Australian Summer Drinks: A Beverage Maker’s Guide to the Spritz
The Australian summer is all about long afternoons, great food, and drinks that bring people together. As beverage makers, we’re always looking for ways to tap into that lifestyle — and the spritz is the perfect serve to build around.
Borrowed from Italian aperitivo culture and reimagined for our local palate, the spritz has become a staple of outdoor events, beachside bars, and backyard catch-ups. It's light, refreshing, and endlessly customisable — making it a dream format for innovation.
Here’s how we can own the spritz space from a manufacturing standpoint, and where the next wave of flavours is heading.
Spritz 101: A Classic Built for Creativity
A vibrant Aperol Spritz cocktail served in a wine glass over ice, garnished with a fresh orange slice.
At its core, the traditional spritz uses a simple 3-2-1 ratio:
3 parts sparkling wine (like Prosecco or Aussie bubbles)
2 parts bitter liqueur
1 part soda water
That’s it. The simplicity of the serve is what makes it so flexible. Whether you're producing RTDs, spirits, cordials or mixers, this format gives plenty of room to get creative — especially when paired with standout garnishes or flavour infusions.
Why Spritzes Work So Well in Australia
They suit our climate – Low ABV, served cold, bright and bubbly.
They’re sessionable – Perfect for long summer days or light weeknight drinks.
They’re occasion-driven – Think aperitivo hour, picnics, parties and rooftop bars.
They offer a story – From the botanicals in your bitters to the grapes in your sparkling, consumers love a brand with a narrative.
New Spritz Directions: Flavours to Watch
Fresh lemons ready for the perfect Limoncello infusion – capturing the essence of zesty summer flavour in every batch.
Australian consumers are exploring beyond the traditional orange Aperol serve. Here’s where the taste trends are heading — and how beverage brands can respond.
🍋 Limoncello – The Zesty Crowd-Pleaser
Originally from southern Italy, Limoncello is gaining traction in Australian bars and bottle shops. Its bold citrus base pairs beautifully with sparkling wine and soda, but the sweetness can be balanced out with herbs like rosemary or a touch of native lemon myrtle.
Brand opportunity: Create a local version using Australian citrus, or develop a lemon-based aperitivo to complement existing spritz lines.
🍑 Bellini-Inspired Spritzes – Summer in a Glass
The classic Bellini (peach purée + Prosecco) is a springboard for new RTD lines or fruit-led cocktails. White peach, mango, and even stone fruit blends are perfect for consumers seeking softer, fruitier profiles.
Ripe cherries bursting with colour and flavour – is this the next big thing in summer spritz innovation?
Brand opportunity: Work with local orchards or use freeze-dried fruit for shelf-stable purity in a can.
🍒 Cherry – Rich, Vibrant & Trending
Cherry-based cocktails are on the rise — especially as drinkers shift toward bolder, jammy flavours. Combined with amaro or sparkling rosé, cherry brings depth and drama to the spritz format.
Brand opportunity: Release a seasonal cherry bitter or liqueur, or trial a cherry + vanilla spritz RTD.
🌿 Botanical & Native Ingredients – Wild is In
Consumers are reaching for drinks that taste like nature. From bush mint to eucalyptus, lemon myrtle to pepperberry, there’s appetite for herbal and earthy profiles that feel both refreshing and distinctly Australian.
Brand opportunity: Explore collaborations with native growers and distillers, or use local botanicals to create signature bitters.
🍍 Tropical Twists – Perfect for Coastal Sipping
Golden pineapples bringing tropical vibes to every sip – a juicy twist for your next summer spritz.
Pineapple, passionfruit, coconut, finger lime — these flavours evoke sun and surf, and they mix seamlessly into spritzes. They’re ideal for canned cocktails, beach bar menus, and party-ready RTDs.
Brand opportunity: Combine sparkling wine or light spirits with tropical notes for a picnic-perfect spritz range.
How Beverage Makers Can Lead the Spritz Movement
✅ Create Signature RTDs – Ready-to-drink spritzes with natural fruit flavour, clean branding, and a good sessionable ABV (4–6%) are in high demand.
✅ Localise Traditional Profiles – Reimagine Italian classics with Australian ingredients and native botanicals.
✅ Own the Garnish – Rosemary sprigs, citrus wheels, native herbs — visual cues matter, especially on social media.
✅ Educate & Inspire – Show your customers how to serve your product in a spritz format. Include serving guides, pairing ideas and custom glassware.
Final Pour: A Toast to the Future of the Aussie Spritz
The spritz isn’t just a trend — it’s a format, a ritual, and a platform for flavour. With warm weather and outdoor culture baked into Australian life, this drink style offers massive potential for innovation, brand storytelling, and consumer connection.
As producers, it’s up to us to experiment, elevate and explore new flavour profiles — from zesty Limoncello and herbal native botanicals, to fruit-driven blends that scream summer. If you're not already making something sparkling, refreshing and low-effort to enjoy... now’s the time.
If you're looking to keep your R&D pipeline fresh, don’t stop at summer spritzes. Dive into our other blog posts exploring the rise of functional beverages, the science behind flavour stability, and what consumers are really reaching for on the shelf. Whether you're chasing wellness trends or building bold new blends, we've got insights to keep your brand at the forefront.
👉 Check out our latest reads:
The Rise of Functional Beverages: What Are They & Why Are They So Popular?
