When it comes to Italian cocktails, the limelight often falls on classics like the Negroni or the Aperol Spritz. However, Italy is home to a wide array of lesser-known but equally enchanting concoctions. One such hidden gem is the Bicicletta: A refreshingly, simple, and yet captivating drink that encapsulates the essence of la dolce vita.
Comprising white wine and Campari, this drink is a staple in the Italian countryside, particularly among older generations who claim it's the ideal refreshment after a leisurely bike ride, hence the name "Bicicletta."
While the Bicicletta enjoys a certain time-honoured status in Italy, it's steadily gaining traction across the UK. Its uncomplicated recipe and crisp, revitalising notes make it a compelling choice for British cocktail enthusiasts looking to venture beyond the usual Pimm's or G&T.
Whether sipped at a local gastropub or enjoyed during an alfresco dining experience, the Bicicletta is poised to make its mark on British cocktail culture, adding a dash of Italian elegance to the mix.
Fast-Track to Refreshment: Your Quick Bicicletta Recipe Guide
If you're here to dive straight into the art of mixing a classic Bicicletta, you're in the right place. Known for its simplicity and full-bodied flavour, this cocktail requires just a few ingredients. Below, you'll find everything you need to craft your own Bicicletta.
Ingredients:
2 oz (60 ml or 6 parts) Italian white wine (such as Soave or Verdicchio)
1 oz (30 ml or 3 parts) Campari
Soda water, to top
Ice cubes
Orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a Glass
Begin by filling a wine glass or a tumbler with ice cubes.Pour the Wine
Add 60 ml (or 6 parts) of your selected Italian white wine into the glass.Add Campari
Follow this by pouring in 30 ml (or 3 parts) of Campari.Stir
Use a spoon to gently stir the wine and Campari together.Top with Soda
Complete the cocktail by topping up the glass with soda water for some bubbly zest.Garnish
Add a finishing touch with a slice of lemon or orange for garnish.Stir and Enjoy
Give it one last gentle stir, and your Bicicletta is ready for your enjoyment!
To make your choice easier, we've curated a selection of Italian white wines that not only enhance the Bicicletta's intrinsic flavours but also stand as exquisite choices in their own right. Scroll down to explore these meticulously chosen bottles that promise to elevate your next Bicicletta experience.
Fasoli Gino Soave Pieve Vecchia
Cellar up to 5 years, serve chilled. This organic, biodynamic Soave is crafted from 100% Garganega grapes. Features lemon zest, almond blossom, and white peach notes. Pairs well with shellfish or creamy seafood risottos.
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Titulus Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico
Captivate your senses with scents of aniseed and broom flowers, followed by palate-pleasing pear and apple notes, rounded off by a delightful almond finish.
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Sartori Soave Classico DOC Sella
2022 white, hailing from Veneto. Pale yellow hue, subtle fruit aromas, dry and well-balanced, finishing with a hint of bitter almond.
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Ca'Rugate 'San Michele', Soave Classico
2022 white wine from Veneto. Floral notes meet spicy pineapple and citrus, ending with a zesty, almond-accented finish.
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The Rural Origin
Contrary to popular belief, the Bicicletta wasn't conceived in a posh Milanese bar or a Venetian canalside café. The birthplace of this unassuming cocktail is much humbler, often traced back to rural Italy. It gained prominence as a post-work refreshment among farmers and day labourers, perhaps explaining its straightforward ingredient list.
The name "Bicicletta" adds another layer of allure to the cocktail. In Italy, where cycling is not just a sport but a way of life, the drink pays homage to a beloved pastime. The legend goes that after consuming a glass or two, even the most exhausted farmers felt rejuvenated enough to pedal their bicycles back home as if they were competing in the Giro d'Italia! It's an amusing anecdote, but it also speaks volumes about the Italian philosophy of finding joy and revival in simple pleasures.
While we may never know who mixed the first Bicicletta, the cocktail's rise in popularity could very well be attributed to Campari, the aperitif that adds the cocktail's characteristic bitterness. With Campari’s marketing efforts throughout the 20th century, the Bicicletta started to be seen not just as a rural delight but as a stylish, yet casual, Italian cocktail.
In recent years, the Bicicletta has crossed Italian borders, travelling as far as the trendy bars of Tokyo and the historic pubs of London. What originally began as a local staple has evolved into a drink with international charm, proving that sometimes the most unpretentious creations are the ones that capture hearts around the globe.
Whether it's the nostalgia invoked by the name, the charm of its rustic roots, or the allure of its straightforward character, the Bicicletta is a drink steeped in tales as rich as the Italian soil from which it emerged. It serves as a delectable reminder that sometimes the most meaningful stories are found in the most unexpected places.
Balancing Heritage and Taste
For aficionados of the Bicicletta, the choice of white wine plays a pivotal role in capturing the drink's essence. Opt for an Italian white with high acidity and nuanced floral notes, such as a Soave or a Verdicchio. These wines not only uphold the cocktail's Italian heritage but also complement Campari's bitter complexity, enhancing the overall drinking experience.
On the British front, the Bicicletta's straightforward charm and revitalizing palate draw a delightful parallel to the UK's staple summer refreshment, Pimm's. Much like Pimm's becomes the drink of choice for Wimbledon or garden parties, the Bicicletta offers Brits a chic alternative with an Italian twist, seamlessly blending the casual elegance of Italian culture into the diverse tapestry of British drinking traditions.
