Ingredients

2 ozaperol
60 ml
3 ozprosecco
90 ml
1 ozclub soda
30 ml

Instructions

Fill a large wine glass with ice — a generous amount, right to the top. Pour the Prosecco first, then the Aperol, then a splash of club soda. The order matters: Prosecco first prevents the Aperol from sinking to the bottom and staining the glass. Give it one gentle stir with a bar spoon — just enough to combine without killing the bubbles. Garnish with a large orange slice and, if you have them, a few green olives on a pick. The olives are traditional in the Veneto and genuinely delicious alongside the bitter-sweet drink.

Sips & Tips

Technique

Pour the Prosecco first to prevent the Aperol from settling at the bottom. One gentle stir is all you need — you want to combine the ingredients without losing the bubbles. Use a large wine glass; the wide bowl allows the aromas to open up and gives you room for plenty of ice.

Balance

The 3-2-1 ratio (3 oz Prosecco, 2 oz Aperol, 1 oz soda) is the official Aperol recipe, and it's well-balanced. Use a dry Prosecco — a sweet Prosecco will make the drink cloying. The orange slice garnish is traditional and functional; the citrus oils add a brightness that lifts the whole drink.

History

The Spritz Veneziano is the original spritz — the Aperol Spritz is a specific version of this broader tradition. The spritz tradition dates to the 19th century, when Austrian soldiers stationed in the Veneto would dilute local wine with water (spritzen in German). The modern Aperol Spritz was formalized by the Barbieri company in the 1950s and became a global phenomenon in the 2010s.

The Spritz Veneziano is the aperitivo drink that started it all — low in alcohol, beautiful to look at, and genuinely refreshing. Venice in a glass. Cheers.

Variations

Campari Spritz

Replace the Aperol with Campari for a more bitter, complex version. The Campari Spritz is less sweet and more assertive — better for people who find the Aperol Spritz too cloying. Use the same 3-2-1 ratio.

Select Spritz

Replace the Aperol with Select Aperitivo, the traditional Venetian bitter liqueur. Select is more complex and less sweet than Aperol — the authentic Venetian spritz. Harder to find outside Italy, but worth seeking out.