Pomegranate Lambrusco Spritz

A HOLIDAY SPRITZ THAT EVERYONE WILL LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR!

If you’re looking for a holiday cocktail that feels festive without being fussy, this Pomegranate Lambrusco Spritz is it. Like IT.

Your girl loves a good spritz, and this one hits all of the notes... it's bubbly, very balanced in flavor, and might I add...INCREDIBLY crowd-friendly.

It is the kind of drink that looks chic AND also comes together in minutes. I made this for a holiday party last weekend with my best friends, and it was hands-down the easiest thing. Everything went into the serving bowl, and everyone loved the little garnish station that we had set up with Castelvetrano olives, flaky sea salt, wedges of fresh grapefruit, and then some high-quality olive oil.

No shaking, no last-minute scrambling, no laundry list of ingredients...it's just pour, stir, and garnish. Best believe I will be taking this recipe with me into the new year because it is THAT GOOD.

Pomegranate is one of those flavors this time of the year that instantly feels celebratory. It’s cozy enough for winter gatherings but still bright, which makes it perfect for everything from Christmas parties to New Year’s Eve to casual December dinners. Pairing it with dry Lambrusco keeps things balanced — not too sweet, not too heavy...while fresh grapefruit juice adds a clean citrus flavor profile that keeps the drink easily sippable. And because Lambrusco has a slightly lower ABV than many wines, this spritz was a huge hit at the party.

I know I mentioned it before, but I really must again...the best part about this recipe is how lovely it is for holiday hosting. You can fully batch it in a pitcher if guests are arriving all at once, or keep the sparkling water separate and top glasses individually if people are coming and going. That way, every pour stays crisp and bubbly. It’s the kind of hosting hack that makes you look like you planned everything perfectly... even if you were in the shower five minutes before the doorbell rang and the first guest arrived. This may or may not be a true story....

And let’s talk garnish, because this is where the magic happens. Even if you don't think you want all of this on your spritz...trust me. Do it, and you can always adjust for the second serving you'll be having, because well...you will be having seconds of this! Castelvetrano olives, flaky sea salt, and a drizzle of really good olive oil might sound unexpected in a spritz, but trust me - they take this drink from “pretty cocktail” to memorable conversation starter. Salty, briny, citrusy, and lightly bitter all in one sip. It’s elegant, a little bold, and exactly the kind of drink people ask you for the recipe for before the night is over. Make it, you will NOT regret it!

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INGREDIENTS

• 1¾ cups PAMA Liqueur

• ¾ cup fresh grapefruit juice (you can also use Simply Grapefruit if you're in a pinch)

• 2 bottles dry Lambrusco, chilled

• 2¼ cups sparkling water, chilled

Garnishes

• Fresh grapefruit wedges, cut into quarters (I used just one to serve 12-14)

• Castelvetrano olives on cocktail picks

• Flaky sea salt

• High-quality olive oil

  
  

DIRECTIONS 

1. In a large pitcher, combine the PAMA liqueur and fresh grapefruit juice. Stir well.

2. Add the chilled Lambrusco and gently stir to combine.

3. If serving all at once, add the sparkling water to the pitcher just before serving. If guests are arriving over time, keep the sparkling water separate and direct guests to top each glass as it is served.

4. Serve over ice. Garnish each glass with Castelvetrano olives on a pick, a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of flaky sea salt, and an extra wedge or two of grapefruit.

   
   

~ Serves 12-14

Notes

• The type of Lambrusco you use is important! Every single time I've made this recipe, I've made it with a dry Lambrusco. It's best to balance the flavors, as an overly sweet style can overwhelm the drink.

• To batch ahead of time, you can mix the PAMA and grapefruit juice a few hours in advance and refrigerate. I recommend adding the Lambrusco and sparkling water just before serving. On that note, if you're wondering if you should add the sparkling water to the pitcher or each glass, I would think about how you plan to serve this. If it is a welcome drink, I'd recommend adding it directly to the pitcher. If people are coming in at different times, just transfer the sparkling water to a bucket over ice (cans work great too in this case) and let folks top their drinks themselves to ensure the bubbles stay fresh.

• While fresh grapefruit juice is best in this, I've also used bottled grapefruit juice before. If you are batching this for a party, I would use a bottled one. The one that I tend to grab is the one from Simply, linked here.

• Based on your preference, you can adjust the juice, Lambrusco, or even the sparkling water. I get it - you are like...why don't you tell me what to do here? The recipe I shared above is, in my opinion, intentionally balanced and not overly sweet, but this is a preference thing. Simply add a splash more PAMA for sweetness, or reduce the grapefruit juice slightly and increase the sparkling water if you want it a little bit more savory.

• What is with the olives and olive oil? Castelvetrano olives add a distinct buttery flavor, and the olive oil adds richness, making the drink feel elevated and unexpected. I HIGHLY recommend topping with both for depth.

• For glassware, I've found that large wine glasses or stemless wine glasses work best for this recipe as you're pouring it over ice.

• For food pairings, I've loved serving this with a beautifully festive cheese board that has all of your favorite cheeses or even a nice pesto flatbread, roasted nuts (especially served warm), and any citrus-forward appetizers.