Plinius LifeSyle | Doladira Aperitivo
The most memorable places are often captured through small rituals.
A morning coffee after a walk through a quiet village. A shared meal that continues long after everyone has finished eating. A drink poured as the light changes and the day slowly moves into evening.
These moments are where a place reveals itself.
The Plinius LifeStyle is our ongoing collection of makers, objects and rituals that embody a slower, more intentional way of living.
For this edition, we discovered Doladira, an aperitivo inspired by the landscapes, flavours and traditions of the Italian Alps.
An Aperitivo With a Sense of Place
There is something beautifully Italian about the aperitivo.
It is not simply about what is in the glass. It is about the pause it creates.
The invitation to sit down. To share a conversation. To celebrate the transition between afternoon and evening.
At Plinius, we are always drawn to the rituals that connect people to a place. The ingredients that tell the story of a landscape. The makers who preserve traditions while creating something entirely their own.
Doladira feels born from this philosophy.
An aperitivo shaped by mountains, seasons and the belief that even the simplest moments deserve attention.
Discovering Meredith’s World
We first discovered Doladira through photographer Valeria Bismar, whose creative eye has introduced us to many of the people and places that inspire the Plinius world.
Through Valeria, we were introduced to Meredith Erickson; writer, storyteller and author of Alpine Cooking and immediately drawn into the world she had created.
Meredith’s work has always been about more than recipes. It is about understanding how food connects us to landscapes, traditions and communities. Her years exploring Alpine regions shaped a deep appreciation for the ingredients, rituals and stories hidden within mountain culture.
Doladira is a natural continuation of that philosophy.
A drink created from the same curiosity: looking closely at a place, understanding its character, and translating that feeling into something we can share.
The Taste of the Dolomites
The name Doladira brings together two elements close to the heart of the brand: the Dolomites and enrosadira, the magical pink glow that colours the mountains at sunrise and sunset.
The aperitivo itself reflects this connection to the Alpine landscape.
Built around rhubarb and alpine botanicals, with notes of plum, gentian, elderflower and rosemary, Doladira balances bitterness, freshness and herbal complexity. Its colour comes naturally from ingredients such as rhubarb and black carrot rather than artificial colouring.
It feels both familiar and unexpected.
A drink rooted in tradition, but interpreted through a contemporary lens.
Why We Chose It
There are countless beautiful bottles.
What makes Doladira different is not only what it is, but the story and philosophy behind it.
At Plinius, we are inspired by people who create with a strong connection to place. Makers who understand that authenticity cannot be manufactured; it comes from curiosity, patience and respect for tradition.
Doladira carries the spirit of the Alps without trying to imitate the past.
It feels like something that belongs equally at a mountain refuge after a day outdoors, on the terrace of an Italian farmhouse, or around a summer table shared with friends.
Because hospitality is not only about where we are.
It is about the rituals that make us feel at home.
A Plinius Ritual
Since discovering Doladira, it has become part of one of our favourite rituals: preparing a Negroni at the end of a summer day.
There is something fitting about this.
A classic Italian cocktail, reimagined with a spirit inspired by the mountains.
A reminder that traditions remain alive when they continue to evolve.
The best creations do not simply preserve the past.
They bring it into the present.
The Philosophy
Doladira represents a philosophy we recognise immediately.
A respect for ingredients.
A connection to landscape.
A belief that everyday moments deserve beauty and intention.
It reflects the same values we look for in every Plinius discovery:
Craftsmanship.
Authenticity.
A strong sense of place.
Objects, ingredients and rituals that make life feel a little more meaningful.
Discover Doladira
For those who believe that the best makers tell the story of where they come from, Doladira is a discovery worth making.
An aperitivo inspired by the Alps, created for moments of connection.
Every maker featured in The Plinius LifeStyle collection is independently selected because their work reflects the values we believe make a place truly memorable: craftsmanship, authenticity, timeless design and a slower way of living.
Photo credits: @ValeriaBismar and @Katie Jameson
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