A Campari Rosé Spritz is my slightly more grown-up twist on the classic Italian aperitivo spritz: Campari in place of Aperol for a bolder, more bitter edge, dry rosé instead of prosecco, and a bright squeeze of lemon over plenty of ice. It came together one night in Maine when our friends were out of Aperol and I had to get creative, and honestly I might like it better than the original. It's a 3-ingredient, 5-minute pour that works year-round, not just in summer. If you love a good spritz, my Classic Aperol Spritz is the OG, my Champagne Spritzer is the bubbly cousin, and my roundup of 22 Easy Summer Cocktails has a drink for every occasion.
Campari Rosé Spritz at a Glance
- 🕒 Total Time: 5 minutes
- 👪 Servings: 6 (easily scaled to a pitcher)
- 🍝 Cuisine Type: Italian / Aperitivo Cocktail
- 🧂 Flavor Profile: Bittersweet and citrusy, with Campari's bitter-orange edge, crisp dry rosé, bright lemon, and plenty of fizz
- 📖 Dietary Info: Contains alcohol; naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan
- 📦 Storage Notes: Best mixed fresh so the bubbles stay lively; chill the Campari, rosé, and sparkling water ahead, then combine just before serving; batch the rosé and Campari in a pitcher for a crowd
- ⭐Why You'll Love It: A 3-ingredient aperitivo spritz with a grown-up bitter edge. Campari, dry rosé, and a splash of sparkling water over ice with loads of lemon. The easiest year-round cocktail to throw together when people come over.
Summarize and save this content on
Jump to:
Why I love this Recipe
Some of my favorite cocktail concoctions come from being in front of someone else's bar! That's the case for this Campari Rosé Spritz! We spent a little bit of time in Maine earlier this year with our friends Emily and Jon. Emily's parents hosted us for dinner a few nights and OBVIOUSLY we had to break out the cocktails pre-feast. Traditionally we make Aperol Spritz' when we're together but Aperol was no where to be found at the time so we had to get creative.
This Campari Rosé Spritz takes all the components of a traditional spritz but with a spin. Campari instead of Aperol. Rose instead of Prosecco and Lemon instead of Orange. It's an easy swap and equally as delish. It's also perfect at any time of the year so while it absolutely works for summer along with the Paloma Spritz. But, it's also incredible with my Roasted Chicken Dinner Party Menu as it adds a bit of zip to the winter vibes!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Campari
- 18 ounces dry rosé
- 6 ounces sparkling water, more as needed (I love lemon or plain)
- lemon to garnish
Substitutions & Swaps
🍷 Wine Base
- Dry rosé (called for) - Crisp and not too sweet; the backbone of this version
- Prosecco - Go fully traditional and bubbly for a classic spritz
- Dry white (Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc) - Lighter and less fruit-forward
- Sparkling rosé - Pink and bubbly in one pour
🍊 Bitter Aperitivo
- Campari (called for) - Bold and bitter with a bitter-orange edge
- Aperol - Sweeter and lower proof; the classic, gentler spritz
- Select Aperitivo or Cappelletti - Other Italian bitters with a similar vibe
- Lillet Rosé - Softer and floral for a low-bitter version
🫧 Bubbles
- Sparkling water or club soda (called for) - Keeps it light and sessionable
- Prosecco - Adds wine bubbles and a little more body
- Lemon or grapefruit seltzer - Reinforces the citrus, just keep it unsweetened
🍋 Citrus & Garnish
- Lemon (called for) - Bright and a little tart, the swap from the usual orange
- Orange - The traditional spritz garnish
- Grapefruit - Floral and bitter, gorgeous with Campari
- Castelvetrano olive - A savory, briny aperitivo touch on the pick
🍷🍊🫧 Tips & Tricks for the Best Campari Rosé Spritz
Bittersweet, citrusy, and bubbly, the easiest aperitivo to pour
- Chill everything first. Campari, rosé, and sparkling water all go in cold so the ice doesn't melt the drink to water.
- Start with a 3-2-1 ratio. Three parts rosé, two parts Campari, one part bubbles is a balanced pour; dial the Campari down if the bitterness is too much for you.
- Build it over one big ice cube. A large cube melts slowly and keeps the spritz cold without diluting it fast.
- Pour the bubbles last. Add the sparkling water at the end and stir gently so you don't knock out the fizz.
- Use a dry rosé, not a sweet one. Sweet rosé plus Campari skews cloying; crisp and dry balances the bitter.
- Express the lemon peel. Twist a strip of peel over the glass before dropping it in; the oils are where the aroma lives.
- Don't drown it in soda. A splash is plenty; too much and you lose the Campari backbone.
- Batch it in a pitcher for a crowd. Combine the rosé and Campari ahead, then top each glass with bubbles right before serving so they stay lively.
- Garnish with a lemon half-wheel and an olive. The briny olive against the bitter Campari is a classic aperitivo move.
- Serve it before dinner. Campari is an aperitivo, built to wake up your appetite, so pour it as people arrive.
Campari Rosé Spritz FAQs
What is a Campari spritz?
A Campari spritz is an Italian aperitivo cocktail made with Campari, a sparkling wine or sparkling water, and a citrus garnish over ice. This rosé version swaps in dry rosé for the prosecco and lemon for the orange, giving it a crisper, more bitter edge than a classic Aperol spritz. It is light, bittersweet, and meant to be sipped before a meal.
What is the difference between an Aperol spritz and a Campari spritz?
Aperol is sweeter, lower in alcohol, and a brighter orange, so an Aperol spritz is gentle and approachable. Campari is more bitter, higher proof, and deeper red, so a Campari spritz has a bolder, more grown-up edge. The build is the same, so use whichever bitterness level you prefer.
What kind of rosé is best for this spritz?
Use a dry rosé rather than a sweet one, since Campari already brings plenty of its own character that a sweet wine would push over the edge. A crisp Provence-style rosé is perfect. Chill it well before mixing.
Can I make a Campari rosé spritz pitcher for a crowd?
Yes, this is a great batch cocktail. Combine the rosé and Campari in a pitcher ahead of time and keep it chilled, then pour over ice and top each glass with sparkling water right before serving. Adding the bubbles last keeps every glass fizzy.
Is a Campari spritz very bitter?
It has a pleasant bitter-orange edge from the Campari, but the rosé, bubbles, and lemon balance it out. If you are new to bitter aperitivi, start with less Campari and more rosé, or use Aperol for a sweeter, milder drink. See the Substitutions section for swaps.
It's also a part of my Roasted Chicken Dinner Party Menu - which you should totally make this season. It's incredible!
Campari Rosé Spritz
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Campari
- 18 ounces dry rosé
- 6 ounces sparkling water, more as needed (I love lemon or plain)
- lemon to garnish
Instructions
- Pour Campari and rosé into a pitcher and stir to combine. Evenly distribute the mixture between 6 rocks glass filled with ice.
- Top off with soda, stir gently to combine, and add lemon garnish.
Have never been a Campari fan, but may need to retry!!