Lambrusco Spritz

This Lambrusco Spritz is a feast in a glass! The bitterness of amaro and the bittersweet bubbly flavors of Lambrusco are complex enough, but add the orange juice and it’ll be like fireworks on your tongue! The citrus lifts the wine’s flavors until they’re soaring! Add some sparkling water to level everything out, and then garnish with juicy orange slices and salty olives. You won’t want to miss this fresh take on the Aperol spritz! 

Why You’ll Love This Lambrusco Spritz

A Lambrusco spritz is the ultimate year-round spritz! It’s refreshing and sweet enough to be a spring and summer cocktail, but the deep flavors of Lambrusco lend themselves to a warming fall and winter vibe. 

Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine made in Italy and it’s about time we start using it more often! It’s bittersweet and absolutely perfect paired with citrus, so it should come as a surprise to no one that I added cara cara orange juice to this spritz. In astrology speak, if a blood orange strawberry spritz was my sun, this Lambrusco spritz would be my moon. 

Imagine drinking this bubbly beverage late at night with a belly full of pasta and delicious conversation!

Ingredients

Just a few ingredients are required to make a spritz that has some serious depth of flavor! You can use any oranges you want, but I’m going to use cara cara, and as for the Lambrusco – the flavors and bitterness depend on the kind of grape that’s used. I recommend trying a couple to find your favorite, or go for Lambrusco Grasparossa which has a bit more sweetness to it. 

• Amaro
• Freshly squeezed orange juice
• Lambrusco 
• Sparkling water
• Garnish: Orange wedge and green olives

Optional: Swap out the orange juice for grapefruit juice, and try garnishing with different things! Cherries would complement any bitterness really nicely. 

How To Make a Lambrusco and Amaro Spritz

Step 1: Mix Amaro and Lambrusco

Fill a large wine glass with ice and then add amaro and orange juice. Stir this mixture together gently, and then add in the Lambrusco. Stir once more. 

Step 2: Sparkling Water and Garnish

Top the glass with sparkling water and then garnish with an orange wedge and green olives. 

FAQs

What goes in a spritz? 

A spritz is a delightful beverage that’s comprised of some combination of wine, sparkling water, and a bitter alcohol. Each recipe is different though, and you can play around with the flavors and bubbles based on your preference. 

How do you make Lambrusco taste better?

By making it a spritz, of course! I made my Lambrusco spritz blood orange-flavored so the citrus cuts the bitterness of the amaro and complements the flavors of Lambrusco. Enjoy!

What does Amaro taste like? 

Amaro literally means “bitter” in Italian, so you can expect bitterness with a slightly sweet herbal flavor. 

Serving Suggestions

A Lambrusco spritz calls for an Italian-themed menu! Here are some delicious recipes to inspire a dreamy dinner party. Prego! 

• Apps: Start your night with some fried sage – which is an Italian staple – or an Italian melon and mozzarella cheeseboard. 
• Main Course: For dinner, serve up some creamy mushroom gnocchi or if you want something lighter – try Italian pesto pasta salad. 
• Side: As for a side dish (or use this as a main!), look no further than this iconic Italian chopped salad. 
• Dessert: This tiramisu layer cake with whipped mascarpone frosting will be a show-stopping way to round out your evening!

More Spritz Recipes You’ll Love

• Spritz Blanco
• Negroni Spritz
• Hugo Spritz
• Limoncello Spritz
• Watermelon Tequila Spritz

If you make a Lambrusco Spritz, be sure to tag me on Pinterest and Instagram!

I seriously love seeing what you guys are making and sharing your creations with the College Housewife community!