Winter citrus is my favorite, y'all; we get to enjoy all types that we never see throughout the rest of the year. Blood oranges, especially, have my heart. They’re vibrantly berry pink, sweet and slightly tart, just perfect for fresh-squeezed juice while they’re still in season through April.
So before citrus season wraps up, I wanted to bring you a cocktail that I absolutely love for brunching and for al fresco suppers out on the patio when the weather warms up this spring. It's so just fresh and bubbly and brightens up this winter vibe.
Ingredients Needed
Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Fresh Squeezed Blood Orange Juice - The fresh juice is where we get that gorgeous ruby color from, and they're in season from the holidays to April. Choose oranges with a nice red blush on the skin, they're going to be red and sweeter on the inside, too!
- Blood Orange Soda - instead of club soda for that lift, we're using blood orange soda. You'll find this as an Italian or European soda in some grocery stores; they're lightly sweetened instead of syrupy sweet and is made with real citrus flavor.
- Bubbly White Wine - we want a clean, dry sparkling wine like prosecco or cava to keep this light, crisp, and refreshing (though if you want a sweet spritz, use a bubbly moscato!).
- Aperol OR Grand Marnier/Triple Sec - Aperol gives that classic bittersweet spritz finish. Grand Marnier leans warmer and more citrus-forward with a little vanilla. It just depends on whether you want bright and bitter or more orange-kissed.
- Crushed Ice
- Blood Orange Slice or Mint, for garnish
How to Make My Fresh Blood Orange Spritz Recipe
Pro Tip: The perfect ratio for this spritz is 2:1:3:2 (juice : liqueur : sparkling wine : soda).
First, fill a chilled glass with ice, the citrus juice, and the aperol.
Next, top with the prosecco wine and the blood orange soda. Give a tiny little stir so you don't lose the bubbles, and serve with some blood orange wedges or slices.
Equipment I Used
Chef's Tips for a Perfect Spritz
- Taste the juice first! Late-season oranges are sweeter, early-season ones taste brighter. If they're too tart, use a sweeter soda or add simple syrup.
- A blood orange slice reinforces aroma and color. Mint adds contrast and freshness. Either should enhance the drink, not just decorate it.
- Blood orange juice isn’t just citrusy, it has anthocyanins (the same compounds found in berries). That’s why the juice is berry-colored and oxidizes faster. Juice the oranges right before serving whenever possible, or add a tiny squeeze of fresh lime juice or lemon if it needs to sit.
Troubleshooting
That usually means it needs more acidity, not more sweetness. Blood oranges vary in brightness, and some batches don’t have enough acid to lift the bubbles. A drier sparkling wine or a small squeeze of lemon can fix this instantly.
That's caused by warm ingredients or over-mixing. Chill everything ahead of time, add sparkling wine last, and avoid stirring.
Pitchers kill bubbles faster. Batch only non-sparkling ingredients and add the bubbles to the pitcher right before serving or per glass.
More Brunch Drinks That Aren’t Mimosas
This spritz light, unfussy, and easy to keep in rotation. Once you’ve got the ratio down, it’s the perfect recipe to keep in your back pocket. If you make it, share the love and tag me on IG so I can see it out in the wild. Cheers, friend!
Blood Orange Spritz
Ingredients
- Crushed ice
- 2 oz fresh squeezed blood orange juice
- 1 oz Aperol, or Grand Marnier, if you don't want the bitterness
- 3 oz chilled bubbly white wine, prosecco or cava
- 2 oz blood orange soda
- Blood orange slice or mint, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a chilled wine glass or large coupe generously with crushed ice.Crushed ice
- Add the blood orange juice and Aperol or Grand Marnier.2 oz fresh squeezed blood orange juice, 1 oz Aperol
- Top with prosecco and pour in the blood orange soda.3 oz chilled bubbly white wine, 2 oz blood orange soda
- Give the drink one gentle stir with a bar spoon to combine, but don't over stir or you'll lose the bubbles.
- Garnish with a blood orange slice and serve immediately!Blood orange slice or mint
Recipe Notes
Blood Orange Spritz (64-Ounce Pitcher)
Serves: About 8 cocktails Ingredients- 16 oz (2 cups) fresh squeezed blood orange juice
- 8 oz (1 cup) Aperol or Grand Marnier
- 24 oz (3 cups) chilled prosecco or cava
- 16 oz (2 cups) blood orange soda
- Ice, for serving
- Blood orange slices or mint, for garnish
- In a large pitcher, combine the blood orange juice and liqueur. Then chill the mixture for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Just before serving, slowly add the prosecco and blood orange soda.
- Stir once or twice to preserve the bubbles.
- Serve over ice in individual glasses and garnish each drink.
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