Are Spritz Drinkers Saving Sparkling Wine?

You’ve likely heard the aphorism, “a rising tide lifts all boats,” and given the absolute tidal wave of a trend that is the Aperol Spritz, it’s not exactly surprising that this was a banner summer for more than just the drink’s namesake orange-hued liqueur. 

In case you haven’t ventured beyond the tried-and-true use for Aperol, this liqueur can be a particularly versatile addition to your back bar. Once you’ve picked up a bottle, we’d suggest trying your hand at making a batch of frozen Aperol Spritzes, or a surprisingly creamy Aperol Fizz. 

According to new data shared by Liz Paquette, head of consumer insights at Drizly, the largest online marketplace for wine, beer, liquor, and non-alcoholic spirits in North America, Aperol was the platform’s best-selling liqueur from May 15 to August 15 of this year, seeing a 13% increase in market share relative to the same period last year. While the fervor around the Italian aperitif isn’t exactly news, Paquette notes that this summer in particular, the platform saw more drinkers spending more of their money on Prosecco, one of three key ingredients (in addition to soda water) you’ll need when whipping up an iconic, simple Aperol Spritz. 

The Italian sparkling wine — which you’ve probably used to make a batch of Bellinis, or our favorite Italian summer treat, a Sgroppino — experienced a nine percent jump in market share within the sparkling wine category this summer compared to last. Before you ask, no, Champagne and Prosecco aren’t the same thing: “If Champagne is built on a base of richness and depth, then Prosecco is its more fruit-driven counterpart,” writes Food & Wine contributor Brian Freedman. “Hailing from northeastern Italy (specifically the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions) Prosecco is produced from the Glera grape variety. Interestingly, the name of the grape used to be Prosecco, but that was changed to help avoid confusion.”

But Aperol isn’t the only spritz-ready Italian liqueur that’s potentially driving the uptick in Prosecco’s popularity. Elderflower liqueur St. Germain (one of the ingredients in this summer’s buzzy Hugo Spritz), hard-to-find Chartreuse, and bright red, bitter Campari, were among the top-selling liqueurs on the platform, meaning that even if the Aperol craze subsides next summer, there are other brands that, to some extent, can buoy Prosecco sales, even with dipping numbers when it comes to American wine consumption overall.

Need help picking out the best Prosecco for your next brunch cocktail, or want to learn more about how to make a perfect spritz? We’ve got you covered.