Spritzer

A spritzer is a tall, chilled drink, usually made with white wine and soda water.

Origin

"Spritzer" is the German term used in Austria, where the drink is very popular. It is used alongside the equally common form "Gespritzter" (mostly pronounced "G'spritzter", a noun derived from the past participle of "spritzen"), a term also found in some German regions, such as Hessen (e.g. "Süssgespritzter", i.e. a "sweet spritzer" using fizzy lemonade (e.g., Sprite) instead of soda water ("Sauergespritzter"). In Hessen, however, "gespritzt" usually refers not to a wine/water or wine/lemonade mix but to a mixture of soda water or lemonade and "Apfelwein" (in Hessian dialect, "Ebblwoi"), an alcoholic drink from fermented apple juice somewhat similar to (hard) cider but distinctly non-sweet. In most of Germany, the word "Schorle", which derives from French, is used to denote a Spritzer.

In Austria and Germany a "Radler" is a beer combined with lemon soda. For this reason the most common type of beer used in a Radler is Export. In the northern part of Germany, it is being called "Alster" or "Alsterwasser", relating to the river Alster.

Wheat beer with lemon soda is common only in the Munich-area and known there as a "Ruß" (Russian), for legend tells, it was invented in the Munich beer hall "Matthäser", then a meeting place of Russian exilees before the 1917 October Revolution.

It is occasionally seen in Germany to mix Wheat beer and Coke or Juices such as Banana Juice or Cherry Juice.

In the United States, it is occasionally seen to mix seltzer water with Juices such as Grapefruit Juice.

A new form of spritzer has appeared in south west France since 2005, known locally as "Rose Pression" and "Blanc Pression". It is wine based, carbonated and served in draught form on tap from kegs. Its alcoholic strength is thought to vary between 5% and 6% abv. [ [http://www.midipyrenees.chambagri.fr/Bulletin-de-veille-no-8-2e.html : CRA Midi-Pyrénées [Bulletin de veille n° 8 - 2e semestre 2005 : ] ]

Alcoholic Spritzer

The word comes from the German "spritzen" "spatter, squirt, spray, sprinkle", i.e. adding water and thus diluting the wine so that it can be consumed in larger, thirst-quenching amounts without the negative effects of excessive alcohol. This may be why some individuals drink spritzers in order to promote drunkenness.

Non-alcoholic Spritzer

In the United States, some non-alcoholic carbonated juices are sold as "spritzers." The same type of carbonated juice (actually made with juice and carbonated mineral water) is known in Germany as "Saftschorle" or "Fruchtschorle". (Both short for rarely used "Fruchtsaftschorle".) Particularly "Apfelschorle" (apple juice spritzer) is one of the most popular soft drinks in Germany. In Austria Apfelschorle is called "Apfelsaft g'spritzt". "... g'spritzt" can be combined with every juice (e.g. Orangensaft g'spritzt or Pago/Cappy g'spritzt (producers of juices).

A non-alcoholic spritzer is typically made by mixing sparkling water with different fruit juices, as well as lemonade and iced tea.

References

ee also

*alcoholic beverage
*Shandy
*Rose Pression