The Lambrusco Spritz is a delicious take on the more classic aperol spritz. It uses known and loved aperol for that bitter citrusy taste, effervescent lambrusco for a slightly sweet flavor that is the perfect balance, and is topped with orange seltzer to bring it all together. It's a versatile cocktail that's great for many occasions or times of year.
I fell in love with lambrusco on a trip to Italy – it's a slightly sparkling red wine that is (in my opinion) a perfect balance of sweet and dry. It's a delightful alternative to prosecco in this cocktail. Elizabeth from The College Housewife used it to make a spritz recently and I had to try it for myself.
Ingredients
- Lambrusco wine: an Italian sparkling red wine made in the Emilia-Romagna region. Just a slight fizz, not as much as a soda. In my opinion, it's the perfect wine. Similar to other sparkling wine, it's best served chilled.
- Aperol: an Italian bitter liqueur commonly enjoyed as an aperitif with a bright, citrusy flavor.
- Orange seltzer: plays into the citrus fruity notes of the wine and helps lighten it all up.
How to make
This recipe follows the classic spritz formula, just with a few ingredient swaps to make it a bit more unique.
Easy as can be – grab a large wine glass, fill it halfway with ice, then combine the aperol, lambrusco, and a splash of soda water (orange flavor ideally). Top with olives or an orange slice (or both) if you desire for a touch of sophistication.
Ingredient substitutions
- If you don't have orange seltzer a splash of club soda or regular sparkling water works just fine.
- If you use plain sparkling water, a bit of fresh juice (any citrus) would be a great addition.
- If you don’t like aperol, some other good liqueurs to use instead are Lillet, Select, Amaro Nonino, or Campari.
Tips and tricks
- With the sparkling elements of the lambrusco spritz, this is not one that bodes well being made in advance. I recommend making these just before you’re going to serve them.
- Lambrusco is available in dry and semi-sweet varieties – I haven’t been able to taste a difference in any I have tried, so fair to say whichever you get it’ll be delicious.
- If you don't have fresh orange wedge for serving I'd recommend a fresh grapefruit wedge.
FAQs
It’s crisp, slightly fruity, with just enough acid to balance it out. Perfect all year round with flavors of red fruit and minerals.
Yes, it should! Which makes it great for many seasons. Refreshing in the warm months and cozy with its rich flavor in the chilly months.
I'd say about 50% of wine stores carry it these days, I'd suggest calling before you go to double check.
An Italian liqueur with an orange color that has a refreshing bitterness and citrusy taste. It has a pretty low alcohol content sitting just at 11%.
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📖 Recipe
Lambrusco Spritz
Ingredients
- 2 oz aperol
- 3 oz Lambrusco wine
- 1 oz orange sparkling water
Instructions
- Fill a glass halfway with ice. Add all ingredients and gently stir to combine.
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