I Asked 5 Bartenders To Name the Best Sparkling Wine for an Aperol Spritz—They All Said the Same Thing

It’s no surprise the Aperol Spritz is known as sunset in a glass. Vivid orange Aperol aperitif gives this trendy Italian cocktail its bright glow and refreshing taste.

The popular cocktail is two parts Aperol, the bright-orange Italian aperitif, plus three parts prosecco and one part club soda. Just add ice to a glass, splash in the ingredients, then stir. “As elegant as the drink is, at its core, an Aperol Spritz is meant to be breezy and unfussy,” says Alexandra Tweten, bartender at The Edmon in Los Angeles.

The Bartenders I Asked

• Alexandra Tweten: bartender at The Edmon in Los Angeles
• Cyllan Hicks: head mixologist at Nothing Really Matters in New York City
• Jonathan Pogash: president and owner of the Cocktail Guru beverage consulting firm
• Charlotte Voisey: executive director of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, a non-profit supporting the hospitality industry
• Nicole Ekblad: special events bartender in St. Louis

The Best Sparkling Wine for an Aperol Spritz

While the recipe is easy, the ingredients matter. When making an Aperol Spritz, the key is a great sparkling wine, bartenders say.

“Sparkling wine is a fantastic ingredient for cocktails, especially when you want to introduce acidity and effervescence,” says Hicks. “It’s also a great tool for balancing sweetness in drinks—particularly when you’re working with richer or more sugary ingredients. The fizz adds a lift, and the bright acidity cuts through the richness.”

We asked bartenders across the country to name their go-to sparkling wine when concocting an Aperol Spritz. The overriding favorite was La Marca Prosecco.

It’s the only sparkling wine Ekblad uses when making an Aperol Spritz. “This prosecco has a bright fruity flavor, but is still dry so its flavor doesn't overpower that of the Aperol. It can be found at almost any liquor or wine store and is easy on the wallet,” she says.

La Marca Prosecco comes from Trevino, which is in the heart of Italy’s Prosecco region. The company describes the sparkling wine as “Aromas of citrus and honeysuckle blossoms and a crisp, clean palate bring notes of green apple, juicy peach and ripe lemon, framed by hints of minerality.”

Hicks says it “offers a clean, crisp profile with subtle floral notes and a refreshing finish. At $15 to $20, it strikes a perfect balance between quality and affordability, making it a versatile choice for mixing or sipping on its own.”

At the Edmon, they also use La Marca Prosecco for spritzes, says Tweten. “We like it for its crispness, which balances the sweetness in the aperitivo nicely.”

Tips for the Best Spritz

The formula is simple: Put ice in a glass and add ingredients, but don’t forget to mix everything.

“Don't allow the liquid to remain unstirred—more often than not the Aperol will sink to the bottom and the drink won't be mixed well enough,” says Pogash. “Give the drink a little stir to incorporate everything, which allows this joyful drink to shine!” 

Don’t forget to jazz it up, says Voisey. “The spritz is usually garnished with a slice of fresh orange, however a nice twist is to use a big green olive on a cocktail pick.”

Along those lines, Tweten recommends giving the cocktail a twist and making it a Dirty Spritz, which she calls the 3, 1, 2 Sue. It’s the same as a classic Aperol Spritz, but with an addition of 1/4 ounce of Dirty Sue olive juice. “The Dirty Sue adds a nice, balanced salinity and a round, umami quality,” she says. “Garnish with a couple cocktail olives and you have a fuller-bodied Aperol Spritz.”