Aperol Spritz is Italy’s top choice for aperitivo for very good reason. This classic Italian cocktail is bright, refreshing and ideal for warm afternoons and long summer evenings.
For a truly Italian pairing, try serving it with a bruschetta trio to complete the experience.
When the sun is out and the day is slow, nothing beats an Aperol Spritz. Its vivid orange colour and gentle sparkle make it a joyful drink to share with friends. I first discovered it on our very first trip to Italy: every piazza seemed to hum with conversation, and everyone had a glass of that orangey fizz in hand. It looked so inviting that I pointed at a nearby tableful and told the waiter, “I want that.”
That spontaneous order started an evening ritual on our travels: a chilled spritz before dinner, people-watching from a sunlit square. At the time Aperol wasn’t widely available in the UK, so the spritz felt like a small, delicious discovery each time.
Ingredients
An Aperol Spritz is wonderfully simple to make and relies on just three main ingredients: Prosecco, Aperol and soda water. The proportions are easy to scale, and the result is a light, bittersweet cocktail with lively bubbles.
Traditionally it’s served in a large white wine glass over plenty of ice with a slice of orange. For a seasonal twist you can also garnish with halved physalis or other fruit — I sometimes use physalis in autumn for a slightly different look and flavour.
Aperol itself is a liqueur made from a blend of bitter and sweet oranges together with herbs and roots. Despite the orange notes, its flavour is more complex than a simple citrus taste: it balances bitter and sweet to create a distinctive base for the spritz.
In Italy the bitter edge of Aperol is important because the drink is served as an aperitivo: a pre-dinner refreshment that is said to stimulate the appetite. Other aperitivo classics such as the Negroni play a similar role.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Temperature matters: serve the spritz as cold as possible. Chill the Prosecco and Aperol beforehand and fill the glass with plenty of ice so the drink stays refreshing.
- Adjust sweetness and bitterness to taste. You can slightly reduce or increase the Aperol or Prosecco depending on how bitter or sweet you prefer the final drink.
- The orange slice is traditional but optional. Use it when you want the classic look and aroma; leave it off if you prefer a cleaner presentation or use a different garnish for variation.
- Prosecco is the customary sparkling wine for an authentic Italian spritz, but you can substitute another dry sparkling wine if preferred.
- Serve in a large wine glass filled with ice. The generous glass gives room for the bubbles and the garnish and makes the drink feel more leisurely.
- Once you’re comfortable with the basic recipe, experiment. Campari can be used instead of Aperol for a more bitter, deeper spritz. Other variations include adding herbs or swapping citrus garnishes to create seasonal versions.
Serving suggestions
In Italy an Aperol Spritz is typically enjoyed as an aperitivo, a pre-dinner drink accompanied by light snacks. Because Italians often eat later in the evening, the aperitivo is a social moment that bridges the workday and dinner: a chance to relax and whet the appetite.
Common accompaniments include olives, crackers, cured meats, cheeses, chips or small crostini. These snacks are not meant to be a full meal but provide just enough to enjoy alongside the drink. If you prefer, the spritz is perfectly satisfying on its own—especially on a hot afternoon where a single chilled glass can feel like a small celebration.
More cocktail recipes
- Passion fruit mojito
- Maple cider whiskey sour
- Pimm’s cocktail
- Frozen blood orange piña colada (virgin)
Aperol Spritz
By Julia Frey of Vikalinka
Cook: 5 mins | Total: 5 mins | Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 75ml / 1½ oz Prosecco (or other sparkling wine)
- 50ml / 1 oz Aperol
- 25ml / 1/2 oz soda water or club soda
- Orange slice or halved physalis, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large wine glass with ice.
- Pour in the Prosecco, then the Aperol, and finish with the soda water.
- Stir gently to combine, taking care not to flatten the bubbles.
- Garnish with a slice of orange or a halved physalis and serve immediately.
Notes
I used physalis as a garnish instead of orange for a seasonal twist, but a classic orange slice works beautifully and adds aroma.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 190 kcal | Carbohydrates: 17 g | Protein: 0.1 g | Fat: 0.1 g | Sugar: 17 g
Nutrition information is an approximation and should be used as a guideline only.
If you try this recipe, let us know how it turned out and what garnish or variation you liked best. The Aperol Spritz is an easy, elegant drink that invites personal twists while keeping the relaxed, convivial spirit of an Italian aperitivo.