The Aperol Spritz became the unofficial drink of European summers for good reason. It’s bitter, bubbly, and impossibly easy to drink. The bright orange color looks like sunset in a glass, and the bittersweet flavor sits in a sweet spot between casual and complex. This non-alcoholic version keeps all of that intact.

Getting the bitter right

The bitter orange aperitif is what makes this drink work. Lyre’s Italian Spritz captures the bittersweet, herbaceous profile that Aperol is known for. It has citrus peel, gentian, and rhubarb notes that give the drink its signature edge. Without something genuinely bitter in the glass, you end up with orange soda, and that’s a different drink entirely.

Ritual Zero Proof also makes an aperitif alternative with a slightly more floral character. Either works. The key is finding something with real bitterness, not just orange flavoring.

The sparkling wine component

Non-alcoholic prosecco or sparkling wine adds the effervescence and dry fruit notes that the drink needs. Freixenet 0.0% is widely available and does the job well. The splash of sparkling water on top loosens the drink up and adds extra fizz. Some people skip the water, which gives a slightly richer, more concentrated version.

How to serve it

The Aperol Spritz is traditionally served in an oversized wine glass, not a flute or a rocks glass. The wide bowl gives the ice room to breathe and keeps the drink cold without making it hard to sip. Fill the glass generously with ice before you start building. The order matters too: aperitif first, then sparkling wine, then water. This keeps the layers visible for a few seconds before you stir, which is half the fun.

This pairs naturally with the Grasshopper if you want a two-drink spread that covers both ends of the flavor spectrum: one bitter and bright, one sweet and creamy.