🍊 Campari-Style Spritz (Non-Alcoholic)
A bittersweet Italian-inspired spritz with orange, botanicals, and bright bubbles
The Bitter Side of Aperitivo
The Campari Spritz is one of the simplest expressions of Italian aperitivo culture: bitter aperitif, sparkling wine, soda, ice, and orange.
The original Campari Spritz follows a classic 3-2-1 structure — three parts Prosecco, two parts Campari, and one part soda water — served over ice with fresh orange.
Campari itself dates back to 1860, when Gaspare Campari created the distinctive red bitter in Italy. It later became closely associated with Milanese aperitivo culture through Caffè Campari and the Camparino in Galleria.
What makes Campari so recognizable is its flavour. It’s intensely bittersweet, with prominent notes of orange, herbs, florals, and wood, finishing with a lingering bitterness.
For a non-alcoholic Campari alternative, the goal isn’t simply to find something orange or sweet. You want that same tension between citrus, botanicals, bitterness, and a little sweetness — enough structure to stand up to sparkling wine without disappearing.
That’s where a good zero-proof bitter aperitif earns its place.
At a Glance
Glassware: Large wine glass or Copa style balloon glass
Prep Time: Under 3 minutes
Level: Effortless
Style: Non-alcoholic spritz, bitter aperitivo
Vibe: Bittersweet, citrus-forward, botanical, sparkling, aperitivo-ready
Ingredients
- 3 oz Colibri Spumante
- 2 oz non-alcoholic Campari style - bitter aperitif
- 1 oz soda water or zero sugar tonic
- Ice
- Fresh orange slice, for garnish
Our Bitter Aperitif Picks
Choose one:
Sober Spirits Bitter
A great choice when you want a more assertive, classic bitter profile with enough intensity to echo the structure of Campari.
Novara Aperitivo
A softer, more aromatic expression where citrus and botanicals take a slightly more elegant lead.
Free Spirits — The Spirit of Aperitivo Milano
Bright citrus, layered botanicals, and a pleasantly bittersweet finish designed for Italian-style aperitivo cocktails.
Method
- Fill a large wine glass or Copa glass generously with ice.
- Add your chosen non-alcoholic bitter aperitif.
- Pour in the Colibri Spumante.
- Finish with soda water.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with a fresh orange slice.
Why We Love It
A good bitter spritz has tension.
The bitterness keeps the drink grown-up, the sparkling wine adds lift, and the orange ties everything together with just enough sweetness and aroma.
We especially like to use Colibri Spumante here as our sparkling wine because its clean bubbles and Italian style support the aperitivo rather than overpowering it.
It’s an easy drink to serve before dinner, at brunch, during a long lunch, or as part of a cocktail table when hosting. It also looks beautiful in the glass, making it a natural signature drink for showers, weddings, and larger gatherings.
Also Try It With Tonic
You don’t need sparkling wine every time.
For a simpler non-alcoholic Campari and tonic alternative, pour your chosen alcohol free bitter aperitif over ice and top with a premium tonic water.
2 oz non-alcoholic bitter aperitif
3–4 oz premium tonic water or club soda
Orange slice, for garnish
Build over plenty of ice and give it a gentle stir.
It’s lighter and more bitter-forward than the orange Italian spritz, and a particularly easy option when you want something refreshing to complement snacks without being sweet.
Hosting Tip
Serving a crowd? Set out your non-alcoholic bitter aperitif alongside chilled Colibri Spumante, soda, plenty of ice, and fresh orange slices and let guests build their own spritz.
Offering more than one type of bitter of aperitif is especially fun here — each creates a slightly different interpretation of the same classic drink and gives guests a chance to discover which brand they prefer.
Shop the Ingredients
Build your own alcohol-free Campari-style spritz with Sober Spirits Bitter, Novara Aperitivo, Free Spirits — The Spirit of Aperitivo Milano, and Colibri Spumante.
Explore our non-alcoholic aperitifs and non-alcoholic sparkling wines for even more ways to create an aperitivo-style serve at home.
More Alcohol-Free Inspiration
Browse our collection of non-alcoholic cocktail recipes for more spritzes, aperitivo serves, and modern classics made without alcohol.
