Lemon Basil White Wine Spritzer

5 stars average

This light and refreshing white wine spritzer is made with bright lemon juice and basil simple syrup. The ultimate cocktail for happy hour on the deck or backyard entertaining!

Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes

Lemon basil white wine spritzer image in a wine glass

This light and refreshing white wine spritzer is made with bright lemon juice and basil simple syrup. The ultimate cocktail for happy hour on the deck or backyard entertaining!

Lemon basil white wine spritzer image in a wine glass

As a food writer, I am always finding inspiration for my cocktail recipes. Whether it’s traveling to a new city, dining in a trendy restaurant or having drinks at a new bar, I find inspiration everywhere I go. Inevitably, I always find myself gravitating towards cocktails that are light, refreshing and effervescent.

One of my go-to recipes lately is my lemon basil white wine spritzer. If you’re wanting to try a new, refreshing drink, I’ve got you covered.

Holding a wine glass with with a spritzer inside

You can prepare white wine spritzers in a few different ways. If you’re hosting a large number of guests, use a pitcher and mix the ingredients to create a batch. If you’re serving a few people, you may want to serve by the glass.

Creating the Basil Simple Syrup

First, place the sugar and water in a small pot and bring them to a boil. Second, remove the pot from the heat until sugar dissolves. Next, add basil and let it cool to room temperature. Remove the basil leaves before you serve the syrup.

basil being cut

Serving Lemon Basil White Wine Spritzers by the Glass

First, if you want to add optional garnishes, prep the basil leaves. Basil is a beautiful, deep green color and has an appealing, herbaceous flavor.

Glasses of lemon basil white wine spritzer with basil

Second, add the basil to each glass. Feel free to get creative with this recipe — I love to add fun, bright straws to spritzers!

Lemon for lemon basil white wine spritzer

As a third (and optional) step, add lemon garnish for additional flavor. The combination of yellow and green colors pair well together (and who doesn’t love to sip a beautiful drink?!)

Garnishes white wine spritzer

Next, fill each glass with ice. Remember, a spritzer tastes best when it’s really cold, so make sure you’re generous with the ice!

Pouring white wine for spritzer

After you drop in the ice, pour in your white wine of choice. For a standard wine glass, you will fill almost half of the cup.

Pouring sparkling water for spritzer

Finally, top each glass with club soda to amp up the fizz. You can use any flavor you want. I prefer the lemon flavor, but you can also opt for a plain flavor.

Close view lemon basil white wine spritzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Do wine spritzers contain less alcohol than most cocktails?

Yes. If you’re wanting a low-alcohol drink, this is a great choice.

What’s the best white wine to pair with a spritzer?

I recommend Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. A fruity, aromatic white wine works best.

Can you substitute the sparkling water with club soda?

Of course! You could also use sprite or another fizzy drink.

Lemon basil white wine spritzer

Did you make this drink? If so, I’d love to see it — tag @thelemonbowl on Instagram to be featured! And while you’re here, you may also want to try these recipes:

Liz with lemon basil white wine spritzer

Cheers, friend! Your straw is waiting.

Lemon basil white wine spritzer image in a wine glass

Lemon Basil White Wine Spritzer

5 stars average
This light and refreshing white wine spritzer is made with bright lemon juice and basil simple syrup. The ultimate cocktail for happy hour on the deck or backyard entertaining!
PREP: 10 minutes
TOTAL: 10 minutes
Pin
Servings: 8

Ingredients
 

  • 1 750 mL chilled, dry white wine (such as pinot grigio)
  • ½ cup lemon juice
  • 16 ounces sparkling water (any flavor such as lemon or plain)
  • lemon wheels and basil leaves (optional garnish)

Basil Simple Syrup

  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup basil (about 10 sprigs)

Instructions
 

  • To make the basil simple syrup, place the sugar and water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Add basil and let cool to room temperature. Remove basil leaves before using. Place in refrigerator until you're ready to use.
  • When you're ready to prepare the white wine spritzers, fill a large pitcher with chilled white wine, lemon juice, sparkling water and cooled simple syrup. Pour over wine glasses filled with ice to serve. Garnish with lemon wheels if you wish.

Nutrition

Serving: 12ouncesCalories: 52kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 14mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 80IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg

4 thoughts on “Lemon Basil White Wine Spritzer”

  1. Clare M Kelly

    Um, this was AMAZING. I made it in a pitcher, popped it in the fridge, and then poured over ice-filled plastic wine glasses and garnished with more fresh basil and lemon wheels and served it up with our 4th of July family dinner. Everyone loved it, and one person who tried it said it was possibly the best drink they’d ever had. Will be making again and again. It’s incredibly easy if you make the syrup ahead of time, and it looks hella impressive to serve! A+.

  2. Hi Liz, this is a wonderful and refreshing cocktail, the syrup is in my fridge! You do have pinot noir listed as one of the suggested wines to use. Might want to edit that. :)

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