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Here’s an easy, refreshing cocktail made in minutes—the white wine spritzer! Adding soda water to your favorite wine makes a deliciously bubbly drink.
As two cocktail experts, here’s one of our top tricks for a no-think cocktail: the white wine spritzer! There’s nothing easier or more delightful than a bubbly version of your favorite crisp white wine. We first discovered wine spritzers in Austria on a trip to visit friends, and we’ve been making them every since.
Wine spritzers are so easy, you don’t need to plan or prep anything. Grab your favorite bottle of wine and club soda, and you’re set. Bonus: they’re very low calorie, too! Here are a few tips for making spritzers.
What is a wine spritzer?
A wine spritzer is a drink made with wine and soda water that originated in Austria. Diluting wine with water started back in the 19th century, as a way to make bubbly wine. The name comes from the German word “spritzen,” meaning “to spray.” You can make a wine spritzer with white wine, red wine or rosé wine: it’s typically diluted to about 75% or 50%.
Spritzer vs spritz: what’s the difference? A wine spritzer is similar to a spritz: they both come from the same German word! A spritz is a drink made with sparkling wine, bitters, and soda water: like the famous classic Aperol spritz. Add the “er” and it becomes this refreshing bubbly wine concoction.
Best white wine for a spritzer
You can use any white wine you love for a white wine spritzer: just make sure it’s well chilled before you start. We recommend using a dry, crisp white wine. The best white wine varietals for a spritzer are:
- Dry Reisling
- Pino grigio
- Albariño
- Grüner Veltliner
A note on Grüner Veltliner: it’s an organic wine from Austria and it’s what we often use for this recipe. The flavor is crisp and citrusy—in fact, it’s one of our favorite white wines to drink in general! We found it at Whole Foods, so check at your local grocery or liquor store.
How to make a white wine spritzer
The white wine spritzer is summer’s easiest drink. Once you do this once, memorize the formula and make it on repeat! You don’t even need a recipe.
- Grab a bottle of chilled white wine.
- Pour 3 oz (6 Tbsp) wine into a glass.
- Pour in additional 25% soda water (1 oz [2 Tbsp]).
- Stir gently and enjoy!
The spritzer ratio
Another way to think about a wine spritzer is the spritzer ratio:
- For white wine and rose wine, the spritzer ratio is 3 parts wine to 1 part soda water (see Rosé Spritzer).
- For red wine, use the ratio of equal parts red wine and soda water (1:1).
- For a “summer spritzer”: A “Summer Spritzer” or Sommer Spritzer is a wine spritzer that’s diluted by 75% with soda water. You can do this with any type of wine, and it makes for a nice brunch drink or low alcohol cocktail.
Variation: red wine spritzer
The red wine spritzer is bubbly and fruity, and tastes best with an equal parts ratio. Start with 4 oz red wine and 4 oz soda water (½ cup of each), and add an orange slice to garnish.
Step it up with fruit or herbs
You can also step up your spritzer by loading the glass with beautiful fruits or herbs! It makes for a stunning presentation for entertaining, like dinner parties or bridal showers. Here are some ideas:
- Berries: Slice strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries
- Fruit: Sliced peaches or green apple
- Citrus: Thinly sliced lemon, lime, or orange
- Herbs: Fresh basil, mint, or thyme sprigs
A few more spritzers
Because we love wine spritzers so much, we’ve made them all! After the Red Wine Spritzer and Rosé Spritzer, try a Lillet Spritzer! It’s similar to this white wine spritzer, but using Lillet Blanc! You can also try a Vodka Spritzer, with cranberry juice and vodka.
Or, try the same concept with beer! A shandy is a beer cocktail that mixes beer with citrus soda or ginger ale. Try the refreshing summer shandy or grapefruit shandy.
White Wine Spritzer
Here’s an easy, refreshing cocktail made in minutes—the white wine spritzer! Adding soda water to your favorite wine makes a deliciously bubbly drink.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Poured
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) white wine, chilled*
- 1 ounces (2 tablespoons) soda water
- Lemon peel, for garnish
Instructions
- Pour the wine into a glass, then add the soda water. Gently stir once. Add the garnish and enjoy.
Notes
*For a rosé wine spritzer, use the same ratio of ingredients. For a red wine spritzer, use 4 oz red wine and 4 oz soda water (½ cup of each).
