SHARES

Wineries, gelaterias and bars in Tuscany have found a neat way to serve drinks and treats to customers while maintaining a safe physical distance by using wine windows or buchette del vino as they're known in Italian. As the region come out of lockdown, these windows have been serving contactless wine, Aperol Spritzes, gelato and coffee to customers.
 
The wine windows first came about in the 17th-century when quick-thinking wine merchants decided to carve little openings in the walls of their premises to continue serving drinks to the public during the Italian Plague of 1629–1631, where they passed the flask of wine through the window to the client but did not receive payment directly into their hands. Instead, they passed a metal pallet to the client, who placed the coins on it, and then the seller disinfected them with vinegar before collecting them.