Some drinks are simple. Some drinks are fancy. This one sits right in the middle. A white wine spritzer takes two things you probably already have. White wine. Bubbly water. You put them together. You get something light and cold. It does not need a lot of work. It does not need special skills. Anyone can make one in under a minute.
I have made these drinks for years. They show up at summer parties. They appear at brunch. They work before dinner too. People like them because they are not too heavy. The bubbles make them fun. The wine gives them a little kick. Not too much though. That is the white wine spritzer recipe.
Where This Drink Came From?
People have been mixing wine with water for a long time. The Romans did it. They added water to their wine to make it last longer. The modern spritzer came around later. It became big in the 1950s. Back then, people wanted lighter drinks. They did not want strong cocktails all the time. So they added soda to wine. The name "spritzer" comes from a German word. It means "splash." That is exactly what you do. You splash some bubbly water into the wine.
The drink stayed popular. It never really went away. You see it in restaurants. You see it at home. It is one of those drinks that works for almost anyone.
The Bare Bones Recipe
You do not need much. Here is what goes into one glass.
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White wine
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Club soda or any bubbly water
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Ice
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Something for garnish if you want
That is it. The basic recipe is that short.
How Much of Each
Get a wine glass. Fill it with ice. Pour in your wine. A good amount is about six ounces. That is a standard pour. Then add about two ounces of club soda. Give it a gentle stir. That is all there is to it.
Some people do half and half. That makes a very light drink. Others do more wine and less soda. Play around with it. See what you like best.
Read Also: Easy Sangria Recipe With Red Wine
Picking the Right Wine
Not every white wine works the same way. Some are better than others. You want a wine that is dry. Dry means it is not sweet. Sweet wines do not mix well with soda. They get too sugary.
Stay away from oaky Chardonnay. Oak gives wine a heavy taste. It comes from the barrels they age it in. That heavy taste does not play nice with bubbles. It feels clunky in your mouth.
Here are wines that actually work.
Pinot Grigio
This one comes from Italy. It is light. It is crisp. It has a clean finish. Many people choose this for their spritzer. It does not fight with the soda. They get along well.
Sauvignon Blanc
This wine has a sharp taste. Some say it tastes like grass. Others say it tastes like citrus. Either way, it brings a bright flavor. It makes the drink feel lively.
Chenin Blanc
This one is flexible. Some bottles are dry. Some are a little sweet. It has fruit notes like apple. It works with many different add-ins. If you want to try flavored syrups, this is a good choice.
Pinot Gris
This is similar to Pinot Grigio. It comes from France. It is a little richer. But it still works fine in a spritzer.
The Bubbly Part
You need something fizzy. Club soda is the usual choice. It has no flavor. It just adds bubbles. Some brands are better than others. Fever-Tree makes good soda water. It has fine bubbles that last.
You can also try flavored soda water. Grapefruit is a popular one. It adds a tangy note. Lemon and lime work too. Just make sure it is not too sweet. You want the wine to stay in charge.
What to Put on Top?
Garnish is not required. But it makes the drink look nice. It also adds a little smell. Smell is part of taste. If it smells good, it tastes better.
Try these:
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A thin slice of lemon
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A twist of lime
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A few fresh berries
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A sprig of mint
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A slice of orange
Put it on the rim. Or drop it right in. Either way works.
Changing It Up
The basic recipe is fine. But you can do more. Here are some ways to change the taste.
Grapefruit and Rosemary
This one adds a little something special. Get a grapefruit slice. Get a rosemary sprig. Put them in the glass. Pour in the wine and soda. The grapefruit gives a tart pop. The rosemary gives an earthy smell.
If you want to get fancy, char the rosemary. Hold it with tongs. Light the tip with a match. It will smoke. Put it in the glass. That smoke goes into the drink. It adds a whole new layer. I learned this trick from a bartender. It works every time.
Italicus and Grapefruit
There is a liqueur called Italicus. It tastes like bergamot. Bergamot is a type of citrus. It is like a mix of orange and lemon. It has flowers in it too.
Mix two ounces of Pinot Grigio with one ounce of Italicus. Add half an ounce of grapefruit juice. Stir it with ice. Top with grapefruit soda. This version is stronger. It has more going on. It is not your basic spritzer.
Fall Version with Quince
This one takes more work. But it is worth it. Quince is a fruit. It looks like a lumpy apple. It has a floral taste. You make a syrup with it.
Get one pound of quince. Peel it. Dice it up. Put it in a pot with two cups of water. Add half a cup of sugar. Throw in two strips of lemon peel. Add two cardamom pods. Bring it to a boil. Then turn down the heat. Let it simmer until the quince is soft. This takes about fifteen to forty-five minutes. Strain out the solids. Keep the liquid. That is your syrup.
For one drink, put ice in a glass. Add one ounce of the syrup. Add one ounce of Lillet Blanc. Pour in five ounces of Chenin Blanc. Top with soda water. Stir it gently. Garnish with a fig if you have one.
This drink tastes like autumn. It is warm and spiced. It is completely different from the summer white wine spritzer recipe.
Elderflower
Elderflower has a sweet floral taste. Add a splash to your spritzer. It makes the drink feel fancy. It goes well with Pinot Grigio.
Berries
Muddle some berries in the bottom of the glass. Mash them with a spoon. Then add your ice, wine, and soda. The berries color the drink. They add fruitiness. It looks pretty too.
Herbs
Mint and basil work great. Tear them up a little. Drop them in. They give a fresh green flavor.
Making a Pitcher
If you have people coming over, do not make each drink one at a time. That takes forever. Make a pitcher instead.
Get a big pitcher. Pour in one whole bottle of wine. That is 750 milliliters. Add one liter of club soda. Stir it up. Add ice. Throw in some sliced fruit. Then let people pour their own.
This saves time. It also looks nice on the table. People can serve themselves. You get to enjoy your own drink.
How Strong Is It
A spritzer is not strong. That is the whole idea. The soda waters down the wine. The alcohol content goes down. A normal glass of wine has about twelve percent alcohol. A spritzer has about eight percent. Maybe less. It depends on how much soda you use.
This makes it a good daytime drink. You can have one with lunch. You can have one in the afternoon. It will not knock you out.
When to Serve It
You can serve a spritzer any time. But some times work better.
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Summer afternoons
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Brunch with friends
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Before dinner as an appetizer drink
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Garden parties
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Baby showers
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Weddings
It is a versatile drink. It fits in at casual gatherings. It also works at fancier events. Dress it up with nice garnishes. Or keep it simple for a barbecue.
Pairing with Food
A spritzer goes with light food. It does not fight with flavors. It cleans your palate.
Try it with:
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Salads
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Grilled fish
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Chicken
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Pasta with light sauce
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Cheese plates
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Fruit platters
It does not go well with heavy food. Skip it with steak. Skip it with rich creamy sauces. The drink is too light for those.
You May Also Like: Homemade Flavored Wine Recipes
Making It Your Own
Here is the best part. You can do whatever you want. There are no rules. If you like more soda, use more soda. If you like less, use less. If you want to add a bunch of fruit, go ahead. If you want to keep it plain, that is fine too.
Taste it as you go. Take a sip. See if you want more of something. Adjust it. This is how you find your perfect version.
Common Mistakes
People make a few mistakes with this drink. Here is what to avoid.
Using Sweet Wine
Sweet wine makes the drink cloying. It is too much. Stick with dry wine. It balances better.
Using Too Much Soda
Soda is good. But too much washes out the wine. You lose the flavor. Stick to the two-ounce ratio. Adjust from there.
Forgetting the Ice
Ice keeps it cold. Cold is important. A warm spritzer is not good. Use plenty of ice.
Using Flat Soda
Make sure your soda is fresh. Flat soda ruins the drink. The bubbles are the whole point.
Storing Leftovers
You might have leftover wine. Put the cork back in. Keep it in the fridge. It will last a few days. The taste might change a little. But it will still be fine.
Do not store a mixed spritzer. The bubbles go flat. The wine gets watery. Make it fresh each time.
Cost
A spritzer is cheap to make. A bottle of wine costs maybe ten to fifteen dollars. A bottle of club soda costs two dollars. That makes several drinks. Compare that to a cocktail at a bar. That costs twelve dollars for one. You save a lot of money at home.
Why People Love It?
People like this drink for many reasons. It is easy. It is cheap. It is refreshing. It is not too strong. You can change it up. You can make it fancy or plain. It works for almost everyone.
It is also a good drink for people who do not usually like wine. The soda softens the wine taste. It makes it more approachable. I have seen many people try their first spritzer and love it. Then they start trying other wines. It is a gateway drink.
Conclusion
The white wine spritzer does not need to be complicated. It does not need expensive ingredients. It does not need special tools. It just needs wine, soda, and a glass. That is the beauty of it.
You can keep it simple. You can dress it up. You can make it for yourself. You can make it for a crowd. It always works. It always tastes good.
