For more than a decade, the orange glass of Aperol spritz has been on every Adelaide terrace from October to April. It’s a fine drink. But Australian producers are now making aperitivos from Riverland citrus, native Davidson plums and Yarra Valley sparkling wine, and are far more interesting than the Italian original.
If you’re looking for Aperol alternatives this summer, these four bottles cover most occasions. There’s a local favourite, one for cocktails, an easy ready-to-pour option and a lighter spritz for long afternoons.
Best for backing local
Bizzarro Aperitivo
Bizzarro is a South Australian aperitivo, made by Delinquente Wine Co with organically grown Riverland oranges and lemons, rhubarb and gentian root. All of that is steeped in a biodynamic, skin-contact Vermentino and fortified with grape spirit, finishing at 17.5 per cent.
The result is sweet, bitter and citrusy all at once, with a bit more depth than Aperol. Make a spritz with sparkling wine, or try it with pet-nat if you want to stay with natural wine. It also works topped with tonic, or poured over ice with a splash of soda.
A 750ml bottle is around $36 from bizzarroaperitivo.com.
Best for the cocktail cabinet
Davo Plum Aperitivo
Autonomy Distillers in Kyneton, Victoria, built this one around the Davidson plum, a native rainforest fruit so tart it’s rarely eaten fresh. The plum is blended with sweet Australian oranges, rosella flowers and mountain pepperberry. The taste is bright and sharp: plum, citrus peel and a little raspberry, then a herbal bitterness and a warm, peppery finish.
It makes a very good spritz. Autonomy’s recipe is 90ml prosecco, 30ml Davo Plum and 15ml soda, poured over ice in a large wine glass and finished with orange peel. It earns its place in the cocktail cabinet, though, because of how well it mixes. Swap it in for Campari in a Negroni or an Americano, or use it in a Paper Plane or a sour. It’s also excellent on its own over ice with a twist of orange.
A 700ml bottle is $46. The best deal is the Autonomy website, where FIFTY+SA readers get free shipping on two or more bottles with the code FIFTYSA. Around Adelaide, it has been stocked by independent bottle shops including Belair Fine Wines, The Edinburgh Cellars in Mitcham, Angas Park Cellars in Nuriootpa, Cellarbrations on Melbourne Street in North Adelaide, St Peter’s Cellars and Spier & Wright Whisky Merchants in Unley. Stock changes, so call before you go.
Best for no-fuss long lunches
Zoncello Limoncello Spritz
Zonzo Estate in the Yarra Valley calls this the original limoncello spritz. It mixes the estate’s own limoncello with Australian sparkling wine, so there’s nothing to measure or stir. It tastes like ice-cold lemon sorbet: zesty, a little sweet and very refreshing.
Pour it over ice with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint. It’s at its best on a long lunch outside, when nobody wants to be on drinks duty.
It’s $25 a bottle from zonzo.com.au.
Best for a lighter glass
RoRo Aperitivo Spritz
RoRo also comes from Zonzo Estate, and it’s the lightest of the four at 8 per cent. That works out to about 4.7 standard drinks per 750ml bottle, or roughly half the strength of a glass of wine. It still has plenty of flavour. RoRo takes its cues from Italian bitters like Cynar and Montenegro: red fruit, orange and grapefruit zest, dark spice and a hint of caramel.
It comes ready to drink, so serve it chilled over ice with a wheel of orange. Bring it out with an antipasto platter, cheese or pizza, especially when the afternoon looks like turning into the evening.
Expect to pay $22 to $26 a bottle from independent bottle shops or zonzo.com.au.
How to make a better spritz at home
Most spritzes go wrong in the same three ways: warm glasses, too little ice and flat bubbles. Chill your glasses, fill them generously with ice and pour the sparkling wine last so it keeps its fizz. Then add a proper garnish: orange, lemon or a sprig of mint. A good spritz takes about 30 seconds, and a bad one tastes like cordial.
Australian producers have made Aperol look a little predictable. With a South Australian bitter, a native plum and two easy pours from the Yarra Valley to choose from, there’s no need to drink the same orange glass every time this summer.
Your aperitivo questions answered
What can I use instead of Aperol?
Australian alternatives include Bizzarro Aperitivo, made in South Australia with Riverland citrus, and Davo Plum Aperitivo, made with native Davidson plum. Both can be used in a spritz the same way you’d use Aperol.
What is a low-alcohol spritz?
A spritz with less alcohol than a standard glass of wine. RoRo Aperitivo Spritz is 8 per cent alcohol, or about 4.7 standard drinks per 750ml bottle, and comes ready to pour over ice.
How do you make an aperitivo spritz?
Fill a chilled wine glass with ice, then add 30ml of aperitivo and 90ml of prosecco, and top with a splash of soda. Garnish with orange peel.
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