Lambrusco Spritz

Say hello to the Lambrusco Spritz, a sparkling red wine cocktail that’s equal parts sophisticated and festive! This cocktail is the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a bottle of Lambrusco. Just add your favorite amaro and celebrate the beauty of winter citrus with this twist on the spritz.

Bright, refreshing, and endlessly customizable, it’s a toast-worthy addition to any holiday gathering. See my fall and frozen Lambrusco Spritz versions below. Cin cin!

Watch Me Mix a Lambrusco Spritz

What Makes a Spritz a Spritz

Well, first, let’s talk about how cute it is that “spritz” means “a splash” in German. But despite it’s name origins, the spritz is an Italian cocktail through and through. It has a base recipe of 3 parts sparkling wine + 2 parts bitter liqueur + a splash of soda water and is usually served before dinner. They usually come with a zesty garnish, too.

My Lambrusco Spritz switches up the ratios a little bit, with a special splash of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. I use Lambrusco for the sparkling wine, Amaro Nonino for the bitter liqueur, and my favorite sparkling water.

Lambrusco Spritz Ingredients

What is Lambrusco?

Lambrusco is an Italian sparkling red wine made from Lambrusco grapes. Some are sweet while others are dry, but they all have bright notes of red fruit, citrus, and berries. If you love Lambrusco, try this Lambrusco Sbagliato.

It can sometimes be hard to find Lambrusco in stores these days (try World Market!) If you can find it, don’t be tempted by the cheaper bottles as they’re going to way too sweet, like syrup! You can definitely find a delicious, dry, and balanced Lambrusco for around $20 and the few extra dollars you spend is totally worth it.

What is Amaro?

Amaro is a bitter Italian herbal liqueur that’s perfect for balancing a bubbly Lambrusco and zingy citrus. Aperol and Campari are two of the most well-known amari as they are the signature liqueurs in many spritz cocktails. For this Lambrusco spritz recipe, I used Amaro Nonino.

Amaro Nonino is made from aged grappa (brandy distilled from fermented grape residue) and a wintery blend of herbs, spices, and roots. Nonino has a sort of allspice and orange peel flavor, making it the perfect holiday amaro for a spritz.

Lambrusco Spritz Variations

Fall Lambrusco Spritz

I always feel like red wine is made for fall. But Lambrusco being bubbly kind of changes things. When I want to amplify the fall sipping vibes, especially on a still-warm September day, I love adding a flavored simple syrup that gives it a little seasonal magic. You could add any flavored syrup you want, but I prefer a Rosemary Olive Oil Syrup.

To make this fall syrup, add 1 cup sugar + 1 cup water + 2-3 rosemary sprigs + 1 tbsp olive oil to a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and let simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool completely and strain. Option to blend to better incorporate the olive oil.

Frozen Lambrusco Spritz

This frozen version takes the bold, bubbly soul of a Lambrusco and spins it into basically an adult slushie. It’s equal parts bitter, juicy, and herbal thanks to the Amaro Nonino, fresh grapefruit, and frozen fruit. This spritz-meets-slushy hybrid is made for sharing (or not).

Take the classic Lambrusco Spritz recipe and add 1 cup frozen pitted cherries + 1 cup frozen peach slices + 1 cup ice. Add everything to a blender and blend until smooth. Or just keep it simple and leave out the extra fruit, it’s up to you!

Why You’ll Love a Lambrusco Spritz

• The perfect holiday spritz: The minute the leaves start changing colors, I’m switching to red wine, but I also want bubbly Champagne and Prosecco during the holidays. Lambrusco is the best of both worlds. Mix this crowd-pleaser for Thanksgiving and serve it all throughout the holiday season.
• It’s so easy!: With just four simple ingredients, this spritz comes together in less than 5 minutes. The ratios are so simple your guests can keep making their own all night long.