CUISINE

From the piazzas of Italy to the patios of Canterbury, Aperol is bringing more than a century of Italian aperitivo culture to the Kiwi summer with a brand new, effortlessly stylish arrival. You heard it here first at Cantabrian Magazine.

Summer entertaining just became a little more Italian. Campari Group has unveiled its new 750ml Ready-to-Serve Aperol Spritz, launching exclusively in New Zealand and Australia. With its unmistakable sunset-orange hue, perfectly balanced bittersweet flavour and a rather appealing $22.99 price tag, this latest addition looks set to become a fixture at summer gatherings across Aotearoa.

There is something wonderfully uncomplicated about the Italian approach to entertaining. Good food, beautiful surroundings, conversation and a glass of something refreshing. It is the philosophy behind aperitivo, the cherished pre-dinner ritual that encourages people to slow down, socialise and savour the moment. Few drinks capture that spirit quite like the Aperol Spritz.

An Italian Original Since 1919
The Aperol story began in Padua, Italy, in 1919, when brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri introduced their brilliantly coloured aperitif at the Padua International Fair. Seven years of experimentation had produced a distinctive blend of herbs, roots and citrus notes, creating the signature bittersweet character that remains closely guarded today.

The spritz itself has an even longer history, with roots in nineteenth-century northern Italy, where the practice of adding water to wine was influenced by Austrian drinking customs. By the 1950s, Aperol had found its place in the now-famous combination of three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperol and one part soda water. The Aperol Spritz was born, eventually becoming synonymous with leisurely afternoons in Venice, stylish European terraces and the unmistakable pleasure of Italian hospitality.

More than a century after Aperol's debut, that distinctive orange drink has travelled well beyond Italy. Its enduring appeal lies not simply in its flavour, but in the occasion surrounding it.

Made for a New Zealand Summer
Fast-forward to October 2026 and Aperol has recognised something New Zealanders do exceptionally well: entertaining without unnecessary fuss. From long Canterbury lunches and coastal barbecues to garden parties and spontaneous gatherings, summer here is about making the most of warm days and good company.

The new Ready-to-Serve bottle removes the measuring and mixing entirely. Carefully crafted to recreate the taste of a freshly prepared Aperol Spritz, the 750ml format delivers the familiar bittersweet profile at 9% ABV. Simply pop the cork, pour over ice and finish with a fresh slice of orange.

It is an attractive proposition for hosts who would rather spend their afternoon with guests than behind a makeshift cocktail bar.

The drink's citrus character and gentle bitterness also make it a natural companion to summer cuisine. Think fresh seafood, olives, antipasti, grilled vegetables and shared platters of seasonal produce. Its Italian heritage feels particularly at home alongside New Zealand's increasingly sophisticated but relaxed approach to food and entertaining.

A Little More Orange, Please
The timing is no coincidence. Aperol continues to enjoy significant growth in New Zealand, with Nielsen figures for the year ending 28 June 2026 showing volume growth of 18.6%, compared with 9.5% across the wider aperitif category.

Phil Restall, Managing Director at Campari New Zealand, says the introduction reflects the growing appetite for convenient, premium drinks that complement modern social occasions.

"Kiwis have truly embraced the Aperol Spritz and the social occasions that come with it. The new Ready-to-Serve bottle is designed to bring the Aperol occasion from the bar to the backyard, balcony, dinner party or Sunday catch-up."

For Cantabrian Magazine, the appeal is as much about the lifestyle as the launch. Aperitivo is not about extravagance or elaborate preparation. It is about creating an occasion from the simplest pleasures, bringing people together and enjoying a little European elegance wherever summer takes you.

With New Zealand and Australia receiving this exclusive new format, there is something rather satisfying about being among the first markets to experience Aperol's latest chapter.

The new 750ml Ready-to-Serve Aperol Spritz is available now at leading licensed liquor retailers nationwide, with an RRP of $22.99.

Just add ice, orange and excellent company.
Salute to summer.

Discover more at www.aperol.com

Please enjoy responsibly. 9% ABV. For adults aged 18 and over.

CANTABRIAN MAGAZINE
Created in Canterbury, read nationwide.

There are wine tastings, and then there are those rare afternoons when what is poured into the glass carries with it a much bigger story.

Invited to The Canterbury Club for an afternoon tasting of E. Guigal, presented by Brett Crittenden, we travelled through the latest offerings from one of the Rhône Valley’s great wine houses. For me, however, this story began several years earlier.

I first met Brett in 2023 at a presentation at N0. 4. He is thoroughly enthralling to listen to, speaking about wine with knowledge and precision without ever removing the romance from it. His introduction to E. Guigal left such an impression that I subsequently travelled to France to experience the estate for myself.

To visit Ampuis is to understand that wine here is inseparable from place.

Viticulture has existed around Côte Rôtie for some 2,400 years, stretching back to Roman times. The vineyards rise dramatically above the Rhône, while artefacts discovered around the estate speak to the history beneath them.

Maison Guigal was founded by Étienne Guigal in 1946 and three generations of the family have since built an extraordinary legacy. I was fortunate enough to tour the cellars privately with Philippe Guigal himself, an experience that changed the way I understood the wines.

Château d’Ampuis sits beside the Rhône, a short drive from Lyon. Standing there, surrounded by centuries of history and some of the most illustrious vineyard terrain in France, gives an entirely different perspective when the bottle eventually returns to the table.

So, sitting inside The Canterbury Club listening to Brett once again, this time with Ampuis firmly stored in my memory, gave the afternoon another dimension.

Of the wines tasted, two were particularly sublime.

E. Guigal Côte Rôtie “La Reynarde” 2022
The inaugural La Reynarde is crafted entirely from Syrah grown on a 1.6 hectare plateau in the Fongeant sector, where schist, granite and iron rich clay shape the wine.

Dark berries lead into lilac and subtle cinnamon, with the power of Côte Rôtie balanced by remarkable elegance. Full bodied, structured and beautifully composed, it became increasingly interesting with every return to the glass.

The Wine Advocate rated the 2022 vintage 95–97 points. For a debut, it is quite an entrance.

E. Guigal Côte Rôtie “La Landonne” 2022
Then came La Landonne.
The wine bursts from the glass with coffee, oak and toast, moving into tobacco, dark fruit and tremendous concentration. It is a wine built for longevity and I was told it will benefit from time as its oak and tannins continue to integrate.
Perhaps but I found it beautiful exactly as it was.
Powerful, assured and unmistakably serious, the 2022 La Landonne received 93–96 points from The Wine Advocate.

And that was how we finished.
We were told there may have been only four bottles of each wine in New Zealand, making the significance of seeing one of each opened in that room difficult to ignore.

The Canterbury Club was a fitting place for it. Stylish, elegant and classic, it provided exactly the right setting for Brett Crittenden and an exceptional range from E. Guigal.

There is something remarkable about tasting wine after having stood on the land from which it came. Memory becomes part of the experience. A scent, a texture, a glass can suddenly transport you thousands of kilometres.

For one afternoon at The Canterbury Club, I was back in Ampuis.