How to Make the Cardinal Spritz

Every October I start craving a spritz in deeper colors. The light turns golden and low, the evenings cool, and the aperitivo hour deserves a drink to match.

Enter the Cardinal Spritz. Same ritual, same hour, same pleasing fizz. But the color moves from sunny orange to something closer to a cardinal’s robe, a deep, glowing red that suits a low autumn sun.

A Spritz for the Fall Season

The Aperol Spritz is one of the great pleasures of the Italian aperitivo, and it has earned its devoted following. The Cardinal Spritz is a seasonal companion to it, not a replacement.

Fall invites richer flavors. Darker fruit, a firmer bitter edge, a color that echoes the leaves. This version keeps everything people love about the spritz, the sparkle, the low alcohol, the easy sipping, and layers in the warmth of the season.

What Goes Into a Cardinal Spritz

Two small additions do the work.

Pomegranate juice adds tart, jewel-like depth and that rich red color.

Amaro brings a gentle herbal bitterness and a touch of complexity. Montenegro is my pick. It is soft, floral, and orange-tinged, so it pairs beautifully with Aperol. Another mellow amaro will work if that is what you have.

Aperol still leads, so you get that familiar bittersweet orange, now with extra nuance and a little more backbone.

A Brief Spritz History

The spritz began in the Veneto, when Austro-Hungarian soldiers stationed in the region added water to the local wines to lighten them. The German word spritzen, to spray or splash, gave the drink its name. Aperol arrived in Padua in 1919, and over the following decades the bright orange spritz became the aperitivo hour’s signature drink.

I like to think of the Cardinal Spritz as a new chapter in that story, written for the months when the light turns amber.

Tips for the Best Result

• Use plenty of ice. A full glass keeps the drink cold and slows dilution.
• Choose a dry Prosecco. Brut or Extra Dry lets the bittersweet notes shine.
• Go for unsweetened pomegranate juice. It keeps the flavors crisp and bright.
• Pour the Prosecco last and gently. You will keep the bubbles lively.

Easy Variations

• Sparkling rosé instead of Prosecco for a softer, berry-leaning version.
• A rosemary sprig as garnish for a woodsy, herbal note.
• A splash of soda if you want it lighter and longer.

What to Serve With It

Salty, savory things. Marcona almonds, good olives, a few slices of prosciutto, or a wedge of aged Pecorino. The bitterness loves a little salt.

Where It Belongs

Think of a Venetian bacaro in October, when the crowds have thinned, the fog drifts in off the lagoon, and the cicchetti taste better for it. This is the drink I would want in hand there.

Cardinal Spritz FAQ

Can I make it ahead?
Mix the Aperol, amaro, and pomegranate juice in advance and chill it. Add the Prosecco just before serving.

Is it strong?
It sits on the lighter side, similar to a classic spritz.

What if I do not have amaro?
Sweet vermouth is a lovely stand-in, with its own spiced warmth.

Why Lush Life Loves It

Lively, tart, and just bitter enough to keep things interesting. It is a joyful way to carry the spritz into the cooler months. Sunsets come earlier now. Might as well toast them.