This Red Wine Spritzer is a refreshing and easy recipe, which is made with red wine and a bitter aperitivo. It’s the perfect summer cocktail, ready in about 2 minutes.
Red Wine Spritzer Ingredients
- 2 ounces red wine, such as pinot noir, grenache, or gamay
- 1 ounce bitter aperitivo, such as Forthave Red or Aperol
- Seltzer water, chilled
- Orange wedge, for garnish
- Ice
How To Make a Red Wine Spritzer
- Fill the glass: Fill a lowball or rocks glass with ice.
- Combine and serve: Pour the red wine and the aperitivo over the ice. Top off the glass with chilled seltzer, garnish with an orange wedge, and serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- What’s the best red wine for a spritzer? A light-bodied, low-tannin red wine is best as it will stay refreshing and won’t be too heavy. The recipe’s suggestions of Pinot Noir, Grenache, or Gamay are perfect choices.
- Can I make this sweeter? Yes. For a sweeter spritz, you can use a fruitier red wine, a sweeter aperitivo like Aperol, or simply add a small splash of simple syrup or orange juice.
- Can I make a big batch of this for a party? Absolutely. You can pre-mix the red wine and the aperitivo in a pitcher. When you’re ready to serve, pour the mixture over ice in individual glasses and top each one with the chilled seltzer to ensure it stays bubbly.
- What is a bitter aperitivo? An aperitivo is an alcoholic beverage typically served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. Bitter aperitivos, like Campari or Aperol, are Italian liqueurs with a complex, herbal, and often bitter or bittersweet flavor profile.
What To Serve With a Red Wine Spritzer
This is a classic aperitif cocktail that pairs wonderfully with light, salty snacks.
- A bowl of mixed olives
- A simple cheese and charcuterie board
- Lightly salted potato chips or crackers
- Small bites like prosciutto-wrapped melon or bruschetta
How To Store a Red Wine Spritzer
- This is a single-serving cocktail that is best made fresh and enjoyed immediately while it is cold and bubbly. It does not store well as it will lose its carbonation.
Red Wine Spritzer Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Protein: 0g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
No, this is a relatively light, low-alcohol drink. It’s designed to be a refreshing, easy-sipping drink, perfect for an afternoon or before dinner.
Yes. While an orange wedge is classic, a lemon twist or a few fresh berries like raspberries or blackberries would also be a beautiful and delicious garnish.
For this recipe, they are largely interchangeable. Seltzer is plain carbonated water, while club soda is carbonated water with added minerals for a slightly salty taste. Both work perfectly to add bubbles to your spritz.
Try More Recipes:
Red Wine Spritzer Recipe
Description
A simple, refreshing, and sophisticated bubbly cocktail that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Fill a lowball glass with ice.
- Pour in the red wine and the aperitivo.
- Top with the chilled seltzer water.
- Stir gently once to combine.
- Garnish with a fresh orange wedge and serve immediately.
Notes
- For the best flavor, use a light-bodied red wine you would enjoy drinking on its own.
- Don’t be afraid to be generous with the ice to keep the drink perfectly chilled.
- This is a “principal recipe” that can be easily adapted with different types of red wine or amaro to suit your taste.
- The beauty of this cocktail is in its simplicity, so use the best, freshest ingredients you can find.