Food Shopping and Storing Beverages Wine Spritzers Are the Healthy-ish Sparkling Cocktail Perfect for Year-Round Sipping And you only need two ingredients to make them. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 11, 2023 There's nothing more refreshing than an ice-cold bubbly beverage. If it's boozy, even better. The wine spritzer is typically made from a basic blend of wine and carbonated water and zhuzhed up with fresh juices and liqueurs. This drink is a go-to cocktail for warmer months and weeknight happy hours because it's delicious, hydrating, and extraordinarily easy to make. "While they may get a bad rap as a cocktail of a bygone era, I actually have a soft spot in my heart for white wine spritzers," says Christopher Hoel, the founder of Harper's Club and wine curator for Wine Insiders and Martha Stewart Wine Co. "They're fun, light, easy to tailor to your taste, and you can pre-make them in big batches before pre-portioning them out for friends and family." You can use any type of carbonated water you like, whether you prefer sparkling water (naturally carbonated mineral water), club soda (water whose carbonation and minerals have been added by the manufacturer), or seltzer (water carbonated by the manufacturer without added minerals). Just FYI: Club soda tends to be a popular choice for wine spritzers because it tends to have a neutral taste. There are also thousands of ways to customize your creations based on the wine, liqueurs, mixers, and garnishes you have on hand. Here are Hoel's top tips for making wine spritzers, plus three delicious recipes you'll want to sip ASAP. 01 of 07 Pick Your Favorite White Wine A white wine spritzer is effectively white wine mixed with club soda. Point being? Make sure that you absolutely love the base wine. Any white wine will do—whether you prefer a super dry sauvignon blanc, an oaky chardonnay, or a sweet Moscato. "Personally, I like a crisp, fruit-forward wine like a pinot grigio to build a solid, flavorful foundation for my spritzers," Hoel says. 02 of 07 Use Fresh Garnishes When it comes to adding a garnish to your cocktail, Hoel recommends taking a farm-to-table approach. "I scope out the fruit selection at my local grocery store or farmers' market, assess what's the most in-season, and then incorporate those fruits into my concoctions." Practically any fruit will liven up a spritzer, but the better the fruit, the more flavorful the end result. Citruses, like lemons or oranges, or even grapefruits, are gold standards for spritzers. "However, I've also enjoyed adding fresh berries, cherries, pineapple, and melon as a fun twist." 03 of 07 Add Tasty Extras You can drink a spritzer that is just wine, soda, and a garnish—and it will be delicious. But if you're feeling adventurous, add a splash (or two) of these to take your spritz up a notch: Citrus Juice Squeeze a lemon or a lime for a zesty, bold finish. Sweetener Add simple syrup, honey, agave, or maple syrup to sweeten up a drier wine (like sauvignon blanc). If you're using a sweet wine like Moscato, you won't need the extra sweetness. Liqueurs A splash of elderflower liqueur (like St. Germain), a dash of Angostura bitters, or a splash of Campari will add new dimensions to your cocktail. Liquor If you want your spritzer to pack more punch, add a splash of clear liquor like good quality gin, vodka, or white rum. 04 of 07 Keep It Cold To keep the cocktail as crisp as possible, the wine and soda should be chilled. Refrigerate at least overnight, and consider moving to the freezer for an extra cool blast before preparation. If you have the space, try chilling your glassware ahead of serving. 05 of 07 Classic White Wine Spritzer Recipe What You Need 6 ounces pinot grigio1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur2 ounces club sodaFresh citrus, such as lemons or oranges How to Make a White Wine Spritzer Step 1: Fill a cocktail glass with large ice cubes, then add pinot grigio, elderflower liqueur, and club soda; stir.Step 2: Cut the rind of the citrus and wipe the rim of the glasses with it, then garnish with the citrus rind. 06 of 07 Sweet Moscato Spritzer Recipe What You Need 4 ounces Moscato1 tablespoon agave nectar2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (depending on the desired level of sweetness)Slice of lemon or lemon peel for garnishClub soda How to Make a Sweet Moscato Spritzer Step 1: Pour Moscato into a glass, then add agave nectar and lemon juice; stir.Step 2: Add a splash of club soda and garnish with a lemon slice or peel. 07 of 07 Rosé Punch Recipe What You Need 3 ounces rosé wine2 ounces sparkling water½ ounce fresh lemon juice½ ounce simple syrup½ ounce Campari or AperolWedges of grapefruit, lemons and strawberries How to Make Rosé Punch Step 1: Fill a large pint-sized glass with ice, then pour in all of the ingredients except the sparkling water.Step 2: Stir well and add fruit, then top with sparkling water. 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