# The Bicicletta Cocktail Returns as Summer's White Wine Alternative
The Aperol spritz faces competition this season. The Bicicletta, a 90-year-old Italian aperitivo cocktail, offers a lighter, more elegant alternative for warm weather drinking.
This forgotten classic combines white wine with Campari and soda water. The drink delivers bitter-sweet complexity without the cloying sweetness of mass-market spritzes. Campari brings herbaceous depth and its signature crimson hue, while the white wine base keeps the alcohol content moderate and the palate refreshing.
The Bicicletta emerged in Italy during the 1930s, when Campari first gained popularity among aperitivo drinkers. The name references the bicycle-riding culture of post-war Italy. The cocktail faded from menus as Aperol spritzes dominated summer drinking culture, but bartenders and home mixologists now recognize it as the superior choice for afternoons by the pool or garden.
Building the drink takes minutes. Pour one part Campari into a wine glass with ice, top with three parts crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Vermentino, and finish with a splash of soda water. A lemon twist adds brightness. The proportions remain flexible. Adjust the Campari-to-wine ratio based on personal preference for bitterness.
What separates the Bicicletta from its trendy cousin lies in balance. Where Aperol brings peachy sweetness and low alcohol content (11 percent), Campari offers genuine botanical intrigue at 28 percent ABV. The white wine stretches the drink across the palate rather than sitting as a simple garnish. Drinkers get substance and flavor complexity in a low-ABV format.
The revival makes sense