Interstate Eats and Adventures

We ended a 13-year drought of travel outside the US and Canada with one trip last summer. We traveled from Boston to Seattle for our daughter’s PhD defense. Then, a few days later, we bounced from Seattle to Paris to Corsica for some French Mediterranean fun. Then, Corsica to Paris to Dublin to catch up with family. Finally, after 3 glorious weeks of summer adventures, we returned from Dublin to Boston to home. 

In the midst of this whirlwind, my husband and I had a pocket of time to truly wind down in Corsica.

After this hike, we went back to Ajaccio and decided to refuel at an outdoor restaurant by the sea. When we came to the restaurant, there was a reception area right on the water. We were immediately offered a Capo Spritz aperitif. The only spritz I ever had to this point was seltzer with an equal part of either Sauvignon Blanc or Rose, whichever had a screw-off top to keep things flowing. I was not expecting this exotic-sounding Capo Spritz. 

Capo Spritz is a cousin to the Aperol Spritz but with significant differences. Capo Spritz is made from Cap Corse Mattei, named after its place of origin and founder. This is a liquor made from muscat and vermentino grapes, cinchona tree bark, and cédrat, which is a citron. This liquor is specific to Corsica and made out of entirely Corsican sources. 

The other difference is that Casanova Moscato wine is used for authentic Capo Spritz instead of Prosecco and soda water for the Aperol cousin. They are similarly served with lots of ice and a big slice of orange.

There is a white version and a red version of the Capo Spritz. The red version uses red Cap Corse Mattei and has a more pronounced spiced taste. We ordered the white version, and a similar recipe is shared here. Cap Corse Mattei can easily be ordered online or at your local liquor store. In honor of the Corsican landscape, I added a rosemary sprig, which brings out the pine and citrus notes of the Cap Corse Mattei. 

Use a large wine glass or spritz glass and combine in this order:

Fill the glass with lots of ice

1 part Cap Corse Mattei

2 parts Moscato d’Asti sparkling wine -or- Prosecco (see note)

Drop in 1 slice of orange per glass

Insert 1 sprig of rosemary per glass

Cheers!

Notes:

Sweet vs savory: Use Moscato if you like a sweeter cocktail, Prosecco to highlight the more savory notes.

Campervan challenges: This drink requires a lot of ice. You can pack ice trays in your mini fridge’s freezer, bring along a bag of ice in a cooler, or use ice molds like the the ones we used in this picture. They fit really well in the freezer of the van fridge. Plus I can refill them and they freeze fast so I also use them to make iced campervan cappuccino!