It's SPRITZ o'clock

Wherever we travelled for wine, the idea of mixing wine with water was almost always met with blank looks and doubtful comments like: “Why would you do that?”

Talking about the Austrian wine culture, I would presume that the Austrian “Spritzer” culture is al least as old and glorious- but it’s a much better kept secret. Among Austrian winemakers and Austrian winedrinkers, a good Spritzer on a hot day is as good as it gets.

“It’s too early to drink! - Just have a Spritzer!”

“I’m still hungover from last night’s Reserve tasting.” - A Spritzer is the best cure!”

“I can’t handle the heat anymore! - A Spritzer will cool you down!”

A Spritzer can be drunk at any time and any occasion and it will always be just right. Simple but perfect!

Sounds a bit too enthusiastic to you? Don’t get me wrong- not ANY Spritzer can do the magic. Among connoisseurs, a Spritzer is a serious drink. We are very specific about the type of wine and even the water we mix it with. A zesty, citrussy Grüner Veltliner, a fresh Sauvignon blanc or even a young, peachy Riesling will work. Never use wines that you don’t not enjoy on their own- water will make it worse.

The summery version of a Spritzer, the “Sommerspritzer” consists of 3 parts icy cold soda water and 1 part of well-chilled wine (see examples above). If you like to make it fancy, add a slice of lemon and some ice cubes. Add a splash of Aperol if you like some color or a bit of elderberry blossom syrup for a touch of sweetness. Pick a nice glass or keep it traditional with the old handle glass. It won’t matter as long as the wine is right.

We love a good Spritzer, especially on a hot summer evening together with some nice antipasti, a bit of fresh, crunchy bread and the first of the sweet garden tomatoes.

So if you still ask yourself now “Why should I mix wine with water”, just trust us, follow the instructions above and enjoy! It will be like a mini-holiday in an Austrian winegrowing region.