Once relegated to garden parties and summer soirees, red wine spritzers are now a favorite for fall, thanks in part to bitters.

Forget its lowbrow reputation and remember it’s a favorite Spanish refresher. Switch out the tradi­tional lemon soda for a splash of seltzer and amp the sophistication with a dash of bitters. Instantly, the red wine spritzer becomes a great fall sipper. Red wine gives it more body and substance than a white wine cocktail and, of course, lends a festive color. The bitters add backbone to the low-alcohol drink, perfect for casual gatherings.

Red Wine Spritzer

What You’ll Need

ORANGE PEEL GARNISH

4 OUNCES MEDIUM BODY RED WINE

4 OUNCES SODA WATER

4 DASHES ORANGE BITTERS

1/2 OUNCE ORANGE JUICE

Combine the ingredients in your mixing vessel until well-mixed, and serve it with a hint of the holidays by stirring with a cinnamon stick. 

Add extra flair with high-tech bar tools. Every well-equipped bar should have a seltzer siphon. After all, you want to look like a pro, and mixologists know that nothing is cooler than using a seltzer siphon to add a spritz of bubbles to a shot of Scotch or as the finishing touch to a spritzer. Find them in antique stores or culinary shops.

Classic Retro Soda Syphon, $163, muddle-me.com