Aperitivo

A dining experience begins well before the first dish is brought to the table. There is atmosphere to take in, company to engage with, and often a beverage to ignite your palate. Logan Griffin, Blackberry Mountain’s director of food and beverage, is an expert at pairing a sip with a moment. He carefully chooses what to enjoy before, during and after a meal, to not only complement the meal, but influence the full experience. That first sip sets the stage, and the palate, for what’s to come.

When I go to dinner, especially one that I’ve been anticipating, I’m often ready with a strategy in mind for how I want to set the tone of the meal. I usually start off with something bright and bitter – something that sparks my appetite and wakes up my senses. I gravitate toward bitter aperitivo cocktails, such as an Americano, Negroni Sbagliato or something as classic as Campari Soda.

There is something about the electric red color of these cocktails and their bittersweet personalities that gets me excited for the meal to come.

During a meal, I’m a wine purist and enjoy thoughtful and classic wine pairings. To...