Ingredients
A base of Tuscan white wine infused with citrus and herbs, with grapefruit peel and gentian giving the bitterness and the low alcohol keeping it firmly in aperitivo territory.
- ✦Grapefruit peel
- ✦Bitter orange peel
- ✦Gentian root
- ✦Wormwood
- ✦Tuscan herbs
- ✦White wine base
History of the Brand
Amaro Santoni was created in Florence in 2013 by a Tuscan family working from a wine base rather than neutral spirit, in the older Italian tradition of vino amaro.
Wine-based amari were common in Italy before industrial rectification made high-proof spirit cheap, and the style has returned with the modern low-ABV drinking trend.
The bottle found an audience quickly among bartenders looking for something they could pour generously without flattening a guest.
It is now a fixture on Tuscan aperitivo lists and a standard reference for the vino amaro category.
Tasting Characteristics
Pink grapefruit, white flowers, dried herbs.
Grapefruit pith and orange, gentle gentian bitterness, a dry wine backbone.
Short to medium, clean and drying.
Flavor meter
How to serve it
- 01Chilled over ice with a grapefruit slice.
- 02Topped with soda as a low-ABV spritz.
- 03With prosecco for a lighter aperitivo.
- 04Neat and cold before dinner.
- 05Split with gin in a short aperitivo cocktail.
Where to Get It
Imported into the US and UK by specialty distributors. Wine-based, so refrigerate after opening.
Specialty bottle shops
Shelved with Cappelletti and other low-ABV bottles, $30–$40.
Online spirits retailers
Search 'Amaro Santoni'.
Tuscany
Poured at aperitivo across Florence.
Affiliate buying links coming soon.
Amaro Santoni FAQ
What is Amaro Santoni?
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A Florentine amaro made on a Tuscan white wine base with grapefruit, citrus and herbs, bottled at around 16% ABV.
What does Amaro Santoni taste like?
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Grapefruit pith and orange over a light gentian bitterness, dry and refreshing rather than syrupy.
Does it need refrigeration?
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Yes — it is wine-based, so keep it cold once opened and drink it within a few weeks.
Is it an aperitivo or a digestivo?
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Mostly an aperitivo. The low alcohol and citrus profile suit it to before-dinner drinking.