Get ready for the drink of the summer: wine spritzers. Now is the perfect time to learn how to make a wine spritzer!
Known for their refreshing and crisp taste, wine spritzers are a classic drink and the perfect addition to your outdoor picnics, lazy summer dinner, or family party. The best part? Spritzers are super easy to make.
Read on to learn how to make the perfect wine spritzer with our classic white wine spritzer recipe, and how to customize it with fun twists and garnishes. Soon enough, this will be a regular treat on your list of favorite summer wine cocktails.
Table of Contents
What Is A Wine Spritzer?
A wine spritzer is a combination of wine and a carbonated beverage—like tonic water or soda. Originally, wine spritzers were made with white wine and soda water to make a lighter version of wine. Now, a wine spritzer has many variations.
Mixing a wine with another drink results in a lighter, more effervescent taste, making it perfect for warm weather or as a pairing to some appetizers. Although originally made with white wine, wine spritzers can also be made with red, rosé, or orange wines as well.
The beauty of a wine spritzer is that it’s easy and uncomplicated to make. But with the right garnish and a little bit of effort, it can be elevated to an impressive cocktail that will be a staple in your life.
What Is In A Wine Spritzer?
To make a wine spritzer, you only need a handful of ingredients.
Wine
You can use any wine you have on hand: white, red, orange, or rosé. White wines are the most popular to use in spritzers, but they taste equally as good with different wines. Typically, people use lighter wines like Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc.
Carbonated Water or Soda
Use a neutral sparkling drink, like tonic water. This is to help the wine taste shine through so the drinker can still appreciate the flavor profile. Non-traditional carbonated drinks, like an Olipop or LaCroix, can also be used to help give it an extra flavor boost.
Ice
Any kind of ice is good for a spritzer. You can go with a large cube to be fancy, or a handful of pebble ice. The important thing is to not add too much ice so it doesn’t get very watered down. You can even make ice cubes from the wine you are using to eliminate the risk of watering down your spritzer!
Optional Additions
Here comes the fun part. Customize your wine spritzer with fruit slices, fruit juice, fresh herbs, an orange peel, or a twist of lime. You can also add bitters or other liqueurs to make the flavor profile completely your own.
How To Make A Spritzer
Grab your favorite wine glasses and get ready to make a delicious, refreshing spritzer. The first thing you’ll do is add a bit of ice to the glass. Then, grab some chilled wine and pour it into your glass.
Next, add in some bubbly. Keep the ratio 3:1. For every three parts wine, you’ll do one part tonic water or club soda. The majority of the drink should still be wine. Give it a light stir, and voila—you’re all done.
You can garnish with a lemon peel or with a sprig of fresh rosemary for a special touch. Wine spritzers are usually served in wine glasses, but feel free to use any other cocktail cups you have on hand.
Classic White Wine Spritzer Recipe
Get started on your spritzer-making skills by creating a classic white wine spritzer.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces of chilled white wine
- 1 ounce of soda water
- Ice
- A lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Fill your wine glass with the ice
- Pour in three ounces of wine
- Top it off with one ounce of soda water
- Garnish with the lemon peel (you can also use a lime wedge or orange peel)
- Serve
Best Wines To Use For A Spritzer
The best wines to use for a spritzer depend on flavor profile, acidity, and versatility. You can use anything you have on hand, but here are the most popular options:
White Wine
- Pinot Grigio
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Riesling
- Chardonnay
Rosé Wine
- French rosé
- Other European rosé wines
Spritzer Variations and Customizations
Now that you know the basics of how to make a wine spritzer, here are some tips to kick it up a notch:
- Try a red wine spritzer with fruit, to give it a sangria-like twist
- Add flavored syrups or bitters to deepen the flavor profile or add some sweetness
- Incorporate seasonal ingredients for seasonal spritzers (this is perfect for holiday parties)
Need some inspo? Try these flavor combos:
- White wine and citrus, like grapefruit juice or lemonade
- White wine and elderberry syrup
- Red wine and blueberries
- Rosé and raspberries
- Red wine and lime soda
- Pomegranate wine spritzer with white wine and blood orange
Tips For Serving And Enjoying Wine Spritzers
Entertain and delight guests at your next gathering by adding a wine spritzer to the menu. Wine spritzers are great to serve at parties, events, weddings, brunch, or other gatherings.
Unsure of how to serve wine spritzers? Think in terms of wine pairings. If you’re serving white wine spritzers, pair them with appetizers or light salads. They will also go great with seafood or chicken. If you’re having a big summertime barbeque, the accompaniment to a side of ribs and a slab of watermelon is a crisp red wine spritzer—full-bodied and rich, yet refreshing enough for a summer evening. Rosé spritzers are the perfect addition to desserts like white cake and fruit tarts.
Wine spritzers are so versatile, from red wine with berries to a classic white spritzer, there is a flavor combo for every palate out there. Debut this drink at your next brunch or dinner, or make this a summer cocktail staple.
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