Meet the Rosé Aperol Spritz, Your New Summer Cocktail Obsession

Ros Aperol Spritz
A Rosé Aperol Spritz made with La Spinetta Il Rosé di Casanova 2016Photo: Courtesy of Christina Pérez

Summer: The season of lazy, carefree days. One in which the decisions should be no more difficult than deciding between a refreshing Aperol Spritz or a crisp glass (or cold can) of rosé.

But lest even that kind of pondering is a tad too strenuous, here is a divine solution: The Rosé Aperol Spritz. Created by our friends at Bon Appétit, the newfangled concoction combines the season’s two most quintessential tipples into one gorgeous, rosy-hued super-cocktail. The stuff of legend, of dreams.

Franciacorta Brut RoséPhoto: Courtesy of Christina Pérez

The magazine’s version, in addition to substituting sparkling rosé for Prosecco, features a splash of passion fruit juice and a squeeze of lime “to balance the bitterness of the Aperol” and to add “tartness.” But if you—or your bartender—are low on passion fruit juice or sparkling rosé, no worries. You can still partake in this extraordinary, soon-to-be-everywhere summer libation. Non-sparkling rosé works just fine and—as was customary when spritzes were originally created in Italy’s Veneto region back in the 1800s—can be supplemented with a splash of soda water for a refreshing bit of fizz. But you don’t even really need that. It can easily be made with a non-fizzy rosé, like La Spinetta’s Il Rosé di Casanova 2016 which, even with its lack of spritzy-ness, is still plenty delightful.

Below, an extra-easy recipe to make at home.

A Rosé Aperol SpritzPhoto: Courtesy of Christina Pérez
Rosé Aperol Spritz

Ice and a slice of orange, pink grapefruit, or peel for garnish 3 parts sparkling rosé (try Franciacorta) or just regular rosé 2 parts Aperol 1 splash soda (if desired)

Add ice to the glass, then pour in wine and the Aperol, and add a splash of soda. Top with garnish.

Watch Drew Barrymore’s Guide to Rosé the Right Way