How is the Vigna Spritz prepared?
Pour 50 ml of Antica Vigna into a wine glass filled with ice, add 75 ml of very cold brut sparkling wine, and top with 25 ml of soda water. Stir gently and garnish with an orange peel. The result is a fruity, vinous, and botanical aperitif: the official signature recipe by Naturae Spirits.
The Vigna Spritz was created to bring the character of Antica Vigna to the aperitif moment. The vinous component of the Frappato grape, notes of wild cherry, and bitter botanicals meet the freshness of brut sparkling wine and the liveliness of soda.
It is not simply a Spritz with a different liqueur. It is a mixing concept designed around the identity of Antica Vigna, with a recipe that is easy to replicate at home.
Vigna Spritz: the original Naturae Spirits recipe
The official Vigna Spritz recipe uses three liquid ingredients, ice, and an orange peel. It does not require a shaker or professional equipment.
Ingredients for a Vigna Spritz
- 50 ml of Antica Vigna
- 75 ml of brut sparkling wine, very cold
- 25 ml of soda water, very cold
- Abundant, solid ice
- A fresh orange peel
Recommended glass: a large wine glass or a spacious highball.
Aromatic profile: fruity, vinous, botanical, with a fresh and bubbly component.
Occasion: aperitif, conviviality, and cocktail service.
Step-by-step preparation
- Take a large wine glass or highball, preferably pre-chilled.
- Fill the glass with abundant, solid ice.
- Pour 50 ml of Antica Vigna directly over the ice.
- Slowly add 75 ml of well-chilled brut sparkling wine.
- Top with 25 ml of very cold soda water.
- If necessary, stir gently once from bottom to top, taking care not to dissipate the carbonation.
- Lightly squeeze an orange peel over the cocktail to release the essential oils and use it as a garnish.
Serve immediately. The Vigna Spritz best expresses its freshness when the sparkling wine and soda retain good carbonation.
What is a Vigna Spritz?
The Vigna Spritz is the official signature cocktail of Naturae Spirits, based on Antica Vigna, an artisanal Italian liqueur made with Frappato wine, wild cherries from Valceresio, and bitter botanicals.
The recipe reinterprets the structure of a Spritz through an ingredient with a vinous, fruity, and botanical personality.
Antica Vigna has an alcohol content of 25% vol. and is born from the encounter between the Sicilian winemaking tradition, represented by the Frappato grape, and wild cherries from the pre-Alpine valleys.
If you wish to learn more about the product's origin, also read Antica Vigna: the artisanal Italian liqueur by Naturae Spirits.
Why Antica Vigna is the base for the Vigna Spritz
In a traditional Spritz, the aromatic component is generally provided by a bitter aperitif. In the Vigna Spritz, this role is taken by Antica Vigna, which introduces different characteristics.
The vinous component of Frappato
Frappato wine contributes to the liqueur's identity through fruity notes and a recognizable vinous structure.
In the Vigna Spritz, this component meets brut sparkling wine, creating a dialogue between two ingredients that share origins in the world of wine but possess different characteristics and functions.
The wild cherry
Wild cherries from Valceresio are one of the distinctive elements of Antica Vigna.
They provide a fruity dimension that defines the liqueur base of the cocktail. The Spritz recipe is designed to keep this note recognizable without adding syrups or fruit juices.
The bitter botanicals
Citrus peels, roots, herbs, and bitter botanicals complete the Antica Vigna recipe.
This component helps balance the fruity softness of the liqueur and gives the Vigna Spritz a character distinct from aperitifs built solely on sweet or citrus ingredients.
Which sparkling wine should you choose for a Vigna Spritz?
The sparkling wine contributes to the freshness and balance of the cocktail. For the official recipe, a brut sparkling wine is used, preferably very cold and not overly aromatic.
Choosing a relatively dry bubbly allows you to balance the liqueur component of Antica Vigna without adding marked sweetness.
Brut Prosecco
A brut Prosecco can be a practical and accessible choice. Its fruity profile and carbonation make it suitable for this type of aperitif, provided the aromatics do not overwhelm the Antica Vigna.
Other brut sparkling wines
The recipe can also be prepared with other brut sparkling wines. It is not necessary to use a particularly complex sparkling wine: it is more important that it be fresh, balanced, and consistent with the cocktail's character.
To avoid: very sweet or overly aromatic sparkling wines, which could make the vinous and botanical notes of Antica Vigna less recognizable.
Why add soda water?
Soda water is not just an ingredient used to dilute the cocktail.
In the Vigna Spritz, 25 ml of soda water contributes to the dilution and the sparkling component, without introducing additional sugars or aromas.
The sparkling wine already provides carbonation, but the soda allows you to fill out the volume of the drink while maintaining a balanced proportion between the liqueur base, sparkling wine, and water.
For the best result, use very cold soda water, adding it slowly after the sparkling wine.
How to achieve a balanced Vigna Spritz
The recipe is simple, but a few details can significantly influence the result.
Use cold ingredients
Sparkling wine and soda should be chilled before preparation. This helps maintain the cocktail's temperature and limits initial dilution from the ice.
Don't skimp on the ice
Fill the glass with compact, high-quality ice cubes. An abundant amount of ice, along with pre-chilled ingredients, helps keep the temperature stable.
Don't use a shaker
The Vigna Spritz is prepared directly in the glass. Shaking sparkling wine and soda in a shaker would lead to a loss of carbonation and could cause excessive foaming.
Choose an essential garnish
The orange peel completes the recipe by echoing the citrus notes found in Antica Vigna. A fresh peel, lightly squeezed over the drink to release essential oils, is sufficient. There is no need to add orange juice, syrups, or numerous decorative ingredients.
Vigna Spritz and traditional Spritz: what are the differences?
The Vigna Spritz belongs to the family of Spritz-inspired cocktails, but uses a different liqueur base compared to the most common versions.
| Characteristic | Vigna Spritz | Spritz with bitter aperitif |
|---|---|---|
| Aromatic base | Antica Vigna | Bitter aperitif |
| Vinous component | Frappato present in the liqueur, plus the sparkling wine | Generally sparkling wine |
| Profile | Fruity, vinous, and botanical | Variable, often citrusy and bitter |
| Garnish | Orange peel | Often an orange slice |
This comparison is not meant to establish which cocktail is better, but to understand how a different aromatic base can change the identity of the aperitif.
A variation to try: Antica Vigna & Soda
If you desire a preparation without sparkling wine, you can try Antica Vigna & Soda, a more essential variation with a lower alcohol content than the signature recipe, given the same amount of liqueur.
Ingredients
- 50 ml of Antica Vigna
- 100–120 ml of very cold soda water
- Abundant ice
- An orange peel
Pour Antica Vigna into a highball filled with ice, slowly add the cold soda water, and finish with the orange peel.
It is a different preparation than the official Vigna Spritz, but it allows you to explore the liqueur's profile in a simple long drink without adding sparkling wine.
What to pair with a Vigna Spritz during an aperitif?
The fruity and botanical notes of the Vigna Spritz make it an interesting match for savory, flavorful, or moderately fatty dishes.
Focaccia and savory baked goods
A simple focaccia, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, can accompany the cocktail without introducing flavors that are too intense. Breadsticks and small crostini are also pairings worth trying.Cured meats
Prosciutto crudo, bresaola, and cured meats that are not overly spiced can engage with the vinous and fruity character of the recipe.
Medium-aged cheeses
A cheese with balanced saltiness allows you to experience the contrast between the fatty component of the food and the freshness of the cocktail.
Nuts and small appetizers
Toasted almonds, hazelnuts, and small savory appetizers are practical options for an informal aperitif. These pairings are gastronomic suggestions: the result depends on the ingredients chosen and personal taste.
Frequently asked questions about the Vigna Spritz
What is the Vigna Spritz?
The Vigna Spritz is the official Naturae Spirits signature cocktail prepared with Antica Vigna, brut sparkling wine, soda water, ice, and an orange peel. It is a reinterpretation of the Spritz that highlights the vinous, fruity, and botanical profile of the liqueur.
What are the official measurements for a Vigna Spritz?
The Naturae Spirits recipe calls for 50 ml of Antica Vigna, 75 ml of brut sparkling wine, and 25 ml of soda water, served with abundant ice and an orange peel.
Which sparkling wine should be used in a Vigna Spritz?
A very cold brut sparkling wine, with a relatively dry profile and not overly aromatic, is recommended. A brut Prosecco can also be used.
Can the Vigna Spritz be prepared without Prosecco?
Yes. Another brut sparkling wine can be used. Omitting the sparkling wine entirely and increasing the soda water results in a different preparation called Antica Vigna & Soda.
What is the difference between a Vigna Spritz and a classic Spritz?
The Vigna Spritz uses Antica Vigna as a liqueur base, introducing notes of Frappato wine, wild cherry, and bitter botanicals. The most common Spritzes generally use a bitter aperitif, Prosecco, and soda water.
Can the Vigna Spritz be prepared in advance?
It is preferable to prepare it at the time of service. Sparkling wine and soda better retain their carbonation when poured cold just before consumption.
What glass should be used for a Vigna Spritz?
A large wine glass or a spacious highball are both suitable. The important thing is to have enough room for ice, ingredients, and garnish.
Prepare the Vigna Spritz with Antica Vigna
The Vigna Spritz expresses one of the mixing possibilities of Antica Vigna: the encounter between the structure of Frappato wine, the wild cherries of Valceresio, bitter botanicals, and the freshness of bubbles.
The official Naturae Spirits recipe is easy to remember: 50 ml of Antica Vigna, 75 ml of brut sparkling wine, and 25 ml of soda water.
Discover the liqueur behind the cocktail and prepare your Vigna Spritz.
Discover Antica Vigna – Artisanal liqueur by Naturae Spirits.
Drink responsibly. The sale of alcoholic beverages is reserved for those of legal drinking age. Do not drive after consuming alcohol.