There’s something about an Aperol Spritz that instantly transports you to a sun-soaked piazza or a chic Italian beach club. But for us, it wasn’t just the drink—it was the umbrella. Bright orange, bold, and beautifully branded, the Aperol Spritz umbrella became our family’s obsession after spotting it one summer at a beach club in Connecticut. What followed was a wild and very Italian-style quest filled with online rabbit holes, secret sources, and finally—victory. Here’s the story of how we turned our backyard into an aperitivo paradise.
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La Scoperta: Spotting the Iconic Umbrella
It all started on a perfect summer day.
We were lounging at a seaside beach club called the Water’s Edge in Connecticut. Aperol Spritz in hand, waves in the background, laughter echoing from families all around. But something else caught our eye: the umbrellas. Bright Aperol orange, standing proudly with Aperol Spritz printed boldly across the canopy, they weren’t just shading sunbathers—they were setting the scene.
There was something about them that just felt like summer in Italy. Chic, playful, and unmistakably Mediterranean. By the end of the afternoon, we had a mission: we had to get those umbrellas.
The Quest: From Amazon to eBay and Back Again
Once back home, we turned into detectives.
- Amazon? Nothing but imposters.
- eBay? A few leads, mostly from Europe, and shipping costs as much as a Vespa.
- Restaurant supply sites? Lots of umbrellas, none with that sweet Aperol charm.
We even joked about calling beach clubs in Positano to see if they’d ship us one with a lemon-scented breeze.
We hit every corner of the internet—Pinterest boards, café Instagram posts, even Aperol’s official website. But they were elusive, like a spritz-fueled mirage in the Tuscan sun.
The Connection: A Touch of Italian Luck
Just when we were ready to settle for a generic orange patio umbrella, fate intervened—as it often does in Italian stories.
A friend of a friend (of a cousin, of a bartender… you get the idea) had a “connection.” Someone in the hospitality industry had a few leftover from a summer promo event and was willing to part with them. A few messages, a handshake deal, and a drive later—we had two pristine Aperol Spritz umbrellas in our trunk and on the patio.
Cue the Italian soundtrack. We had struck gold.
The Transformation: Aperitivo Time, Upgraded
The moment we set them up in our backyard—perched above our picnic tables, swaying gently in the breeze—everything changed.
We weren’t in Connecticut anymore. We were on the coast of Capri, watching the sun set over the cliffs. The spritzes tasted better. The olives were brinier. The laughter was louder. And the photos? Bellissimi.
Now, every Friday evening has become Aperitivo Hour under the Aperol umbrellas. We’ve added string lights, a few citrus trees in terracotta pots, and a portable speaker for some Paolo Conte or Mina in the background.
Friends stop by, and jaws drop. “Where did you get these umbrellas?” they ask, eyes wide. We just smile and say, “It’s a long story.”
Why the Aperol Umbrella is More Than Just Shade
Sure, it’s just an umbrella. But it’s also:
- A conversation starter
- A piece of Italian design nostalgia
- A symbol of summer, dolce far niente, and la vita aperitivo
- The final piece that turned a backyard into an experience
And let’s be honest—anything that makes your backyard feel like a beach bar in the Amalfi Coast is worth the hunt.