How Sparkling Water Goes Well With Wine

Sparkling water and wine sounds like an odd combination at first. Isn't wine already the drink you reach for when you want something a little special, and sparkling water the thing you drink instead of a special drink? As it turns out, the two work together in two completely different ways, and both are worth knowing.

Two Ways Sparkling Water Improves Your Wine

1. Mixed together, as a spritzer

Adding sparkling water directly to a glass of wine turns it into a spritzer: something lighter, more refreshing, and lower in alcohol per glass. This isn't a new idea, it's basically what an Aperol spritz or a wine cooler is built on, just without the extra syrup or sweeteners.

A splash of sparkling water softens a wine that's a bit too heavy, too sweet, or too alcoholic for the moment, without watering down the flavor the way plain water would. The bubbles also lift the aromas in the glass, so a spritzer can actually smell more vibrant than the wine on its own.

2. Sipped alongside, as a palate reset

The second way has nothing to do with mixing anything. Wine professionals and casual drinkers alike often sip plain or sparkling water between glasses (or even between sips) of wine. It rinses your palate, so the next taste of wine hits your tongue fresh instead of layered on top of the last one.

Sparkling water works a little better for this than still water, since the bubbles help lift lingering flavor and tannin off your palate more actively.

How to Make a Basic Wine Spritzer

There's no strict formula, but a good starting ratio is:

• 3 parts wine to 1 part sparkling water, if you want the wine flavor to stay front and center.
• 1 part wine to 1 part sparkling water, if you want something closer to a light, all-afternoon drink.

Pour the wine first, then top with chilled sparkling water and stir gently once, so you don't knock all the bubbles out. A wedge of citrus or a few berries dropped in is optional, but it's a nice touch.

[Other Recipe]

Wines that make great spritzers:

• Rosé (the most classic choice)
• Sauvignon Blanc or other light, crisp whites
• Light reds like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais, served chilled
• Off-dry or lightly sweet wines that feel heavy on their own

Wines to leave alone:

• Full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec, where the tannin and body are the whole point
• Any wine you'd consider a "special occasion" bottle, since the point of a spritzer is easy, casual drinking

Why Temperature Makes a Bigger Difference Than You'd Think

A spritzer only works well if both parts are properly cold. Room-temperature wine mixed with cold sparkling water tastes uneven and loses its bubbles fast, since the temperature difference makes the carbonation escape more quickly.

The same goes for the palate-cleanser method. A glass of wine that's even a few degrees too warm will taste flatter and more alcoholic, which somewhat defeats the purpose of resetting your palate in between sips.

This is really just an argument for storing and serving wine at the right temperature to begin with, whites and rosés cold, reds slightly cool rather than room temperature, so every sip (mixed or not) tastes the way it's supposed to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does adding sparkling water ruin good wine? For an expensive or complex bottle, most people would say yes, since it mutes the subtler flavors you're paying for. For an everyday, casual bottle, it's a completely normal way to stretch it into a lighter drink.

Is a wine spritzer the same as a spritz cocktail? Not quite. A spritz cocktail (like an Aperol spritz) usually includes a bitter liqueur along with wine and sparkling water. A wine spritzer is simpler: just wine and sparkling water, sometimes with a splash of citrus.

Does the brand of sparkling water matter? Mostly personal preference. Plain sparkling water keeps the wine's flavor cleanest, while flavored versions (like citrus or berry sparkling water) can complement lighter, fruitier wines.

Why does wine taste better after a sip of sparkling water? Sparkling water helps clear lingering tannin and flavor off your palate, so your next sip of wine registers more clearly instead of blending into the last one.

The Takeaway

Sparkling water and wine work together in two easy ways: mixed as a lighter, lower-alcohol spritzer, or sipped alongside as a simple palate reset between glasses. Either way, keeping both properly chilled makes the biggest difference in how good the pairing actually tastes.

A wine fridge keeps every bottle at the right temperature, whether you're pouring it straight or into a spritzer. See our wine fridge collection →