San Pellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverage Spritz Recipe

This San Pellegrino sparkling fruit beverage spritz is a chilled, alcohol-free pitcher drink made with Aranciata Rossa, fresh citrus, raspberries, mint, and a little plain sparkling water. It is colorful, lightly tart, and easy to serve at a meal or gathering; adding the fizzy drinks just before pouring helps keep the bubbles lively.

Ingredients

3 cans (11.15 fl oz / 330 ml each) Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa, well chilled
1 cup (240 ml) plain sparkling water, well chilled
1/2 cup (120 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice, from about 1 large orange
2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice, from about 1 lemon
1 cup (about 4.4 oz / 125 g) fresh raspberries, rinsed and drained
1 small orange (about 4.5 oz / 130 g), rinsed and thinly sliced
1/4 cup (about 5 g) loosely packed fresh mint leaves, plus a few small sprigs for garnish
2 cups (about 10.5 oz / 300 g) ice cubes, for serving

Instructions

Prepare the fruit and mint. Rinse the raspberries, orange, and mint under cool running water, then drain and pat them dry. Thinly slice the orange crosswise, removing any seeds you can see. Juice the remaining orange and the lemon. Set aside a few attractive raspberries, orange slices, and mint sprigs for serving; the rest will flavor the pitcher.
Build the fruit base. Put the orange juice, lemon juice, raspberries, orange slices, and mint leaves in a large pitcher that holds at least 2 quarts (1.9 liters). Press the raspberries gently two or three times with a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon. The goal is to split some berries so their juice colors the base, not to mash them into a puree. Stir once to combine the juices.
Chill the base for 20 minutes. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate it for 20 minutes so the citrus and mint have a little time to mingle. Keep the Sanpellegrino and sparkling water cold as well. If the fruit base is made ahead, leave the fizzy ingredients unopened until you are ready to finish the drink.
Add the bubbles gently. Take the pitcher from the refrigerator. Pour in the chilled Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa and plain sparkling water slowly down the side of the pitcher. Stir once or twice with a long spoon, just enough to distribute the fruit and juice. Vigorous stirring makes the drink foam and releases carbonation more quickly.
Pour and garnish. Divide the ice among four glasses. Pour the spritz over the ice, making sure each glass gets a few berries and an orange slice. Finish with the reserved mint or fruit and serve right away, while the drink is cold and fizzy.

Tips

Chill the cans before opening. Cold sparkling drinks foam less as they are poured and stay pleasantly crisp longer in the glass. If the cans are at room temperature, chill them in the refrigerator ahead of time rather than relying on extra ice, which can dilute the spritz.
Keep the berries mostly whole. A couple of gentle presses release color and fruit flavor without making the drink cloudy or filling it with seeds. If you prefer a clear drink, steep the fruit in the juice and strain the base before adding the sparkling beverages.
Adjust the tartness in small amounts. The canned drink already has sweetness and citrus flavor, so taste the finished pitcher before adding anything else. If you want more brightness, stir in another teaspoon (5 ml) of lemon juice at a time; extra juice changes the balance quickly.
Use a roomy pitcher and add fizz last. A pitcher with at least 2 quarts (1.9 liters) of capacity leaves space for bubbles and fruit. Add the carbonated ingredients immediately before serving, and do not shake or tightly seal a pitcher containing fizzy liquid.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this spritz as a nonalcoholic aperitif, at brunch, or alongside a casual lunch. Its orange and berry flavors fit particularly well with salty snacks, such as olives, roasted nuts, focaccia, or a cheese board. For a lighter meal, pair it with a grain salad, a tomato-and-mozzarella plate, or grilled vegetables. The fruit in the pitcher makes the drink look festive, but it is primarily there to flavor and garnish the beverage, not to replace a fruit salad.

For a polished presentation, use clear tumblers or stemmed glasses so the red-orange color and floating fruit are visible. Add ice to the glasses rather than the pitcher if people will be serving themselves over time; this avoids unnecessary dilution. A slim orange wheel and a small mint sprig are enough garnish. If serving a crowd, set out a small bowl of extra berries and orange slices so guests can add them to their own glasses.

Variations

Use another Sanpellegrino flavor. Aranciata Rossa gives this version its ruby color and soft berry-citrus character, but other sparkling fruit beverage flavors work too. Try regular Aranciata for a straightforward orange spritz, or Limonata for a sharper lemon profile. Flavor availability differs by shop and location. When switching flavors, taste the juice base before adding the soda: a more tart beverage may need less lemon, while a sweeter one can take a little more.

Make a single glass. For one serving, combine 2 tablespoons (30 ml) orange juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 ml) lemon juice, and a few lightly pressed raspberries in a glass. Add about 6 to 8 fl oz (180 to 240 ml) chilled Sanpellegrino, then top with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) sparkling water if you want a less sweet drink. Add ice and a small mint sprig. This is a useful option when you want to try a flavor before making the full pitcher.

Swap the berries or herbs. Sliced strawberries can replace the raspberries in the same volume and make the drink milder and slightly sweeter. Blackberries give a deeper color, though their larger seeds are more noticeable. Basil can stand in for mint; use a few small leaves and tear them once to release their aroma. Avoid finely chopping herbs, which can scatter bits through the drink and make the flavor too strong.

Make it less sweet or more citrus-forward. Increase the plain sparkling water to 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) and reduce the Sanpellegrino to 2 cans (660 ml) for a lighter, less sweet pitcher. The overall flavor will be less intense, so keep the fruit and citrus amounts the same at first and taste before adjusting. If you prefer a stronger orange note, add a thin strip of orange zest to the juice base while it chills, then remove it before pouring; prolonged steeping can make the pith taste bitter.

Storage and Reheating

This drink is best assembled just before serving because the carbonation fades after the cans are opened. For better make-ahead quality, prepare the juice, berries, orange slices, and mint in the pitcher, cover it, and refrigerate the base for up to 24 hours. Add the Sanpellegrino and sparkling water only when you are ready to serve. Keep cut fruit and the prepared base refrigerated, and do not leave them at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

If you have already mixed the whole pitcher, cover and refrigerate it promptly. It can be kept for up to 24 hours, but it will become flatter and the fruit may soften; strain out the fruit if you are saving the remaining liquid. Do not reheat this drink. It is intended to be served cold, and warming it would drive off the carbonation. Discard it if it has been left out longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour in temperatures above 90°F (32°C).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this recipe a mocktail?

Yes. The recipe contains no alcohol, so it is a nonalcoholic sparkling fruit drink. It gets its bubbles and most of its flavor from Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa, with fresh citrus and fruit added for a bright, pitcher-friendly finish. If you are serving guests who avoid particular ingredients, check the beverage label for the current product information.

Can I make the pitcher ahead of time?

You can prepare the fruit-and-juice base up to 24 hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. For the best fizz, wait to add both sparkling beverages until serving time. If the full drink has to be mixed early, it is still drinkable after refrigeration, but it will lose bubbles, so make it as close to serving as your schedule allows.

Can I use frozen raspberries?

Yes. Thaw them in the refrigerator and drain away excess liquid before measuring. Frozen berries soften more than fresh berries, so press them gently or leave them whole if you want the pitcher to look neat. They may tint the drink more deeply and make the base a little cloudier, but they work well when fresh raspberries are unavailable.

What can I use instead of plain sparkling water?

Club soda is a practical substitute and makes the finished spritz taste a little more mineral-forward. For a sweeter, more fruit-focused drink, use extra Sanpellegrino instead, though the result will be less diluted. Still water also works, but it removes the extra sparkle and produces a softer, less effervescent drink.

How do I keep the drink from tasting too sweet?

Use the plain sparkling water in the recipe, serve the drink very cold, and taste before adding any sweetener. For a less sweet pitcher, replace one can of Sanpellegrino with an additional 1 cup (240 ml) of sparkling water, then add lemon juice in small increments if it needs more tang. Avoid adding syrup unless you have tasted the finished mixture first.

Can I put ice directly in the pitcher?

You can, but the ice will melt into the drink and gradually weaken its citrus and fruit flavor. If everyone will drink the pitcher promptly, adding ice is convenient. For a longer gathering, keep the pitcher chilled without ice and pour it over ice in individual glasses instead.

More recipes to cook

Safety notes: safe minimum internal temperatures from USDA FSIS; raw and undercooked fish guidance from the U.S. FDA. Food safety notes

Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it (corrections policy).