Negroni Week Splashes Red Next Week
Negroni Week returns with Campari's iconic splash of red across the motu from 22 - 28 September.
Negroni Week is back, and New Zealand is celebrating with a nationwide tribute to the classic cocktail. From September 22 to 28, bars and restaurants will showcase the Negroni in all its forms, from new twists to one-night-only experiences.
“Whether you’re a die-hard Negroni lover or trying one for the first time, there’s an event or serve to spark your curiosity, says Phil Restall, Managing Director of Campari NZ.
In Auckland, the events range from bar takeovers to unique degustations.
Soul Bar is dedicating a "Soul Goes Red" Campari takeover to the week, while Bar Albert will become a "Negroni Lounge" with a special window installation. Non Solo Pizza is extending its celebration over two months, including a dedicated Weekend Feast.
On opening night, Deadshot (Ponsonby) and Dee’s Place (Cuba St, Wellington) will join forces for a guest shift you won't want to miss. For something different, QT Hotel will offer a tarot-inspired cocktail experience, and SkyBar invites guests to sip the Negroni family among the clouds.
Panacea is keeping things playful with a Negroni-themed bingo night. Phew - and that’s just Auckland.
Check out the full map of activations in your town here:
The iconic nature of the Negroni is captured in its balanced simplicity: three ingredients—Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth—combined in equal measure. This simple ratio allows for endless creativity. "Negroni Week is our invitation to see what happens when some of the most creative people in the hospitality business put their own spin on a classic," says Phil.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss This Iconic Celebration
The Negroni's place in cocktail history is written on the piazza stones of Italy, where its origins can be traced to Florence. In 1919, Count Camillo Negroni requested his bartender to strengthen his usual Americano (Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water) by replacing the soda water with gin. This simple change would go on to become a new classic, popular as an aperitivo and gaining fame amongst the artists, writers and cinema icons embracing all things Italiano at the time. Strikingly red, like Campari itself, bittersweet and full of botanical character, the Negroni is inherently sophisticated, like only a drink (or a drinker) so bold can be considered.
According to Bon Appetit magazine, until recently, ordering a Negroni was “a secret handshake, a sign to bartenders that you knew what you liked, and how to order it.” In the same way James Bond catapulted the Martini into pop culture, the institutionalisation of the Negroni was helped by the rise of Italian-American culture and cuisine in the US. As the craft cocktail movement of the early 2000s emerged, the Negroni went meteoric amongst bartenders and barflys with a reputation for elegance and balance—when done right.
In the lockdown-inspired craze of at-home cocktails, Stanley Tucci elevated and added controversy with his shaken variation while this editor traipsed through 18 different variations to find the perfect New Zealand version of the drink using NZ gins and sweet vermouth.
And this is why the creativity and playfulness of Negroni Week is an annual opportunity to celebrate and recreate with your own splash of red, defining the Negroni your way.
While Campari leads the official celebration, the success of Negroni Week is a testament to the wider hospitality industry. The week is owned by bartenders, bar owners, and cocktail enthusiasts, so even if you’re drinking your first ever Negroni, you won’t be alone. This year, Napier venues have championed their own media campaign with events like guest shifts and special menus.
Now in its twelfth year, Negroni Week is celebrated in over 80 countries and continues its partnership with the global Slow Food movement. This means every Negroni you order does some good for the world. As Restall explains, "Every sip makes a difference."
So gather your friends, wear a touch of red, and raise a glass to a drink that never goes out of style.