Aperol Spritz Calories: How Many, and Why Sites Disagree

Q: Is Aperol Spritz high in sugar?

Aperol has roughly 17 grams of sugar in a 2 oz pour, moderate compared to sweeter cocktails but more than dry wine. A drier Prosecco and a 2 oz pour keep it reasonable.

Q: How does Aperol Spritz compare to wine in calories?

A 5 oz glass of dry white wine is about 120-125 calories. A standard Aperol Spritz at 140 calories is slightly higher but roughly twice the volume, so per ounce they are close.

Q: Which spritz has the fewest calories?

A botanical tonic syrup spritz at 80 to 120 calories. Among traditional aperitif spritzes, an Aperol Spritz made with the 3-2-1 ratio is lighter than Hugo, Campari, or Limoncello.

Q: How many calories in an Aperol Spritz vs a Campari Spritz?

An Aperol Spritz is roughly 140 calories; a Campari Spritz runs 180 to 230 due to Campari's higher sugar content. Aperol is the lighter option.

If you've tried to look up Aperol Spritz calories, you've probably found numbers ranging from 117 to over 200. That range is not a mistake. It reflects a real disagreement about how the drink should be made. The calorie count of an Aperol Spritz depends almost entirely on the ratio of ingredients, and that ratio changes depending on who's pouring.

Here's the honest breakdown.

Classic Aperol Spritz made with the 3-2-1 ratio, about 140 calories, in a wine glass with ice and an orange slice

The Standard Aperol Spritz: 140 Calories

The classic Italian recipe follows a 3-2-1 ratio: three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperol, one part soda water. In practice, that's roughly 3 oz Prosecco, 2 oz Aperol, and a splash of soda over ice.

At those proportions, an Aperol Spritz comes in around 140 calories. Soda water adds nothing. Prosecco contributes about 70 calories for a 3 oz pour. Aperol, at 11% ABV with added sugar, adds roughly 70 calories for 2 oz.

That's the number you'd get ordering a spritz at a cafe in Venice.

American bar pours are a different story. Many recipes call for 3 oz of Aperol rather than 2, which pushes the calorie count to 165 to 200 per glass. If your bartender has a heavy hand with Aperol, you're looking at the higher end of that range.

The short answer: made the Italian way, about 140 calories. Made the American way, closer to 175 to 200.

Aperol Spritz calories by pour: the Italian 3-2-1 version at about 140 calories versus a heavy American pour at 175 to 200 calories

Calorie Breakdown by Ingredient

Aperol (2 oz / 60ml): approximately 70 calories. Aperol is 11% ABV with sugar added for balance. It's lower in alcohol than most spirits, but the sugar content means the calories aren't negligible.

Prosecco (3 oz / 90ml): approximately 70 calories. Prosecco runs about 80 calories per 100ml. A drier style (Brut or Extra Brut) shaves a few calories off versus a standard Extra Dry. The alcohol contributes most of the calorie load here, not sugar.

Soda water (1 oz splash): zero calories. This is just carbonation. It dilutes the drink slightly and adds volume without affecting the calorie count at all.

Total for 3-2-1 recipe: approximately 140 calories.

Aperol Spritz calorie breakdown: Aperol 2 oz at 70 calories, Prosecco 3 oz at 70 calories, soda water 1 oz at 0 calories, about 140 total

How Aperol Spritz Compares to Other Spritz Variations

The spritz is a category, not a single drink. Swapping Aperol for a different aperitif changes the calorie picture significantly.

Aperol Spritz garnished with orange beside bottles of Prosecco and soda water, the ingredients that set a spritz's calorie count

Campari Spritz: 180 to 230 calories. Campari has roughly the same ABV as Aperol but carries more sugar per serving. If you're watching calories, Aperol is the lighter choice.

Hugo Spritz: 160 to 200 calories. The Hugo replaces Aperol with elderflower liqueur and adds fresh mint and lime. St. Germain runs about 100 calories per 1.5 oz. A classic Hugo lands around 170 calories depending on the Prosecco pour.

Limoncello Spritz: 190 to 220 calories. Limoncello is higher in sugar than Aperol, and most recipes use a generous pour. Genuinely one of the sweeter, more caloric options in the spritz family.

St. Germain Spritz: 150 to 180 calories. Similar to the Hugo in caloric density, making it a middle-of-the-road option.

Botanical tonic syrup spritz: 80 to 120 calories. A quality tonic syrup made with real botanicals runs around 6 grams of sugar per serving versus the 17 to 20 grams in a standard Aperol pour. Add Prosecco and soda and you're looking at a genuinely lower-calorie aperitivo-style drink with more botanical complexity than Aperol, the category we're building toward with Jo's Tonics.

How to Make a Lower-Calorie Aperol Spritz

If you want to keep the Aperol but reduce the calorie count, a few adjustments make a real difference.

Use the 3-2-1 ratio rather than a heavier Aperol pour. Sticking to 2 oz instead of 3 cuts roughly 35 calories.

Choose a Brut or Extra Brut Prosecco. The drier the Prosecco, the less residual sugar, and slightly fewer calories.

Add more soda. More soda water means more volume without more calories, bringing the calorie density down per sip.

Use a smaller glass. Less liquid, more ice, lower calorie total.

Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz Calories

A non-alcoholic Aperol Spritz made with an NA aperitif like Lyre's Italian Spritz runs 60 to 90 calories depending on the brand. Most NA aperitifs have less sugar than Aperol, and without alcohol (calorie-dense at 7 calories per gram), the total drops significantly.

How Aperol Spritz Compares to Other Cocktails

In the broader cocktail landscape, Aperol Spritz is on the lighter end. A Margarita runs 250 to 300 calories. A Pina Colada can reach 450 or more. A glass of red wine sits around 125 calories for a 5 oz pour.

Aperol Spritz with an orange slice and rosemary garnish served over ice in a wine glass

The Aperol Spritz at 140 calories sits just above a glass of wine, with a lot more volume and a lower alcohol content. That combination is a big part of why it became the dominant aperitivo cocktail of the last decade. It is not a diet drink, but it is one of the more reasonable options on a cocktail menu.

Aperol Spritz Calories FAQ

How many calories are in an Aperol Spritz?

A standard Aperol Spritz made with the 3-2-1 Italian ratio (3 oz Prosecco, 2 oz Aperol, soda water) contains approximately 140 calories. Bar-style pours with 3 oz of Aperol run 165 to 200 calories.

Is Aperol Spritz high in sugar?

Aperol contains roughly 17 grams of sugar in a 2 oz pour. That's moderate compared to sweeter cocktails but more than a glass of dry wine. A drier Prosecco and a 2 oz Aperol pour keep the sugar reasonable.

How does Aperol Spritz compare to wine in calories?

A 5 oz glass of dry white wine contains about 120 to 125 calories. A standard Aperol Spritz at 140 calories is slightly higher but roughly twice the volume. Per ounce, the two are close.

Which spritz has the fewest calories?

A botanical tonic syrup spritz is the lightest at 80 to 120 calories. Among traditional aperitif spritzes, an Aperol Spritz made with the 3-2-1 ratio is lighter than Hugo, Campari, or Limoncello versions.

Can you make an Aperol Spritz lower in calories?

Yes. Use 2 oz of Aperol instead of 3, choose a Brut Prosecco, add more soda water, and serve over plenty of ice. These adjustments bring it closer to 120 to 130 calories.

How many calories in an Aperol Spritz vs a Campari Spritz?

An Aperol Spritz has roughly 140 calories; a Campari Spritz runs 180 to 230 due to Campari's higher sugar content. Aperol is the lighter option.

Aperol Spritz Calories: Why Every Site Gives a Different Number