Some drinks are made for lounging on a porch as the evening cools off, and this is one of them. A white wine spritzer with rosemary takes crisp, chilled white wine and lifts it with soda water, fresh lemon, and the woodsy scent of rosemary. It’s low-effort, low-alcohol, and endlessly easy to sip through a long dinner. Once you’ve made it once, it’ll become the drink you reach for anytime you want something refreshing without much fuss.

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Why This Rosemary Wine Spritzer Belongs on Your Party Menu

A spritzer cocktail is one of the easiest wins for a host. It stretches a single bottle of wine across more glasses, it’s light enough that guests can have two without feeling it, and it looks gorgeous with almost no styling effort. The rosemary sprig alone makes people ask what’s in it.

This particular version leans into herbal, savory notes instead of the usual fruit-forward spritzer. That makes it a nice change of pace at a dinner party where you want something that pairs with food rather than competing with it. It’s just as at home next to a cheese board as it is on a summer patio.

It also happens to be one of the most forgiving drinks you can make. There’s no shaking, no straining, and almost no way to mess up the ratio. Pour, top, stir, garnish — you’re done.

The ingredient list is refreshingly short, and there’s plenty of room to customize it with what you already have on hand.

Everything You’ll Need

4 oz dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
3 oz soda water, chilled
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz simple syrup (rosemary-infused if you have it)
1 fresh rosemary sprig, plus more for garnish
1 lemon wheel, for garnish
Ice

Bottle Picks & Easy Swaps

A dry, crisp white wine works best here since the drink is already getting sweetness from the syrup. A Sauvignon Blanc like Kim Crawford brings citrusy, grassy notes that play well with the rosemary, while a Pinot Grigio like Santa Margherita gives a lighter, more neutral base if you want the herb to take center stage. Avoid anything oaky or heavily buttery, like a full-bodied Chardonnay — it tends to fight with the soda water instead of lifting it.

If you want to skip the alcohol entirely, swap the wine for a non-alcoholic white wine alternative or a mix of white grape juice and extra soda water. Both keep the pale color and let the rosemary and lemon still do the heavy lifting.

No simple syrup on hand? A teaspoon of honey stirred into the warm lemon juice dissolves just as well and adds a slightly rounder sweetness.

Bar Tools You’ll Want

You don’t need a full home bar setup for this one, but a few basics make it faster and more consistent, especially if you’re mixing for a crowd.

A jigger for measuring the wine, lemon juice, and syrup accurately — this stainless steel jigger makes it easy to eyeball ratios correctly every time.
A muddler for gently bruising the rosemary sprig so it releases its oils into the glass — this bar muddler does the job without shredding the herb.
A long mixing spoon for stirring everything together once it’s built in the glass.
If you’re planning to batch a rosemary simple syrup or mix individual servings ahead of time, this 6-piece cocktail shaker set covers the jigger, muddler, and mixing spoon in one kit, which is handy if you’re building out a bar cart from scratch.

Once everything is prepped, this cocktail comes together in just a few minutes.

Let’s Mix It Up

Muddle the rosemary: Add the rosemary sprig to your glass and gently muddle it 2 to 3 times to release its aroma. Don’t overdo it — you want fragrance, not shredded leaves floating in the drink.
Add the syrup and lemon: Pour in the simple syrup and fresh lemon juice.
Fill with ice: Fill the glass with ice, packing it in fairly full.
Pour the wine: Add the chilled white wine and stir gently for a few seconds.
Top with soda water: Top with soda water and give it one more light stir to combine without losing the bubbles.
Garnish: Finish with a fresh rosemary sprig and a lemon wheel tucked against the side of the glass.

Host’s Tips for the Best Rosemary Wine Spritzer

Chill your wine and soda water ahead of time rather than relying on ice to cool everything down — it keeps the drink from getting watery too fast.

Lightly slap the rosemary sprig between your hands before adding it to the glass as a garnish. It releases the oils and makes the aroma hit you before you even take a sip.

If you’re serving a group, build a big pitcher of the wine, syrup, and lemon juice ahead of time, then add ice, soda water, and rosemary sprigs to individual glasses as you pour. This keeps the fizz from going flat.

Use a rosemary-infused simple syrup instead of plain syrup if you want the herbal flavor to come through more strongly without adding extra sprigs to every glass.

Easy Ways to Make It Your Own

Swap the lemon for grapefruit juice for a slightly more bitter, adult edge. Add a few muddled blackberries or raspberries for a fruity twist that still lets the rosemary shine through. For a stronger pour, add 0.5 oz of gin or elderflower liqueur alongside the wine. For a lighter, non-alcoholic version, use white grape juice or a dealcoholized white wine in place of the wine, and keep everything else the same.

Perfect Occasions & What to Serve Alongside

This spritzer fits right in at a spring or summer dinner party, a backyard barbecue, or a low-key brunch where you want something lighter than mimosas. It’s also a nice pour for a quiet weeknight when you want a drink that feels a little special without the effort.

On the food side, it pairs beautifully with a cheese and charcuterie board, roasted chicken with herbs, or a simple green salad with goat cheese and citrus vinaigrette. The rosemary note ties in nicely with anything roasted or herb-forward.

Make-Ahead & Serving Notes

You can premix the wine, lemon juice, and syrup up to a day ahead and store it covered in the fridge. Hold off on adding the soda water and rosemary garnish until just before serving so the drink stays fizzy and the herb stays fragrant rather than wilted. If you’re making a rosemary simple syrup, it keeps well in the fridge for up to two weeks in a sealed jar.

Still have a question? Here are a few of the most common ones readers ask before making this rosemary wine spritzer.

What’s the best wine for a white wine spritzer?

A dry, crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio works best. They have enough acidity to balance the sweetness of the syrup and won’t get lost once soda water is added.

Can I make this spritzer ahead of time for a party?

You can mix the wine, lemon juice, and syrup in advance and refrigerate it, but wait to add the soda water and ice until you’re ready to serve so the drink stays bubbly.

How do I make a rosemary simple syrup?

Combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan with a few rosemary sprigs, bring to a simmer until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool and steep for 20 minutes before straining.

Is a wine spritzer stronger than a glass of wine?

No, it’s actually lighter. Since the wine is diluted with soda water and lemon juice, the overall alcohol content per glass is lower than a straight pour of wine.

Can I make a non-alcoholic version of this spritzer?

Yes. Swap the white wine for a non-alcoholic white wine or white grape juice, and keep the rosemary, lemon, and soda water the same. You’ll still get the same herbal, refreshing character.

What can I use instead of rosemary?

Thyme or basil both work well if rosemary isn’t on hand, though rosemary’s piney aroma is what gives this spritzer its signature scent.

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