A Spritz Veneziano (Austrian German: Spritzer, "splash" / "sparkling"), also called just Spritz, is an Italian wine-based cocktail, commonly served as an aperitif in Northeast Italy.
| IBA official cocktail | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Wine cocktail |
| Base spirit | |
| Served | On the rocks: poured over ice |
| Standard garnish | Orange Wedge |
| Standard drinkware | Old Fashioned glass[1] |
| IBA specified ingredients† |
|
| Preparation | Build into glass over ice, garnish and serve. |
| Aperol can be replaced by other bitters such as Campari, Cynar, Gran Classico, Select, etc. † Spritz Veneziano recipe at International Bartenders Association | |
It has been suggested that Aperol Spritz be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2019. |
History
The Spritz Veneziano is a popular aperitif in northern Italy originated in Padua made with Prosecco, soda water and Aperol apéritif made of gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona, among other ingredients It has a vibrant orange hue, which is why it is often popular during the summer. Its name comes from the Italian slang word for aperitif, which is apero, and a slice of orange. [1] Wachau.[2]
Spritz was born during the period of the Habsburg domination in Veneto in the 1800s. The soldiers, but also the various merchants, diplomats and employees of the Habsburg Empire in Veneto became quickly accustomed to drinking local wine in the taverns, but they were not familiar with the wide variety of wines from the Veneto, and the alcohol content was higher than they were accustomed to[3]. The newcomers started to ask the local hosts to spray a bit of water into the wine (spritzen, in German) to make the wines lighter; the real original spritz was composed of sparkling white wine or red wine diluted with fresh water.[4]
Over the years the drink has "grown up" with the infinite variety of possible additions such as a sort of liquor (Aperol, Campari, Select, Jardesca California Aperitiva) or a bitter as the China Martini or Cynar with a lemon peel inside.[4]
Recipe
The drink is prepared with prosecco wine, bitter liqueur such as Aperol, Campari, Cynar, or, especially in Venice, Aperitivo Select, then the glass is topped off with a dash of sparkling mineral water (more commonly club soda). It is usually served over ice in a lowball glass (or sometimes a wine glass) and garnished with a slice of orange, or sometimes an olive, depending on the liqueur.
There is no single composition for a spritz, and it is prepared with different ingredients in different towns and cities, meaning that the alcohol content is highly variable. However, a common denominator is the presence of Prosecco and sparkling water, with the remaining being made up from a great variety of alcoholic drinks, sometimes mixed, but with an unwritten rule to preserve the red/orange color of the cocktail. Finally, a slice of lemon, orange or an olive and a few ice cubes are added.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "Spritz Veneziano".
- ^ "La Storia dello Spritz". Venezia Eventi. 2016-02-08. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
- ^ "Aperol Spritz recipe and origins". The Foodellers.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Racconti nel calice".
- ^ "Lo Spritz".