Lambrusco Spritz

Every summer, I try to find a new hot weather drink. Sometimes I lean fruity and frozen, like a key lime colada; other times, I just want a sipper that I can make and enjoy without much thought (or equipment). This year, and maybe all years from now on, I’m going all in on the Lambrusco spritz.

To talk about the Lambrusco spritz, we have to chat about the chilled red that the Italians call frizzante, or just barely bubbly. Lambrusco is making a comeback right now—it’s slightly fizzy red (and sometimes rosé) wine known for its bright berry notes and distinctive tartness. When used instead of prosecco in this riff on a classic Aperol spritz, it completely changes the flavor profile, adding depth and a slightly bitter fruitiness to the drink, which pairs well with Aperol’s refreshing citrus tartness. This is a drink you’ll want for your next backyard bash, or when playing mahjong with your besties on a hot summer night (or really any time).

Lambrusco Spritz Ingredients

• Ice cubes: Fill your glass to the top. A large wine or rocks glass full of ice keeps the spritz cold without watering it down too quickly.
• Aperol: This bright orange Italian liqueur provides the bitter-sweet backbone every good spritz needs. It’s made from a blend of gentian, rhubarb and cinchona bark, which gives that distinctive bitter-orange flavor.
• Lambrusco: A lightly sparkling Italian red wine, Lambrusco stands in for the prosecco you’d usually find in a spritz. Look for a bottle labeled secco if you want something drier, or semisecco for a touch more sweetness.
• Club soda: A splash is all it takes to lighten the drink and add a little extra fizz. Club soda has more minerals than plain sparkling water, which rounds out the flavor.
• Orange slice: This simple garnish echoes the citrus notes already at play in the Aperol.

Directions

Step 1: Fill the glass with ice

Grab a large wine glass or a rocks glass and fill it to the top with ice cubes.

Editor’s Tip: Pop your glass in the freezer for a few minutes beforehand if you really want to keep things frosty.

Step 2: Add the Aperol, Lambrusco and club soda

Pour the Aperol into the glass, then add the Lambrusco, followed by the club soda.

Step 3: Stir and garnish

Stir gently to combine, then finish with an orange slice on the rim or a peeled section of orange in the glass.

Lambrusco Spritz Variations

• Add grapefruit and olive: For a savory twist, swap the orange slice for a grapefruit wedge and drop in a briny green olive. The tartness of the grapefruit and the salt of the olive turn this into a completely different kind of sip.
• Swap in Campari or amaro: To make a Lambrusco spritz more bitter, use Campari instead of Aperol for a bolder, more grown-up spritz. Nonino or Averna, or similar amaros, are also great options for more botanical bitter notes.
• Go lighter on the bubbles: Trade the club soda for a flavored sparkling water, like a grapefruit or tangerine La Croix, for a subtle citrus lift.

Lambrusco Spritz Tips

Can you make a Lambrusco spritz ahead of time?

Not really, and that’s part of the appeal. Since both the Lambrusco and the club soda lose their fizz once poured, this is very much a build-it-and-drink-it-now kind of cocktail. What you can do ahead of time is chill your glasses, slice your garnish and have the Aperol measured out, so all that’s left to do when guests arrive is pour, stir and serve.

What goes well with a Lambrusco spritz?

A Lambrusco spritz practically begs for an Italian spread. Think a good cheese board, a bowl of olives, thin slices of prosciutto or a simple bruschetta. The wine’s natural fizz and gentle sweetness also make it a surprisingly good match for salty snacks like potato chips, or for the popular pairing of fries with a Caesar salad, so don’t feel like you need to get fancy to enjoy one.