How to Make the Perfect Aperol Spritz

Few drinks capture the spirit of a warm afternoon quite like an Aperol Spritz. It's bitter, it's bubbly, it's the colour of a Mediterranean sunset, and it goes down with alarming ease. The Italians have been drinking it as an aperitivo — a pre-dinner drink designed to stimulate the appetite — for decades. The rest of the world caught on, and it's now one of the most ordered cocktails on the planet.

The good news: it's also one of the easiest to make at home. Three ingredients, a big wine glass, and a handful of ice. That's it.

The Classic Aperol Spritz Recipe

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 90ml (3 parts) Prosecco
• 60ml (2 parts) Aperol Aperitivo
• 30ml (1 part) sparkling water
• Ice
• Garnish: a slice of fresh orange

Method

1. Fill a large wine glass with ice. A big balloon glass or large stemmed wine glass works best — you want plenty of room.
2. Add the Prosecco first. Pour in 90ml of your chosen Prosecco. Adding it before the Aperol helps preserve the bubbles.
3. Add the Aperol. Pour in 60ml of Aperol Aperitivo and watch the colour bloom through the glass.
4. Top with sparkling water. A gentle splash of sparkling water (about 30ml) lightens the drink and adds extra fizz.
5. Stir gently. One or two slow stirs is all you need — you don't want to knock the bubbles out.
6. Garnish with a generous slice of fresh orange. Serve immediately.

Tips for a Better Aperol Spritz

• The 3-2-1 ratio is your friend. Three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperol, one part sparkling water. Adjust to taste — more Aperol for bitterness, more Prosecco for elegance.
• Use a proper wine glass. A large balloon glass gives the drink room to breathe and keeps the ice from melting too quickly.
• Prosecco quality matters. The Spritz is only as good as the bubbles in it. Use a Prosecco you'd happily drink on its own.
• Serve immediately. The Aperol Spritz is not a drink that improves with sitting. Make it, garnish it, drink it.
• Fresh orange only. A proper orange slice, not a twist. The juice that bleeds into the drink as you sip is part of the experience.

The Star of the Show: Aperol

Aperol Aperitivo 700ml | Aperol Aperitivo 1L

Created in Padua in 1919 by the Barbieri brothers, Aperol is an Italian aperitivo liqueur made from a secret blend of bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona. At just 11% ABV it's one of the lower-alcohol liqueurs on the market, which is part of what makes the Spritz such a civilised drink. That signature bittersweet orange flavour is unmistakable — and utterly addictive. Available in both 700ml and 1L bottles, so stock up accordingly.

The Best Proseccos for an Aperol Spritz

The Prosecco is the backbone of the Spritz — it provides the bubbles, the acidity, and the dry counterpoint to Aperol's sweetness. You want something crisp, fresh, and lively. Here are five excellent options from our range, all of which make a brilliant Spritz:

Pete's Pure Prosecco NV | Murray Darling

Fresh, lively, and genuinely great value — Pete's Pure is one of those bottles that consistently punches above its price tag. Crisp green apple and white peach on the nose, a clean and refreshing palate, and persistent fine bubbles that hold up beautifully in a Spritz. The Murray Darling fruit gives it a bright, fruit-forward character that plays perfectly with Aperol's bitterness. An excellent everyday Spritz Prosecco.

Chrismont King Valley La Zona Prosecco NV

Chrismont is one of King Valley's most celebrated producers, and La Zona is their flagship Prosecco — elegant, refined, and full of varietal character. Delicate floral aromas, fresh pear and citrus on the palate, and fine persistent bubbles. It brings a touch of Italian-Australian sophistication to your Spritz that's hard to beat. A step up in quality that's well worth it.

Brown Brothers Prosecco NV | King Valley

Brown Brothers is one of Australia's most trusted wine families, and their King Valley Prosecco is a perennial favourite. Light, fresh, and approachable with notes of green apple, pear, and a hint of honey — it's the kind of Prosecco that works for everyone. Reliable, consistent, and always crowd-pleasing in a Spritz. A safe bet for entertaining.

De Bortoli Prosecco NV | King Valley

De Bortoli's King Valley Prosecco is crisp, clean, and beautifully made — fresh citrus and stone fruit on the nose, a lively palate with fine bubbles, and a dry, refreshing finish. It's a textbook Prosecco that makes a textbook Spritz. If you're making a batch for a group, this is the bottle to reach for — consistent quality at a price that makes buying multiples easy.

Cleanskin King Valley Prosecco NV

The best-kept secret on this list. This Cleanskin Prosecco from King Valley delivers genuine regional character at a fraction of the price of its labelled counterparts — fresh, lively, and full of the crisp apple and pear notes that make King Valley Prosecco so appealing. In a Spritz, nobody will know it's a Cleanskin. They'll just know it's delicious. Stock up.

Variations Worth Trying

• Hugo Spritz — swap the Aperol for elderflower liqueur and add fresh mint and a squeeze of lime. Lighter, more floral, and equally refreshing.
• Campari Spritz — replace the Aperol with Campari for a more intensely bitter, ruby-red version. Not for the faint-hearted, but deeply satisfying.
• Rosé Spritz — use a Prosecco Rosé instead of white for a blush-pink variation with a slightly fruitier character.
• Batch Spritz — multiply the recipe by 6–8 and mix in a large jug with plenty of ice for effortless entertaining. Add the sparkling water just before serving.

Make It This Weekend

The Aperol Spritz is the ultimate low-effort, high-reward cocktail. Three ingredients, thirty seconds, and you're transported to a sun-drenched terrace somewhere in northern Italy — even if you're actually in your backyard in Melbourne.

Grab a bottle of Aperol, pick your Prosecco from the five above, and make yourself something brilliant. You've earned it. 🍊