• by Danielle Oster , May 29, 2024

Riboli Family Wines -- which includes Stella Rosa Wines, which it claims is the number one imported Italian wine in the country -- is investing in “the summer of the Spritz” with the launch of its new RTD spritz brand, Spritz Del Conte.

 In a release announcing the news, Riboli described the brand as “an Aperitivo-style, ready-to-serve Italian Spritz featuring a blend of aromatic herbs and bubbly white wine with notes of orange and a touch of bitterness,” which is ready to drink without any additional mixers. Serving guidelines suggest simply serving over ice with an orange garnish.

Launching at retailers nationally, Spritz Del Conte debuts with both an 8.5% ABV Classico variety, and a 0.5% ABV Nonalcoholic option. It’s being sold in 750ml bottles for $14.99.

 The move sees the brand entering both the popular spritz category, and the growing low ABV/nonalcoholic sector.

According to data from the IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the global no/low-alcohol volume category grew by 5% in volume last year, and is now worth around $13 billion. Spritzes, specifically, are also having something of a moment. According to research agency CGA by NIQ, the drink has been “the biggest winner” over the course of the past 12 months and eclipsed popular favorites like the Espresso Martini to become the seventh most popular cocktail.

The RTD launch, of course, arrives ahead of the summer season commonly associated with the drink. It also follows on the heels of a similar entry into the category. Earlier this month, distilled spirits company Sazerac introduced its own RTD spritz brand line, launching The Spritz across three varieties: Traditional, Limone, and Hugo.

While it appears the Sazerac line was first to market --  with a limited launch largely focused on the midwest region -- Riboli’s Spritz Del Conte’s national launch arrives ahead of The Spritz being available nationally this September, according to a Sazerac release announcing news of the launch.