Spritzer
Encyclopedia
A spritzer is a tall, chilled drink, usually made with white wine and seltzer or club soda.
in Austria
, where the drink is very popular. It is used alongside the equally common form Gespritzter (mostly pronounced G'spritzter, a noun
derived from the past participle of spritzen, i.e. squirt), a term also found in some German
regions, such as Hessen (e.g. Süssgespritzter, i.e. a "sweet spritzer" using fizzy lemonade instead of soda water ("Sauergespritzter"). In Hessen, however, "gespritzt" usually refers not to a wine/water or wine/lemonade mix but to a mixture of soda water or lemonade and Apfelwein
(in Central Hessian dialect, Ebblwoi), an alcoholic drink from fermented apple juice somewhat similar to (hard) cider
but distinctly non-sweet. In most of Germany
, the word "Schorle
" is used to denote a Spritzer.
In Hungary
, a popular drink mixed from wine and soda water in varying proportions is called fröccs.
In Romania
, also, 1/3 white wine is mixed with 2/3s sparkling water and is called şpriţ de vară - summer spritzer.
In north-eastern regions of Italy
, especially Venice and surroundings, a spritz
is a very popular light cocktail, a mix of sparkling white wine (e.g., Prosecco
), sparkling water, and Aperol
, Bitter Campari
, or other colored alcohols.
A new form of spritzer has appeared in south west France since 2005, known locally as "Rose Pression" and "Blanc Pression". It is wine based, carbonated and served in draught form on tap from kegs. Its alcoholic strength is thought to vary between 5% and 6% abv.
spritzen "spatter, squirt, spray, sprinkle", i.e. adding water and thus diluting the wine so that it can be consumed in larger, thirst-quenching amounts.
, some non-alcoholic carbonated juices are sold as spritzers. The same type of carbonated juice (actually made with juice and carbonated mineral water
) is known in Germany as Saftschorle or Fruchtschorle. (Both short for rarely used Fruchtsaftschorle.) Particularly Apfelschorle
(apple juice spritzer) is one of the most popular soft drink
s in Germany. In Austria Apfelschorle is called Apfelsaft g'spritzt. ... g'spritzt can be combined with every juice, e.g. Orangensaft g'spritzt or Pago/Cappy g'spritzt (producers of juices).
Sometimes, non-alcoholic spritzers are made by mixing fruit juices (orange juice, cranberry juice, etc.) with carbonated water. Lemonade and iced tea may also be used.
Origin and variations
Spritzer is derived from the variant of the German language spokenAustrian German
Austrian German , or Austrian Standard German, is the national standard variety of the German language spoken in Austria and in the autonomous Province of South Tyrol...
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, where the drink is very popular. It is used alongside the equally common form Gespritzter (mostly pronounced G'spritzter, a noun
Noun
In linguistics, a noun is a member of a large, open lexical category whose members can occur as the main word in the subject of a clause, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition .Lexical categories are defined in terms of how their members combine with other kinds of...
derived from the past participle of spritzen, i.e. squirt), a term also found in some German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
regions, such as Hessen (e.g. Süssgespritzter, i.e. a "sweet spritzer" using fizzy lemonade instead of soda water ("Sauergespritzter"). In Hessen, however, "gespritzt" usually refers not to a wine/water or wine/lemonade mix but to a mixture of soda water or lemonade and Apfelwein
Apfelwein
Cider in Germany is called Apfelwein , as the German language has not used the word cider. It is also regionally known as ebbelwoi, äppler, stöffsche, apfelmost , viez , and saurer most . It has an alcohol content of 5.5%–7% and a tart, sour taste...
(in Central Hessian dialect, Ebblwoi), an alcoholic drink from fermented apple juice somewhat similar to (hard) cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
but distinctly non-sweet. In most of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the word "Schorle
Schorle
Schorle is a German beverage made from diluting juice or wine with carbonated water. The most common variety is Apfelschorle . Large bottles of Schorle can be found at most grocers, stores, supermarkets and anywhere else where carbonated drinks are sold, next to the soda...
" is used to denote a Spritzer.
In Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, a popular drink mixed from wine and soda water in varying proportions is called fröccs.
In Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, also, 1/3 white wine is mixed with 2/3s sparkling water and is called şpriţ de vară - summer spritzer.
In north-eastern regions of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, especially Venice and surroundings, a spritz
Spritz (alcoholic beverage)
The Spritz is a wine-based cocktail commonly served as an aperitif in northern Italy, especially in the Veneto region and surrounding areas. The drink is prepared with white wine or Prosecco wine, a dash of some bitter liqueur such as Aperol, Campari, Gran Classico, Select or Cynar...
is a very popular light cocktail, a mix of sparkling white wine (e.g., Prosecco
Prosecco
Prosecco is an Italian white wine — generally a Dry or Extra Dry sparkling wine — normally made from Glera grapes. DOC prosecco is produced in the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, and traditionally mainly in the areas near Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the hills...
), sparkling water, and Aperol
Aperol
Aperol is an Italian aperitif originally produced by the Barbieri company, based in Padua. Aperol is now produced by the Campari company. While Aperol was originally created in 1919, it did not become successful until after World War II...
, Bitter Campari
Campari
Campari is an alcoholic apéritif obtained from the infusion of herbs and fruit in alcohol and water. It is a bitters characterized by its dark red color....
, or other colored alcohols.
A new form of spritzer has appeared in south west France since 2005, known locally as "Rose Pression" and "Blanc Pression". It is wine based, carbonated and served in draught form on tap from kegs. Its alcoholic strength is thought to vary between 5% and 6% abv.
Alcoholic spritzer
The word comes from the GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
spritzen "spatter, squirt, spray, sprinkle", i.e. adding water and thus diluting the wine so that it can be consumed in larger, thirst-quenching amounts.
Non-alcoholic spritzer
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, some non-alcoholic carbonated juices are sold as spritzers. The same type of carbonated juice (actually made with juice and carbonated mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
) is known in Germany as Saftschorle or Fruchtschorle. (Both short for rarely used Fruchtsaftschorle.) Particularly Apfelschorle
Apfelschorle
, also Apfelsaftschorle, is a popular soft drink in Germany. It consists of carbonated mineral water and apple juice. The broader category Fruchtschorle consists of any fruit juice mixed with carbonated water, but Apfelschorle is by far the most common...
(apple juice spritzer) is one of the most popular soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
s in Germany. In Austria Apfelschorle is called Apfelsaft g'spritzt. ... g'spritzt can be combined with every juice, e.g. Orangensaft g'spritzt or Pago/Cappy g'spritzt (producers of juices).
Sometimes, non-alcoholic spritzers are made by mixing fruit juices (orange juice, cranberry juice, etc.) with carbonated water. Lemonade and iced tea may also be used.