Ingredients
- 6 cl of alcohol-free Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine)
- 4 cl of Pollen Orange Spritz or Pollen Limoncelli
- 2 cl of sparkling water
- Ice
- 1 orange slice (garnish)
Preparation
- Fill a balloon glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in the Pollen Orange Spritz or Pollen Limoncelli.
- Add the alcohol-free Prosecco (Italian sparkling alcohol-free wine).
- Top up with a dash of sparkling water.
- Stir lightly and garnish with an orange slice.
An iconic Italian aperitif
The Spritz is the emblem of Italian aperitifs, refreshing and sparkling, ideal for enjoying the end of the day on the terrace.
Alcohol-free Spritz: A light and festive alternative
A non-alcoholic Spritz should retain its sparkling and bitter side, while being refreshing and balanced.
Its history dates back to the 19th century, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire controlled part of Northern Italy, notably the Veneto region. Austrian soldiers, finding the local wines too strong, would top them up with sparkling water, saying "spritzen" (to sprinkle in German). Gradually, this custom evolved into a structured cocktail with sparkling wine and Italian bitters.
Today, there are several variations, but purists are often divided between the orange bitters Spritz (the most well-known) and the limoncello Spritz, a sweeter, lemonier alternative.