Summer Spritz

When even lighter white and rosé wines sound a little heavy on a hot summer day, go for a spritz. The Italians have long known the beauty of the spritz to combat the heat of summer, relaxing around Venetian bistro tables with a refreshing orange creation—the iconic Aperol Spritz.

A spritz is a refreshing mix of wine with a splash of soda or juice, or, in the case of Italy’s iconic drink, a mix of Prosecco, Aperol liqueur, and a spritz of soda. Usually enjoyed as a predinner apéritif, or “aperitivo” in Italian, its orange and fresh bittersweet taste is meant to bring lighthearted spirit to the happy hour table.

Here’s something to sip on while you relax with a glass: The drink naturally gets its name from a key ingredient, Aperol liqueur, but also a German word. Aperol, created in 1919 from a secret recipe of herbs and roots, has an intense orange flavor with herbal, woody notes and mellow vanilla. The “spritzen,” means “to squirt” in German. In the 1800s, when the Veneto region of Northern Italy was part of the AustroHungarian empire, soldiers and visitors from other areas were said to have found Italian wines too strong, so they lightened them with a “spritz” of water.

Soon after the creation of Aperol, the spritz cocktail bearing its name became popular all over Italy, particularly with folks gathered at cafes in Padua and Venice as a light drink before dinner. In recent years, it has become popular worldwide, and pairs well with appetizers, but also brunch and dinner fare.

Some traditional Italian aperitivo snacks called “cicchetti” are perfect accompaniments for a relaxing late afternoon spritz on the patio. Serve a selection of small side dishes of olives, nuts, hard-boiled egg halves, calamari, artichoke hearts, and tiny sandwiches with meats, seafood, and veggies. A meat and cheese charcuterie board, focaccia with prosciutto, or smoked salmon crostini would also be tasty pairings. Also mix up a spritz with weekend brunches and dinner for a lower-alcohol light drink for the evening.

Try the Aperol recipe here, and your own variations on the formula to enjoy a refreshing spritz throughout the summer in your backyard bistro. Salute!

Aperol Spritz

MAKES 1

3 ounces Prosecco

2 ounces Aperol

1 splash soda, or to taste Orange slice, for garnish

Fill a wine glass with ice. Pour in the Prosecco followed by the Aperol. Add the splash of soda and garnish with an orange slice.