What Is Sarti Rosa? How to Make a Sarti Spritz

Sarti Rosa is a modern Italian aperitif with a bright pink colour and a fruity, citrus-led taste. It has become especially popular in Spritz-style drinks, where its fresh flavour and vivid colour make it an alternative to better-known aperitifs such as Aperol and Campari.

The best-known way to serve it is the Sarti Spritz: a simple combination of Sarti Rosa, Prosecco and soda water served over plenty of ice.

If you have seen the drink on a menu or social media and wondered what Sarti Rosa tastes like, how strong it is or how a Sarti Spritz differs from an Aperol Spritz, this guide explains the essentials.

What Is Sarti Rosa?

Sarti Rosa is an Italian aperitif owned by Campari Group. The brand is a tribute to Casa Luigi Sarti & Figli, a historic Bologna company established in 1885.

Campari Group describes Sarti Rosa as a fruity aperitif combining the sweetness of Sicilian blood orange with tropical fruit flavours. It has an alcohol content of 14% ABV and is designed to be easy to mix, particularly in Spritz-style drinks.

What Does Sarti Rosa Taste Like?

Sarti Rosa is noticeably fruitier than many traditional bitter aperitifs.

The flavour profile is built around:

• Blood orange
• Tropical fruit
• Fresh citrus
• Gentle sweetness
• A light aperitif bitterness

The result is fresh, fruity and approachable rather than strongly bitter.

This is one reason the Sarti Spritz appeals to people who find drinks such as Campari Spritz too bitter.

What Is a Sarti Spritz?

A Sarti Spritz is a sparkling aperitif cocktail made with Sarti Rosa, Prosecco and soda water.

Like most Spritz cocktails, it is built directly in a large wine glass over ice.

The Prosecco adds dryness and bubbles, soda water makes the drink lighter and more refreshing, and Sarti Rosa provides the fruit and aperitif character.

How to Make a Sarti Spritz

A simple Sarti Spritz can be made using:

• 60 ml Sarti Rosa
• 90 ml Prosecco
• 30 ml soda water
• Plenty of ice
• Lime or grapefruit slice for garnish

Fill a large wine glass with ice, add the Sarti Rosa and Prosecco, then finish with soda water.

Stir gently once or twice so the ingredients combine without losing too much carbonation.

For the complete step-by-step method, see the Sarti Spritz recipe on Drinkero.

What Is the Best Sarti Spritz Ratio?

A good starting point is approximately:

2 parts Sarti Rosa + 3 parts Prosecco + 1 part soda water

This keeps the drink fruit-forward while still allowing the Prosecco to provide freshness and acidity.

If you prefer a lighter Spritz, simply increase the soda water slightly.

If you want a stronger fruit character, use a little more Sarti Rosa.

Sarti Spritz vs Aperol Spritz

Both cocktails follow the same general Spritz structure, but the flavour profiles are different.

Aperol Spritz is more bitter-orange driven, with herbal and citrus notes.

Sarti Spritz is generally fruitier, softer and more tropical, with blood orange at the centre.

Sarti Rosa also has a brighter pink appearance, while Aperol produces the familiar orange colour associated with the classic Aperol Spritz.

If you enjoy Aperol Spritz but want something fruitier and slightly less bitter, Sarti Spritz is an easy alternative.

Sarti Spritz vs Campari Spritz

The difference is even greater when compared with Campari.

A Campari Spritz is typically more bitter, herbal and intense.

Sarti Rosa is softer and more fruit-led, making the resulting Spritz easier and sweeter in style.

As a simple guide:

• Sarti Spritz: fruity, tropical, fresh
• Aperol Spritz: bittersweet, orange, balanced
• Campari Spritz: bitter, herbal, intense

What Prosecco Should You Use?

A dry Prosecco works best because Sarti Rosa already brings plenty of fruit and sweetness.

Look for a Prosecco labelled Brut or another relatively dry style.

A sweeter sparkling wine can make the final drink feel too soft or sugary.

Can You Use Sparkling Wine Other Than Prosecco?

Yes.

Any fresh, dry sparkling wine can work, including Cava or another dry sparkling wine.

However, Prosecco remains the natural choice because its light fruit character and relatively gentle acidity suit the Spritz style particularly well.

What Garnish Is Best for a Sarti Spritz?

Citrus is the easiest choice.

Good options include:

• Grapefruit slice
• Lime wheel
• Orange slice
• Blood orange when available

Blood orange is particularly suitable because it reinforces one of the main flavour notes associated with Sarti Rosa.

What Glass Should You Use?

A large wine glass is ideal.

The glass gives enough room for plenty of ice while leaving space for the Prosecco and soda water.

Using plenty of ice is important because it keeps the drink cold while slowing dilution.

Is Sarti Rosa Sweet?

Yes, Sarti Rosa has a noticeable fruity sweetness, but it is balanced by citrus and aperitif bitterness.

In a Spritz, the dryness of the Prosecco and the neutral dilution from soda water help keep the drink refreshing.

If you find your Sarti Spritz too sweet, use a drier Prosecco and slightly more soda water.

How Strong Is a Sarti Spritz?

Sarti Rosa itself is 14% ABV.

Once combined with Prosecco, soda water and melting ice, the finished Sarti Spritz is considerably lighter than drinking the aperitif neat.

The exact alcohol content depends on the proportions used and the strength of the sparkling wine.

Is Sarti Rosa an Italian Aperitif?

Yes.

Sarti Rosa draws its identity from the historic Casa Sarti name from Bologna and today belongs to Campari Group’s aperitif portfolio.

It sits alongside brands such as Aperol, Campari and Cynar within the group’s aperitif range.

Why Has Sarti Spritz Become Popular?

The popularity of Sarti Spritz comes from a combination of taste, simplicity and appearance.

It is easy to make, requires only three main ingredients and produces a bright, visually distinctive drink.

It also fits the broader popularity of Spritz cocktails, where drinkers increasingly look beyond Aperol and try alternatives with different flavour profiles.

Campari Group has identified Sarti Rosa as a growing aperitif brand, with Germany among its strongest markets and recent expansion across several other European countries.

Can You Make a Sarti Spritz Without Prosecco?

Yes, although the drink will move away from the traditional Spritz format.

You can combine Sarti Rosa with tonic water or soda water for a lighter aperitif serve.

Another option is to use alcohol-free sparkling wine if you want to reduce the overall alcohol content while keeping the sparkling character.

Is Sarti Spritz Better Than Aperol Spritz?

That depends entirely on your taste.

Choose Sarti Spritz if you prefer brighter fruit, tropical notes and softer bitterness.

Choose Aperol Spritz if you like bittersweet orange and the traditional Italian aperitivo profile.

Choose Campari Spritz if you want something noticeably more bitter and herbal.

Sarti Spritz FAQ

What is Sarti Rosa made from?

Sarti Rosa is a fruit-forward Italian aperitif. Campari Group highlights Sicilian blood orange and tropical fruit flavours as the defining elements of its flavour profile.

What alcohol is in a Sarti Spritz?

The cocktail contains Sarti Rosa and Prosecco. Soda water is then added to lighten and lengthen the drink.

What colour is Sarti Rosa?

Sarti Rosa has a distinctive bright pink-red colour, which gives the finished Spritz its recognisable appearance.

What does Sarti Spritz taste like?

It is fruity, sparkling and refreshing, with blood orange and tropical fruit notes supported by the dryness of Prosecco.

Is Sarti Spritz bitter?

It has some aperitif bitterness, but it is generally softer and more fruit-forward than a Campari Spritz.

What is the garnish for a Sarti Spritz?

Grapefruit, lime, orange or blood orange all work well.

Discover the Sarti Spritz

If you enjoy light, sparkling aperitif cocktails, Sarti Spritz is an excellent alternative to the familiar Aperol Spritz.

Its combination of blood orange, tropical fruit, Prosecco and soda creates a colourful, refreshing drink that is particularly easy to prepare at home.

For exact measurements, ice quantity, serving instructions and preparation tips, explore the full Sarti Spritz recipe in the Drinkero Cocktail Library.