Bicicletta

The Bicicletta is a classic, three-ingredient highball made with dry white wine, Campari, and club soda. Italian for bicycle, legend has it that this cocktail owes its name to the elderly Italian gentleman who found themselves swerving on their bicycles to get home after enjoying one too many drinks. 

This drink is simple, refreshing, and perfect for summertime sipping. The best part? You likely already have the ingredients for this low-alcohol highball in your fridge and home bar, and you won’t need to get a cocktail shaker dirty in the process. Cin-cin!

What makes the Bicicletta cocktail work?

While purists will insist that a French 75 simply cannot be enjoyed without Champagne and a Kir Royale has to have Crémant d’Alsace, the Bicicletta is far more flexible when it comes to its wine component. 

For this drink, we suggest opting for a budget-friendly, dry Italian Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc — the granny apple, lemon, and lime notes of Pinot Grigio complement the bittersweet flavors of Campari especially nicely. Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand, is another great pick here.

Fans of the traditional Aperol Spritz will find the Bicicletta a natural, slightly more complex next step in the summertime drink progression. While making this drink won’t exactly guarantee you’ll feel like you’re loitering on a piazza in Italy, each sip makes wherever you’re drinking feel a bit more like a vacation.