Negroni Sbagliato- An Italian Christmas Cocktail

A Negroni Sbagliato is a classic Italian cocktail made with Prosecco! It's festive for the holidays, but you can enjoy this Italian drink any time of the year. 

If you like this Negroni Sbagliato, you might also enjoy the classic Italian Negroni.

This article contains affiliate links which support us at no extra cost to you.

The Negroni Sbagliato is what happens when a classic Negroni takes a softer, more relaxed turn. Instead of gin, this version is topped with prosecco, making it lighter, fresher, and easier to sip. It's still unmistakably Italian, still beautifully bitter, just a bit more playful.

This is the drink I order when I want a Negroni vibe without the intensity. It's ideal for warm evenings, long conversations, and those aperitivo moments that accidentally turn into dinner.

What is the difference between a negroni and a negroni sbagliato?

The Negroni Sbagliato is basically a Negroni that calls for prosecco or asti spumante instead of gin. Sbagliato in Italian means "wrong" or "mistaken," as in, "I goofed on this negroni and grabbed the wrong bottle! And it tastes GOOD!"

You may be shaking your head saying, "What the heck is a Negroni?!?" Hold your horses...I will tell you!

Why you'll love a Negroni Sbagliato

• A lighter twist on the classic Negroni
• Bubbly and refreshing thanks to prosecco
• Perfect Italian aperitivo cocktail before dinner
• Made with just three simple ingredients
• Easy to make at home, bar-quality results

Ingredient Notes

• Campari: This gives the drink its signature bitterness and vibrant red color. There's no substitute here.
• Sweet vermouth: A quality Italian vermouth makes a big difference. Once opened, keep it refrigerated.
• Prosecco: Use a dry prosecco, not sweet. You want bubbles and balance, not extra sugar.
• Orange twist: Optional, but highly recommended for aroma and that classic aperitivo finish.

How to make a Negroni Sbagliato

1. Fill a rocks or Old-Fashioned glass with ice.
2. Add the Campari and sweet vermouth. Stir gently to combine.
3. Top with prosecco and give it one gentle stir.
4. Garnish with an orange twist, if using.
5. Serve immediately.

Pro Tips

• Use large ice cubes so the drink stays cold without watering down too fast.
• Stir gently, especially after adding prosecco, to keep the bubbles intact.
• Chill your prosecco well before using. Warm prosecco flattens quickly.
• Serve immediately. This cocktail is best fresh.

Variations

• Swap prosecco for another dry sparkling wine if that's what you have on hand.
• Add a splash of soda for an even lighter version.
• Try a blood orange twist when in season for extra aroma.

What is an Italian negroni?

I'm sort of a history buff. I love American history. European history. Food history. And I just found out I even like cocktail history. Here is what I found on wikipedia about a regular Negroni:

"While the drinks' origins are obscured by time, the most widely reported version is that it was invented in Florence, Italy in 1919, at Caffè Casoni, now called Caffè Giacosa. Count Camillo Negroni invented it by asking the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by adding gin rather than the normal soda water. The bartender also added an orange garnish rather than the typical lemon garnish of the Americano to signify that it was a different drink.

After the success of the cocktail, the Negroni Family founded Negroni Distillerie in Treviso, Italy, and produced a ready-made version of the drink, sold as Antico Negroni 1919.

One of the earliest reports of the drink came from Orson Welles in correspondence with the Coshocton Tribune while working in Rome on Cagliostro in 1947, where he described a new drink called the Negroni, "The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other."

I don't know about you, but this fascinates me! My favorite part is the end quote about how the bitters and gin balance out each other.

Where was the negroni sbagliato invented?

Back to the Negroni Sbagliato. It was invented at the legendary Bar Basso in Milan. Milan has a pretty hopping aperitivo scene. You go out after work to a bar. Any bar. And you buy a cocktail and you get to snack. I'm not talking just popcorn and chips.

Some of these bars have bruschetta. Amazing olives. Cheese spreads. I could go on and on. It basically is a happy hour where you get a drink and practically a free meal. Not bad?

I found the story about this drink in La Cucina Italiana magazine: "The house specialty at the legendary Bar Basso in Milan translates as "wrong" or "mistaken" Negroni-a fitting name for a cocktail born from a happy mistake. When making a Negroni, a misplaced bottle of spumante was grabbed by accident. An instant hit, the drink became the bar's signature."

FAQ

Did you make this and love it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below:)

I would LOVE IT if you can leave me a star rating and a review down below and let me know your thoughts! It means the world to me to hear how you liked it.

Please Subscribe and give a follow on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok xx

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

Negroni Sbagliato (Negroni with Prosecco)

A Negroni Sbagliato is a classic Italian cocktail made with Prosecco! It's festive for the holidays, but you can enjoy this Italian drink any time of the year. 

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: cocktails, drinks

Servings: 1

Author: Lora

Ingredients

• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce Martini and Rossi sweet vermouth
• 1 ounce dry Spumante or Prosecco
• Orange slice for garnish

Instructions

• Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add Campari, vermouth and Spumante, in that order. Gently stir and garnish with orange slice.

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.

Notes

*I adjusted this recipe a bit. More Campari. A little extra Spumante. That was just to our taste. You can adjust it to your taste.

Tried this recipe?Mention @savoringitaly or tag #savoringitaly!