchi Americano is an aromatized white wine from Asti, with honey, citrus peel, elderflower and gentle quinine. Cappelletti Spritz is a wine-based aperitivo from Trentino, with rhubarb, orange, alpine herbs and a bittersweet finish. Our white vermouth brings vanilla, white flowers and citrus, served over ice with lemon. Bisol Crede Prosecco Superiore from Valdobbiadene is the classic sparkling alternative, and the Sparkling Flight pours Prosecco, Schramsberg and Champagne side by side.

Is there a non-alcoholic aperitivo?

Yes. For a zero-proof start, order an A’Siciliana Aranciata Rossa, a Sicilian blood orange soda imported from Sicily, or its lemon sibling, the Limonata. Fresh lemonade, iced tea, Boylan’s sodas, Saratoga still water and San Pellegrino sparkling water are also on the drink menu. Any of them goes well with a few olives or the Bruschetta al Pomodoro while the rest of the table decides what to order, and everyone has a glass for the first toast.

When can I have an Italian aperitivo in Santa Rosa at Capriciano?

Aperitivi are poured during dinner service: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5 to 9:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. We are closed on Tuesdays. Order one as soon as you sit down, before the antipasti arrive, and let the menu wait a few minutes; in Italy, that pause between the day and dinner is the whole point of the ritual. Booking ahead is recommended for weekends and for parties of four or more.

That is an Italian aperitivo in Santa Rosa, the osteria way. Open the evening slowly: reserve a table online or on OpenTable, order an aperitivo first, and get directions to 505 Mendocino Ave before you set out.

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