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Milan, Italy · Italian

Negroni Sbagliato (Campari, Vermouth & Prosecco)

The 'mistaken' Negroni: Campari and sweet vermouth topped with prosecco instead of gin. Lighter, sparkling and bittersweet — the low-ABV Negroni that had a viral moment, built in the glass in a minute.

By Table & Traditions Editors

Published July 11, 2026

A Negroni Sbagliato in a rocks glass over ice, red-orange with prosecco bubbles and an orange slice, bright light.

Sbagliato means 'mistaken' in Italian, and the story goes that a Milan bartender at Bar Basso in the 1970s reached for a bottle of sparkling wine instead of gin while making a Negroni — and a classic was born. Replacing the gin with prosecco turns the bracing Negroni into a lighter, sparkling, lower-proof aperitivo. It had a viral revival in 2022 ('with prosecco in it'), but it's been a Milanese staple for fifty years.

Yield
Makes 1
Prep
2 min
Cook
0 min
Total
About 2 min
Difficulty
Easy

The Negroni Sbagliato is the “mistaken” Negroni — Campari and sweet vermouth topped with prosecco instead of gin. Lighter, sparkling and bittersweet, it was reportedly born from a bartender’s slip at Milan’s Bar Basso in the 1970s, and it’s been a Milanese aperitivo staple ever since.

Prosecco for gin

Keep the Negroni’s bittersweet heart — equal parts Campari and sweet red vermouth — but top with sparkling wine instead of gin. The result is fizzy, lower-proof and far more refreshing.

Build and barely stir

Ice, Campari, vermouth, then prosecco last with a single gentle stir to keep the bubbles. Orange slice to finish.

One of the spritz family

It sits between the Negroni and the Aperol Spritz in the spritz family — bitter like the first, sparkling like the second.

Ingredients

Makes
1
  • 30 ml (1 oz) Campari
  • 30 ml (1 oz) sweet red vermouth
  • 60 ml (2 oz) prosecco Well chilled; this replaces the gin of a standard Negroni.
  • an orange slice or half-wheel, to garnish
  • ice

Method

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  1. Fill a rocks glass (or wine glass) with ice and add the Campari and sweet vermouth.

    Why: Building over ice keeps it simple and cold; equal parts Campari and vermouth is the Negroni backbone.

  2. Top with the prosecco and give one gentle stir.

    Why: Adding the prosecco last and stirring once keeps the sparkle while combining the bitter base.

  3. Garnish with an orange slice.

    Why: Orange is the classic Negroni garnish — its oils lift the bitter Campari and sweet vermouth.

A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.

Variations

  • Spritz-style

    Build it in a big wine glass with extra prosecco and a splash of soda for a longer, spritzier drink.

  • Bitter-forward

    Nudge the Campari up and the prosecco down for a drier, more Negroni-like balance.

  • The spritz family

    Compare it to the Aperol Spritz (softer, orange) and the classic Negroni (gin, no bubbles).

Serving & Storage

A classic Italian aperitivo — bitter, sparkling and low in alcohol, made to open the appetite before dinner.

Pairs with: Salumi, Olives, Parmesan, Bruschetta.

Storage: Build to order so the prosecco stays fizzy.

Nutrition

Per serving (1 drink (~120 ml))

Calories
150
Protein
0 g
Carbs
13 g
Fat
0 g
Fiber
0 g
Sugar
11 g
Sodium
5 mg

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'sbagliato' mean?

It's Italian for 'mistaken' or 'wrong.' The drink is named for the happy accident of a bartender grabbing sparkling wine instead of gin while making a Negroni — the 'mistaken Negroni.'

How is it different from a regular Negroni?

A classic Negroni is equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred and strong. The Sbagliato swaps the gin for prosecco, so it's sparkling, lighter, lower in alcohol and more refreshing — but keeps the same bittersweet Campari-and-vermouth heart.

Which vermouth and prosecco should I use?

A good sweet red (rosso) vermouth is essential, since it's a third of the drink. Any dry prosecco works; keep it well chilled so it stays lively when topped.

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Further reading