Pour in the Italian Spritz and alcohol-free sparkling wine Add a splash of soda, or more if you like Decorate with slices of orange Slurp The Story of the Spritz A spritz used to be what we called wine mixed with soda. More recently, the term spritz has become synonymous with the Italian aperitif Aperol. In fact, in 2018, the Aperol Spritz was ranked the ninth bestselling cocktail in the world by the website Drinks International. Loading Aperol was created in Padua in 1919 by the Barbieri brothers. The recipe is secret, but it is thought to contain gentian violets, rhubarb and cinchona bark, from which comes quinine.