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South Tyrol (Alto Adige), northern Italy · Italian

Hugo Spritz (Elderflower, Prosecco & Mint)

The lighter, floral spritz: elderflower and fresh mint with prosecco and soda over ice. Delicate, garden-fresh and less bitter than an Aperol Spritz — the Alpine aperitivo that's taken over summer.

By Table & Traditions Editors

Published July 11, 2026

A pale Hugo Spritz in a large wine glass over ice with fresh mint sprigs and a lime slice, bright garden light.

The Hugo was invented around 2005 by bartender Roland Gruber in South Tyrol, the German-speaking Alpine region of northern Italy, as a lighter, floral alternative to the Aperol Spritz. Built on elderflower and mint rather than a bitter aperitivo, it spread across the Alps and then all of Europe as the fresh, easy-drinking spritz of choice. Proof that the spritz template welcomes almost any flavour.

Yield
Makes 1
Prep
3 min
Cook
0 min
Total
About 3 min
Difficulty
Easy

The Hugo Spritz is the lighter, floral answer to the Aperol Spritz: elderflower and fresh mint with prosecco and soda over ice. Delicate, garden-fresh and far less bitter — invented around 2005 in Alpine South Tyrol and now the spritz of choice all across Europe.

Floral, not bitter

Where the Aperol Spritz leads with bitter orange, the Hugo leads with elderflower and mint — pale, perfumed and easy. Use elderflower liqueur for a little richness, or cordial for a lighter, lower-proof drink.

Keep it sparkling

Well-chilled prosecco, plenty of ice, one gentle stir. Press the mint softly rather than muddling it hard.

One of the spritz family

It’s proof the spritz family takes almost any flavour — swap in Campari and you’ve got a Sbagliato, limoncello and you’ve got a lemon spritz.

Ingredients

Makes
1
  • 90 ml (3 oz) prosecco Well chilled. Any dry sparkling wine works, but prosecco is traditional.
  • 30 ml (1 oz) elderflower liqueur or cordial St-Germain (liqueur) or an elderflower cordial both work; cordial makes it lower in alcohol.
  • 30 ml (1 oz) soda water
  • fresh mint sprigs and a lime or lemon slice, to garnish
  • ice

Method

Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.

  1. Fill a large wine glass with ice and add the elderflower liqueur and a few mint leaves; gently press the mint.

    Why: A gentle press (not a hard muddle) releases the mint's aroma without shredding it into bitter fragments.

  2. Add the prosecco, then the soda water.

    Why: Adding the wine before the soda keeps more sparkle; pour gently to preserve the bubbles.

  3. Stir once and garnish with a fresh mint sprig and a citrus slice.

    Why: One gentle stir combines without flattening the fizz; the mint sprig makes every sip smell like a garden.

A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.

Variations

  • Lower-ABV

    Use elderflower cordial instead of liqueur, and top with extra soda, for a lighter spritz.

  • Cucumber Hugo

    Add a couple of cucumber slices with the mint for an even fresher, spa-like drink.

  • The spritz family

    Swap the flavour — Aperol for the classic bitter spritz, Campari and prosecco for a Sbagliato, limoncello for a lemon spritz.

Serving & Storage

The ideal warm-afternoon aperitivo — light, floral and low in alcohol. Serve very cold before dinner.

Pairs with: Prosciutto and melon, Bruschetta, Green olives, Soft cheeses.

Storage: Build to order so the prosecco stays sparkling and the mint stays fresh.

Nutrition

Per serving (1 drink (~180 ml))

Calories
145
Protein
0 g
Carbs
14 g
Fat
0 g
Fiber
0 g
Sugar
12 g
Sodium
10 mg

Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a Hugo and an Aperol Spritz?

Both are prosecco-and-soda spritzes, but the Hugo is built on elderflower and mint, making it floral, delicate and pale, while the Aperol Spritz uses bitter orange Aperol, making it bitter-sweet and bright orange. The Hugo is the lighter, less bitter of the two.

Liqueur or cordial?

Elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain) adds a little alcohol and richness; non-alcoholic elderflower cordial makes a lighter, lower-proof drink. Both are traditional and delicious — use whichever you have, adjusting sweetness to taste.

How do I keep it fizzy?

Use well-chilled prosecco and soda, build over plenty of ice, and stir only once, gently. Adding the sparkling wine before the soda and pouring down the side of the glass also helps preserve the bubbles.

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Further reading