Aperol Spritz is a popular Italian aperitif that is commonly served as a pre-dinner drink. It’s made with Aperol, an Italian aperitif liquor, prosecco or other sparkling wine, and soda water. The refreshing, bittersweet taste of Aperol combined with bubbly prosecco makes the Aperol Spritz a light and enjoyable way to start a meal.
While the Aperol Spritz makes for an excellent appetizer drink, many people wonder just how many calories are in it. If you’re watching your calorie intake or simply curious about the calorie content, read on to find out how much calories an Aperol Spritz contains.
Calories in Aperol
To determine the calories in an Aperol Spritz, we first need to look at the calories in its main ingredient – Aperol. Aperol is an Italian apéritif created in 1919 in Padua, Italy. It has an alcohol content of 11% ABV and gets its signature bright orange hue from the infusion of herbs and roots like rhubarb, cinnamon, and gentian in a base of wine.
A 1.5 oz (44 ml) serving of Aperol contains about:
- 96 calories
- 0 g fat
- 2.5 g carbohydrates
- 0 g protein
Since Aperol is the key ingredient that gives the spritz its distinct orange color and mildly bitter, herbaceous taste, the number of calories in a serving of Aperol gives us a baseline for calculating the calories in an Aperol Spritz.
Calories in Prosecco
The next ingredient in an Aperol Spritz is prosecco or other dry, sparkling white wine. Prosecco is an Italian sparkling white wine made from Glera grapes in the Veneto region of Italy. It’s light-bodied and crisp with flavors of green apple, honeysuckle, and lemon-lime.
A 5 oz (148 ml) serving of prosecco contains about:
- 120 calories
- 0 g fat
- 5 g carbohydrates
- 0 g protein
Since prosecco is the fizzy, effervescent component in an Aperol Spritz, accounting for its calories is also important for totaling up the drink’s calorie content.
Calories in Soda Water
The final ingredient that completes an Aperol Spritz is a splash of soda water. Soda water, also known as carbonated water, is simply water that contains dissolved carbon dioxide gas. It has a refreshing, bubbly taste but is sugar-free and calorie-free.
An 8 oz (240 ml) serving of soda water contains:
- 0 calories
- 0 g fat
- 0 g carbohydrates
- 0 g protein
Since soda water has no calories, it does not add anything to the calorie content of the Aperol Spritz.
Putting It All Together: Total Calories in an Aperol Spritz
Now that we know the calories in each ingredient, we can calculate the total calories in a typical serving of Aperol Spritz:
| Ingredient | Serving Size | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Aperol | 1.5 oz (44ml) | 96 calories |
| Prosecco | 5 oz (148ml) | 120 calories |
| Soda water | 2 oz (60ml) | 0 calories |
A standard serving of Aperol Spritz is typically about 8-10 oz (240-300 ml) and uses a 3-2-2 ratio of prosecco, Aperol, and soda water. Based on these typical proportions:
A 6 oz (180 ml) Aperol Spritz containing:
- 3 oz (90 ml) prosecco
- 2 oz (60 ml) Aperol
- 1 oz (30 ml) soda water
Contains approximately:
- 90 calories from 3 oz prosecco
- 64 calories from 2 oz Aperol
- 0 calories from soda water
- Total: 154 calories
Based on these standard serving sizes and ratios, a 6-8 oz Aperol Spritz will contain about 150-200 calories.
Factors that Increase Calories in an Aperol Spritz
While a standard Aperol Spritz contains about 150-200 calories, depending on serving size, there are some variations and additions that can increase the total calorie count:
- Larger serving size: Using more prosecco and Aperol will increase calories. A 12 oz (360ml) spritz may have 300+ calories.
- Additional liqueurs: Some recipes call for complementing the Aperol’s bitterness with a small splash of sweet liqueurs like elderflower liqueur (St. Germain) or orange liqueur (Cointreau). Even a 1/2 oz adds 50+ calories.
- Fruit garnishes: Garnishing with fresh fruit like orange slices adds minimal calories, but sugar-packed fruits like pineapple can add 20+ calories per slice.
- Using regular soda: Substituting regular soda for soda water piles on 140+ empty calories from added sugar.
To keep the calorie content low, stick with a 6-8 oz serving size, soda water, and minimal pure liqueur additions. Skip high-sugar sodas and syrupy liqueurs as mixers.
Low-Calorie Aperol Spritz Versions
If you’re looking for ways to lighten up an Aperol Spritz, here are some tips to creating a lower-calorie version:
- Use prosecco with lower alcohol content (10-11% ABV). The less alcohol, the fewer calories.
- Reduce Aperol to 1 oz instead of 2 oz.
- Increase soda water to 3-4 oz.
- Garnish with cucumber slices or citrus fruits instead of high-sugar fruits.
- Add stevia or other calorie-free natural sweeteners if you want an extra hint of sweetness.
- Use calorie-free flavored seltzer instead of plain soda water.
With these easy tweaks, you can bring a 6-8 oz Aperol Spritz down to around 100-130 calories while still retaining its iconic flavor profile.
The Bottom Line
A standard 6-8 oz (180-240ml) serving of Aperol Spritz contains approximately:
- 150 calories in a 6 oz (180ml) serving
- 200 calories in an 8 oz (240ml) serving
These calorie estimates are based on typical ingredient ratios of 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1-2 parts soda water. Factors like larger serving sizes, additional mixers, and high-sugar additions can increase the total calorie count. To lighten it up, use prosecco with lower alcohol content, less Aperol, more soda water, and fresh, low-sugar garnishes. With its refreshing blend of Aperol’s herbaceous bitterness and prosecco’s bubbly effervescence, the iconic Italian Aperol Spritz makes for a guilt-free, low-calorie apéritif when enjoyed in moderation.
