Recipe Background
Venetian Spritz captures a sunny Italian escape with prosecco and Aperol.
It was the summer of my first road trip through Italy, the kind of adventure that’s gloriously untethered and filled with unexpected stops. Somewhere between Venice and Verona, a quaint little piazza caught my eye. The aroma of freshly baked focaccia mingled with the citrusy scent of ripe oranges. Deciding to indulge in a bit of spontaneous relaxation, I found myself at a sun-drenched cafe and ordered a local classic—the Venetian Spritz. While I watched the world go by, the bartender—an affable gentleman who seemed to know everyone passing through—shared his secret for the perfect spritz: ice, prosecco, Aperol, and a splash of club soda, topped with a vibrant orange slice.
Back home, that day in the piazza lingered with me. I started making the spritz as a weekend tradition, each sip a ticket back to that sunlit café. I’ve discovered that stirring gently preserves the effervescence, a tip the bartender casually mentioned as he expertly crafted my drink. A single orange slice gaily floating in the glass always reminds me of the morning sun cresting over the Venetian canals. Ice is where it all begins, the calming clink in the glass setting the tone for relaxed evenings with an Italian twist.
Turns out, this spritz is like an anchor to a memory of freedom and discovery. These days, when I’m savoring that luminous blend or sharing it with friends, I chuckle at how a simple drink can capture a whole world of wanderlust and warmth.
Ingredients
- ice to taste
- 3 ounces prosecco
- 2 ounces Aperol®
- 1 ounce club soda
- orange slices to taste, for garnish
Directions
- In a wine glass, add the ice.
- Add the prosecco, the Aperol, and the club soda and stir gently to combine.
- Serve the cocktail garnished with the orange slices.
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