Ombra: a "small glass of wine" in the Veneto dialect

The word ombra means shadow in Italian. However, in the dialect of Venice and the Veneto, an ombra means a small glass of wine or prosecco to be shared with a friend; usually served with “cicchetti” (small Venetian dishes). It’s a relic from the time when wines were unloaded in the “Riva degli Schiavoni” and sold in shaded stands at the base of Saint Mark’s Cathedral’s Bell Tower; as the sun moved, the stands shifted to stay in the shade (ombra).

Today, wine (typically white and often Prosecco) is commonly served in small chalice-like cups at osterie and wine bars across Venice and the Veneto.