Written by Jane Salt
Let's be clear. There is absolutely nothing wrong with an Aperol Spritz.
It is bright, sociable and easy to like. But summer spritz season deserves a little more imagination than one familiar bottle and one familiar shade of orange.
Once you look beyond the classic Aperol serve, the world of spritz cocktails becomes much more interesting: more floral, more herbal, more citrusy, or simply a little more grown-up. Better still, they are ideal for the way many people actually want to drink in summer: something refreshing, characterful and celebratory, but not too strong or too heavy.
What makes a spritz a spritz?
At its simplest, a spritz is a long, sparkling aperitivo-style drink built around three things: a flavourful base, something bubbly and plenty of ice.
Traditionally, that means an aperitif or liqueur, topped with sparkling wine and often finished with a splash of soda. The format is flexible, though. A spritz can be citrus-led, floral, herbal, bittersweet or gently fruity.
What matters most is balance. A good spritz should feel refreshing, lively and thirst-inducing rather than sweet, flat or heavy.
Why look beyond Aperol Spritz?
Because the format has far more to offer.
Aperol is popular for good reason: it is approachable, gently bittersweet and very easy to drink. But it is only one version of the spritz. If you enjoy it, there is every chance you will also enjoy alternatives that are brighter, drier, more floral or more complex.
The best summer spritz cocktails to try instead of Aperol Spritz
Here are six excellent alternatives, each with a suggested sparkling wine pairing using bottles from Hay Wines.
Hugo Spritz
Lighter, fresher and more floral than Aperol, the Hugo is built around elderflower liqueur, sparkling wine, soda, mint and lime. It is easy to love, especially if you prefer delicate freshness to firmer bitterness.
For this serve, we would use: Casa Bianca Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut NV. Its fine bubbles and clean, easy style suit the elderflower and mint beautifully.
Best for: garden lunches, warm afternoons and easy-going aperitivo moments.
Campari Spritz
If you want a spritz with more backbone, Campari is the obvious next step. It is more bitter, less sweet and more complex than Aperol, with notes of orange peel, herbs and spice.
For this serve, we would use: Organic Sparkling La Piotta MilleBolle Brut 2024. Its freshness and acidity help keep the drink focused and energetic.
Best for: salty snacks, pre-dinner drinks and anyone who likes a little more bitterness in the glass.
Limoncello Spritz
For a brighter, sunnier style, a Limoncello Spritz is one of the most cheerful alternatives to Aperol.
Using Negroni Antica Distilleria Limoncello as the base, this version brings vivid lemon character, gentle sweetness and plenty of citrus lift. With sparkling wine, soda and lots of ice, it becomes fresher and lighter than many people expect.
For this serve, we would use: Casa Bianca Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut NV. Its clean, easy style keeps the drink bright and light on its feet.
Best for: seafood lunches, sunny terraces and drinkers who prefer citrus to bitterness.
Red Vermouth Spritz
If you want a spritz with more depth, a Red Vermouth Spritz is a very good option.
Using Piolo & Max Vermouth del Porto Vecchio as the base, it brings bittersweet orange notes, gentle spice and richer herbal character. It still feels refreshing, but with a little more seriousness in the glass.
For this serve, we would use: Oedoria Diamant Crémant de Bourgogne Diamant NV. A more structured sparkling wine suits the deeper bittersweet profile particularly well.
Best for: pre-dinner drinks, olives and nuts, and anyone who likes a spritz with a little more edge.
Plum Sake Spritz
For something a little different, a Plum Sake Spritz is a charming summer option.
Using Akashi-Tai Plum Sake Shiraume Ginjo Umeshu 50cl as the base, it brings juicy stone-fruit character, gentle sweetness and a rounded aromatic profile that feels both refreshing and slightly unexpected.
For this serve, we would use: Casa Bianca Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut NV. The bright, clean style of the Prosecco keeps the drink agile and refreshing.
Best for: relaxed summer gatherings and drinkers who want something fruit-led without too much bitterness.
For readers curious about umeshu, this guide from the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association is a useful introduction: what is umeshu?
Negroni Sbagliato-style serve
For those who prefer a bolder summer drink, a Negroni Sbagliato-style serve is an excellent choice.
Using Hay Wines Negroni Now Cocktail as the base and topping it with sparkling wine gives you something bittersweet, gently spiced and more full-flavoured than the lighter spritz styles.
For this serve, we would use: Oedoria Diamant Crémant de Bourgogne Diamant NV. Its extra structure stands up much better to the bolder profile of the drink.
Best for: evening aperitivo, more substantial nibbles and those who like a little more swagger in the glass.
Which sparkling wine is best for a spritz?
The sparkling wine does not need to be expensive, but it does matter. It affects the freshness, texture and overall balance of the drink.
Here below more details and the reason why, for the spritzes above, these three bottles make excellent bases:
Casa Bianca Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut NV
A natural choice for fresher, brighter, more easy-going spritzes such as Hugo, Limoncello and Plum Sake. The aromatic character of Glera and its natural high acidity help to make these recipes taste even more lively and crisp.
Organic Sparkling La Piotta MilleBolle Brut 2024
A very good option when you want a little more drive and depth, particularly with a bittersweet serve like Campari Spritz. The elegance and dry finish of Pinot Noir are very helpful when we use cocktail bases and liqueurs with a long aromatic persistence.
Oedoria Diamant Crémant de Bourgogne Diamant NV
The choice for more structured spritzes, especially those based on red vermouth or a Negroni-style base. The aromatic complexity of a Traditional Method sparkling wine helps to balance the wide spectrum of flavours coming from vermouth and vermouth-based cocktail bases.
If you want a quick primer on Prosecco styles and terminology, the official Prosecco DOC guide is genuinely useful: discover Prosecco styles here.
How to make a better spritz at home
Use plenty of ice
Fill the glass generously so the drink stays cold and fresh rather than turning watery too quickly.
Keep the balance bright
If the base is rich or sweet, make sure the sparkling wine and soda keep things lifted.
Keep the garnish simple
A slice of orange, a twist of lemon, a few mint leaves or a wedge of lime are usually more than enough.
Serve it properly cold
A spritz should feel crisp and refreshing, not lukewarm and apologetic.
For anyone who enjoys the ritual side of aperitivo, Campari Academy also has a useful spritz guide here: spritz guide and ritual.
What to serve with summer spritz cocktails
Spritzes are naturally food-friendly in aperitivo settings and work especially well with:
- olives and salted almonds;
- crisps and savoury nibbles;
- grissini and focaccia;
- charcuterie;
- salty cheeses;
- seafood bites;
- light sharing plates.
A final word
The success of the Aperol Spritz has reminded a great many people that pre-dinner drinks can be refreshing, stylish and genuinely enjoyable without being too strong or too serious.
But it should be the beginning of the conversation, not the end of it.
There is a whole world of summer spritz cocktails beyond the default serve, from floral and citrusy styles to more herbal, bitter and structured versions. Whether you prefer elderflower, limoncello, red vermouth, plum sake or something Negroni-led and a little bolder, the best spritz is not necessarily the most famous one. It is the one that suits your palate, your table and your version of summer.
Explore the bottles behind these summer spritz cocktails
If this has put you in the mood to try a few alternatives, you can explore our liqueurs and aperitivo selection, browse our artisan sparkling wines and Prosecco, or discover a more structured option with our Crémants selection.
Whether you lean towards elderflower, limoncello, vermouth or something more boldly bittersweet, always remember a good summer spritz starts with the right fizz and a generous amount of ice!
