Campari Spritz and Aperol Spritz cocktails are the ultimate refresher on a hot day and we have Italians to thank for them! They’re bright and sweet and bubbly and the right amount of bitter. You can make a spritz cocktail: A with Campari or Aperol (the Aperol Spritz is sweeter and slightly less tart).
You may have joined Keith and I virtually as we blogged about our trip to Italy. (Or read the Italy travel guide that we wrote.) It was 9 weeks, 65 days to be exact, and we brought home a heart full of memories – of people, of places, of food, of wine.
The wine, of course, was a highlight of the trip. But the Campari Spritz was an unexpected discovery – one that we enjoyed often and one that will always remind me of Italy.
We arrived in Italy at the end of September with our suitcases full of clothes for autumn: sweaters, pants, light jackets. Things that we would not touch for the first 6 weeks of our trip because the cool weather decided not to come. Nearly every day, we would sit at a little cafe outside or tuck into a bar to enjoy a small sandwich and a spritz. After the morning’s myriad of marvels and miles of footsteps, it was utter bliss.
We began our trip in Treviso, in the Veneto region of Italy – famous for its production of prosecco, a major component of the spritz.
In Italy this is considered an aperitif or aperitivo – a refreshing, before dinner cocktail. It’s a simple mixture of either Campari or Aperol (Campari is less sweet and more bitter than Aperol, which we prefer), club soda, prosecco, ice cubes and an orange slice. As for amounts, I like what wikipedia has to say:
The Spritz’s recipe is shrouded in mystery, or perhaps never existed. There isn’t a unique composition for a spritz because it changes in every city or small town where the bartenders freely interpret the doses and the entire preparation.
So I’ll share the recipe of how we make it, but encourage you to adjust the amounts to make it your own. And if you’re looking for more cocktail inspiration, I recommend these: the Last Word Cocktail, French 75 Cocktail, the Boulevardier Cocktail and, if you want to skip the alcohol, this Non-Alcoholic Sangria is excellent!
Read more about our days in Treviso
Campari Spritz
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Prosecco
- 2 ounces Campari or Aperol
- 1 ounce club soda
- 1 slice orange
Instructions
- Fill a tumbler with ice cubes. Add Prosecco then Campari or Aperol and club soda; stir. Serve garnished with an orange slice.
Bee says
April 16, 2019 at 5:22 amI’m loving the colour of this drink. I can definitely see this one becoming a summertime favourite!
Marissa says
April 17, 2019 at 8:28 amThanks so much, Bee!
Craig Mische says
March 12, 2018 at 3:32 pmSo fun forme to discover your site and post. I just returned from a month in Italy and after watching spritz after spritz be ordered, I finally decided to order one towards the end of this visit while in Bellagio. Loved it and regret not opening up to them earlier! I had a great trip and did a lot but your trip has me plotting a return.
lisa says
May 26, 2017 at 5:34 pmCame across your blog looking for spicy deviled eggs. Glad I did, because I can’t wait to try many of your recipes and read about your stories. We currently live in Italy, north of Venice. Will be here for a few years…looking forward to seeing all these beautiful places as well. Been to Venice. Wonderful. What was your favorite destination??
Marissa says
May 26, 2017 at 6:04 pmThat’s so sweet, Lisa! I honestly don’t think I have a favorite destination in Italy. If we did the trip again, I’d still want to go everywhere!! We absolutely loved the Venice Biennale – the enormous art exhibition that happens every two years. It was a highlight of our trip!
glutenfreehappytummy says
December 1, 2014 at 3:32 pmlove the color!
Marissa says
December 1, 2014 at 4:09 pmThank you!
KevinIsCooking says
December 1, 2014 at 11:22 amThis looks fantastic and your story reminded me of my mom and how when she went to England and came back loving Pimms Cup.
Marissa says
December 1, 2014 at 11:50 amYou want to know something ridiculous? I’m a gin lover and have never even tried Pimms Cup!
Mira says
November 30, 2014 at 5:13 pmThis drink looks very refreshing and I should try it around the holidays! I kind of thought there is no exact Spritz recipe and you just confirmed that 🙂
Marissa says
November 30, 2014 at 5:28 pmThanks, Mira. I never measure it, to be honest – but it always tastes good!
Judit + Corina @ Glamorous Bite says
November 28, 2014 at 4:22 pmYour cocktail just took us back to Italy in our minds! September is a lovely time to go, but this year has been quite hot.
Marissa says
November 28, 2014 at 5:02 pmIt was so hot when we were there too! But lovely all the same. 🙂
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
November 28, 2014 at 1:39 pmI am loving the color of this Marissa! It looks like it tastes amazing! I love your pictures too! So pretty! xoxo
Marissa says
November 28, 2014 at 5:02 pmThat’s so sweet Kristi! Thank you.
Joanne says
November 27, 2014 at 4:42 amItalians really love their campari! This sounds like such a refreshing drink. Definitely a fun inclusion in holiday beverages!
Marissa says
November 28, 2014 at 8:01 amSo true! Thanks, Joanne…
Nagi Maehashi says
November 26, 2014 at 12:31 pmThis is a great cocktail using prosecco! I’m actually not a fan of it – not even the expensive stuff – too sweet for me. But mixed up it’s a great cocktail ingredient because of the sweetness. This is defiantly making an appearance at my Christmas party!
Marissa says
November 26, 2014 at 12:33 pmaww, thanks Nagi!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
November 26, 2014 at 1:38 amDefinitely a delicious cocktail I need to make in the upcoming Christmas period!
Marissa says
November 26, 2014 at 9:42 amThanks, Thalia!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
November 26, 2014 at 12:36 amAhhh aperitivo hour! We enjoyed that recently-such a nice way to live! I’m off to read your guide on Italy, one of my favourite destinations ever 😀
Marissa says
November 26, 2014 at 9:42 amThat’s saying a lot, Lorraine, you’ve been everywhere!! 🙂 Thank you!
hipfoodiemom says
November 25, 2014 at 7:10 pmYou and your husband wrote an Italy travel guide!! so cool!!! If I ever go, I’m buying it!! I so want to go one of these days! love love love drinks like this! so fun and refreshing!
Marissa says
November 26, 2014 at 9:42 amaww, thanks Alice!
Carla says
November 25, 2014 at 12:35 pmYum! This looks absolutely refreshing and satisfying!
Marissa says
November 26, 2014 at 9:41 amIt really is, Carla. And so easy to make!
Colo aka Tom says
November 25, 2014 at 11:41 amI was an avid follower of the 65 Days in Italy blog, I can truly say Marissa you and Keith brought that country alive. Your stories, pictures, and daily adventures made one feel they were with you the whole trip.
Keep cooking and blogging, but I think it is time for another 65 day adventure… Spain, Portugal, maybe Greece.
Marissa says
November 25, 2014 at 11:44 amColo (Tom) – we so enjoyed interacting with you during the trip. You truly made the trip more fun and you gave us some great tips along the way!