Winter Aperol Spritz

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe Jump to Video

The bright, flirty, bittersweet flavor and feel of a spritz make it the ideal easy cocktail for the cold winter months. Try this delicious Winter Aperol Spritz to indulge in all the joyful flavors of the winter in one sensational sip!

Gorgeous wine glass filled with Winter Aperol spritz, placed on snowy ground.

Your winter routine doesn’t need a spruce up, it needs a spritz up, and this cocktail has you covered! This refreshing, fun, and whimsical sip tastes like a drop of the North Pole in a glass!

A Winter Aperol Spritz is the perfect party drink, whether it's a big bash or a party of one because it's easy, refreshing, festive, and totally delicious!

🎥 Video

🥘 Ingredients

Cubed Ice: Choose large cubes for a slower meltdown.
Aperol: Wonder Aperol is an Italian form of bitters with a vibrant red hue. It gets this bold color from the rhubarb used to make it.
Cranberry Juice: Cranberries have a refreshingly tart taste that really sings when paired with Aperol. You can use regular cranberry, sugar-free, or even a blend like cran-apple.
Sparkling Wine: Refreshing sparkling wine brings an exciting fizzy element to the spritz. Choose your favorite wine, but prosecco makes a nice choice.
Rosemary Twig And Orange Slice: This pair makes a lovely holiday garnish for this bubbly beauty!

See the recipe card for quantities.

👣 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step One: Fill the serving glass with cubed ice.

Step Two: Add the Aperol to the glass.

Add Aperol to the cubed ice filled glass.

Step Three: Add the cranberry juice to the glass.

Step Four: Top with sparkling wine.

Top the cranberry Aperol with sparkling wine.

Step Five: Garnish with orange and rosemary, then enjoy!

Garnish your Winter Aperol spritz with a orange slice.

🍸 Variations

Citrus Swap: Trade the tart cranberry juice for a sweet blood orange juice to make a bright, citrusy version of this classic.
Berry Blast: Try making this bubbly beverage with a berry and cranberry juice blend to bring some sweeter fruit flavors into the mix.
Pomegranate Pop: Another great winter flavor is pomegranate. Celebrate this flavor by trading the cranberry juice for pomegranate.

🎠 Perfect Pairing

🍽 Equipment

Measuring Tools/Jigger: Use liquid measuring tools or a cocktail jigger.
Serving Glasses: I love to use a stemmed wine glass to serve this Christmasy concoction, but you can also use stemless or an old-fashioned glass instead.

💭 Top tips

The best way to chill your glassware is by popping it in the freezer a few hours in advance. A quicker way to get the glass cold is to fill it with ice, mix up your delicious drink, then dump the ice, replace it with new ice, and complete the drink as directed.

🙋🏻 FAQ

What Pairs Well With A Winter Aperol Spritz?

This drink was designed for holiday parties and festive cocktail breaks. Try this refreshing Italian-inspired sip with garlic bread, bruschetta, or rosemary crackers. It is also lovely with sweet choices like citrus sorbet, shortbread cookies, or lemon cake.

Can I Make This Non-Alcoholic?

Yes! Trade the Aperol for non-alcoholic Aperol (sometimes called non-alcoholic spritz) and use sparkling white grape juice instead of wine.

Can I Make This In Advance Of The Party?

Since this cocktail was designed to dazzle with yummy bubbles, it tastes and looks its best when poured to order.

Other Recipes for You to Try

See more Cocktails and Drinks →

If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and hashtag #combinegoodflavors, so I don't miss it.

📖 Recipe