A standard Aperol Spritz lands around 180–210 calories per glass, driven by Aperol’s sugar and the prosecco pour.
Light
Classic
Sweet/Large
Small Glass
- ~5 fl oz total
- More soda
- Dry prosecco
Lower Energy
Standard Goblet
- 6.8–8 fl oz
- 3:2:1 ratio
- Orange slice
Balanced
Big Party Serve
- ~10 fl oz
- Extra wine
- Less soda
Higher Energy
What Goes Into This Glass
The spritz sits on a simple build: sparkling wine, a bittersweet orange liqueur, and a splash of soda. The base wine carries alcohol. The liqueur brings sugar plus a little alcohol. Soda adds volume without energy. Ice and a citrus slice add refreshment, not calories.
Aperol sits at 11% ABV, which keeps the alcohol load down compared with strong spirits. Prosecco ranges in sweetness from bone dry to fruity. That swing matters. A dry bottle trims sugar in the glass. A sweet style does the opposite. The ready-to-drink can from Campari lists 186 calories in 6.8 fl oz with 21 g carbs. That single line shows the energy source: sugar and alcohol.
| Serve | Typical Size | Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-drink can | 6.8 fl oz | 186 kcal |
| Bar goblet pour | ~8 fl oz | ~200 kcal |
| Light home serve | ~5 fl oz | ~125 kcal |
Aperol Spritz Nutrition Breakdown For Real Glasses
Calories move with the ratio. A small glass leans on soda. A large wine goblet leans on wine. Raise the prosecco and you raise alcohol energy. Keep the bitters pour steady and you carry sugar along for the ride. Two bars can pour drinks that look alike yet land far apart on a tracker.
One reliable anchor sits on the label of the canned version: 186 calories, 21 g carbs per 6.8 fl oz at 9% ABV. A typical bar serve sits near that mark, since many follow the same rule of thirds. Swap in a drier wine and the number drops a little. Use a sweeter style and the number climbs.
What Adds Calories Here
Two levers drive the count. First, sugar in the liqueur. Second, ethanol in the wine and liqueur. Ethanol carries 7 kcal per gram. Sugar sits at 4 kcal per gram. Even a small shift in either lever adds up over a few pours.
Recipe Ratios That Change The Math
The classic 3:2:1 split pours three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol, and one part soda. Bars tweak that split to suit glassware. Some push a 2:2:1 build for a lighter sip. Others stretch to 3:2:0 for a wine-heavy take. You can see how the ratio maps to energy: more wine or more liqueur means more calories; more soda pulls the count down.
Alcohol, Sugar, And ABV
Wine and liqueur both carry alcohol. That adds energy even with zero fat and zero protein. A dry prosecco at standard strength lands near 11%–12% ABV. Aperol sits at 11% ABV. Together they set the total ABV in the glass. The canned serve shows a 9% mark, which fits a full goblet with ice and soda.
Sweetness matters just as much. Prosecco labels use terms like “brut,” “extra dry,” and “dry.” Odd naming, but useful. “Brut” sits lower on sugar. “Dry” sits higher. Pick a brut if you want to trim sugar in the final drink without changing the flavor profile too much.
Glass Size Swings The Count
One person pours in a wine goblet. Another grabs a rocks glass. The tall goblet holds more liquid and more energy. The small glass trims both. Ice size plays a part too. Large, cold cubes slow dilution and keep bubbles alive, which keeps the ratio steady. Melted ice adds water, not energy, so a slow melt keeps the count predictable.
Smart Swaps To Lower Calories
Small moves help. Use extra soda and a dry bottle. Pour the liqueur with a measured jigger. Skip added syrups. Choose a small goblet. These simple moves keep the drink bright while trimming sugar and alcohol.
| Swap | How It Helps | Rough Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dry prosecco | Less residual sugar | −10 to −30 kcal |
| Extra soda splash | More volume, same flavor | −15 to −40 kcal |
| 2:2:1 ratio | Smaller wine pour | −20 to −40 kcal |
| Half-ounce less Aperol | Less sugar per glass | −20 to −35 kcal |
| Lots of ice | Chills fast, slows dilution | Steadier count |
Carbs, Sugar, And Sodium
Carbs in this drink come from the liqueur and any sugar in the sparkling wine. The canned label lists 21 g of carbs per 6.8 fl oz. A dry wine pour brings that down a touch. A sweet bottle pushes it up. Sodium stays near zero. Protein stays at zero.
How To Read A Bar Menu
Menus rarely print nutrition lines. Look for clues. If the menu calls the drink “extra bubbly” or “with a dash of syrup,” expect a higher number. If the bar lists a “skinny” take with seltzer and a smaller bitters pour, expect a lower number. When in doubt, ask for the small goblet with a large soda splash.
Serving Sizes You’ll See
At home, many people pour into a stemmed wine glass. In bars, a large goblet is common. Canned serves sit at 6.8 fl oz. A restaurant pour can hit 8–10 fl oz. Two drinks can feel the same and yet differ by 50–80 calories based on glass choice alone.
Example Builds You Can Use
Light Day
2 oz prosecco, 1.5 oz Aperol, 2 oz soda, ice, orange slice. Crisp and lower energy.
Classic Crowd-Pleaser
3 oz prosecco, 2 oz Aperol, 1 oz soda, ice, orange slice. The ratio most bars pour.
Fruit-Forward Pour
3.5 oz prosecco, 2 oz Aperol, 0.5 oz soda, ice. Full flavor, slightly higher energy.
Sourcing Numbers You Can Trust
Public data backs the ranges above. The Campari page lists energy and carbs for the canned serve. The NHS page explains why alcohol adds energy at 7 kcal per gram. A prosecco trade page pegs a 125 ml glass near 80 calories, which lines up with a dry pour in the classic ratio. Link targets appear in the card so you can check fast.
The figures in the tables reflect those anchors, scaled to common glass sizes. Your glassware, ice, and wine style will nudge the result up or down. That is normal for mixed drinks poured by hand.
Who This Drink Suits
Fans of bright, low-bitter aperitivo drinks love this build. If you track intake, pick the light pour and keep the ratio steady. If you want a sweeter sip, go up in wine sweetness, but pour a smaller glass. Those two dials let you steer the drink toward your goal without losing the spritz feel.
When To Skip Or Swap
Skip the drink when you need a zero-alcohol day. Pick a bubbly seltzer with a squeeze of citrus in a stemmed glass. Want a near look and feel? Mix diet soda with a dash of bitters and a citrus peel over ice. The glass cues stay, the energy drops near zero.
Method Notes For Home Pours
Chill the wine well. Cold liquid keeps bubbles tight, which softens the need for extra liqueur. Add ice to the glass first. Pour wine and Aperol, then top with soda. A gentle stir is enough. Big stirs beat the bubbles out and push you to add more wine.
Reader Checks Before You Pour
Grab a jigger. Use a dry bottle. Pack the glass with ice. Garnish with a fresh orange slice. Taste before you top up the wine. These tiny checks prevent drift in the ratio and keep your energy target in range.
Want More On The Numbers?
If you want more detail on wine energy bands, check a prosecco FAQ from the trade consortium. For the general math on energy per gram of alcohol, the NHS page explains the figure with one clear line.