Sun has come, heat has come, thirst has come ! It’s time to show up with your Wayfarer glasses, flip-flops and barbecue. But under a blazing sun, you’d rather have a fresh and light pre-dinner drink.

So here is a recipe for a spritz cocktail with Aperol and fresh orange. It comes from Veneto (Venice region). Aperol is an alcoholic drink with infusions of selected herbs and roots, a secret recipe.

Spritz is a light, fresh, sparkling and bright colored cocktail, perfect for summer. You can use either Aperol (11° alcohol content), Campari (25° alcohol content), or Cynar (bitter liqueur made of artichoke leaves, with 16.5° alcohol content). But I prefer spritz with Aperol, because it is lighter and less bitter. In Venice, they serve it with a green olive instead of a slice of orange. By the end of the day, when « aperitivo » time comes, glasses of spritz pop up on the tables. It is a sacred ritual for the students from Padua and Venice.

Give it a try this summer, you will love it !

Makes 1 glass :

• 3 parts of sparkling white wine (prosecco)
• 2 parts of Aperol
• 1 splash of sparkling water
• 1 splash of fresh orange juice
• 1 or 2 slices of orange
• Ice cubes

Fill a large balloon glass with ice cubes. Top with a slice of orange.

Pour in the prosecco wine, then pour in Aperol making circles so that it spreads out into the prosecco wine.

Add the sparkling water and orange juice.