Did you know that around 3,000,000 spritzes are enjoyed every day in Italy alone? The Venetian spritz, known today as a sparkly and bubbly treat to the senses, has quite humble beginnings, to say the least.
Let’s take a step back into history; more specifically, during the 1800s, when Austria dominated over Veneto. Many important figures of the time, such as soldiers, merchants, diplomats and officials of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, enjoyed, as the Venetian habit dictated, having a drink or two of wine at the local taverns. But as the alcohol content was much higher than they were used to, they began sprinkling – or, as they say in German, spritzen - some water into the wine. And lo and behold, the legendary spritz was born!
At the beginning, the spritz ingredients were simple but true to tradition, with white or red wine combined with fresh sparkling water. Indeed, the initial recipe was so popular it remained practically unchanged until the 1970s; however, this is when the classic mix leveled up and was turned into the modern bubbly and frothy spritz with prosecco which we all know and love today.
