Limoncello spritz: The cool, zesty drink for a hot Perth summer setting sales records

When life gives you lemons, make limoncello spritz.

The refreshing blend of prosecco and limoncello liqueur was the on-trend tipple at Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties and should continue to fizz throughout Perth’s hectic festival season.

Bottle shops have overflowed with demand for top brands, while TikTok users post videos of them enjoying the classic Italian beverage described as “the spritz of summer”.

Bar Love co-owner Pip Canavan is one bartender squeezing more than her fair share of lemons.

She said the limoncello spritz was a fresh and easy-drinking beverage ideal for Perth’s weather, adding that high-quality products including straight liqueurs and ready-to-pour options had been welcome additions to her venue.

Limoncello was no longer “just something your grandmother makes”, Ms Canavan joked.

By far the biggest-selling limoncello spritz is Zoncello, a wine-based product from Victorian winemakers Zonzo Estate.

Usually retailing for less than $25, the eye-catching yellow bottle has flown off shelves — many Perth bottle shops ran out during the silly season despite stocking up for the festive blitz.

Zonzo Estate owner Rod Micallef has struggled to keep up with demand since mid-2023 when he launched what he claims to be the world’s first bottled limoncello spritz.

A million bottles of Zoncello sold in its first year on the market, according to the restaurateur and winemaker turned spritz king.

“Stores that started off ordering one box and now ordering 25 boxes a week,” Mr Micallef told The West, revealing that WA is his biggest market outside of Victoria.

Big liquor chains, such as Dan Murphy, are now ordering Zoncello by the palette.

“It’s mega,” Mr Micallef said. “We did 455,000 bottles (nationally) in December.”

Zoncello is trending on social media, with more than one TikTok user claiming it “tastes like summer” and “tastes like annual leave”.

“There’s thousands of videos of how people are drinking it,” Mr Micallef said.

“There’s people freezing it and turning it into a Slurpee, people mixing it with gelato — it’s gone absolutely berserk.”

After an old Italian family friend taught Mr Micallef how to make limoncello, he started serving the digestif at his restaurant at Zonzo Estate.

When diners asked if they could take home his take on Italy’s second most popular liqueur after Campari, the seed was sown for one of the most successful launches of an alcoholic beverage in generations.

Zoncello is made by steeping hand-peeled lemon zest in alcohol for two months to make limoncello, which is then mixed with prosecco.

Mr Micallef recommends pouring it over ice and serving it with a slice of lemon or, as he puts it, simply “ice and slice”.

In August 2024, Zoncello was launched in cans and is now being sold in New Zealand.

He’s “really proud” to have the first packaged limoncello spritz on the market and the growing number of competitors has only helped to boost sales.

Local ready-to-pour cocktail brand Idle Hands was among the first to join the party, launching its Limonata Spritz in July 2024.

Idle Hands managing director and co-founder Andrew McIntyre attributed the enormous popularity of the limoncello spritz to WA’s affinity with Italian drink and food culture.

“Spritz was already a massive category with Aperol spritz,” he said.

“And people are naturally gravitating to anything Italian at the moment.”

The Mediterranean beverage suits our Mediterranean climate, Mr McIntyre added, saying that the bright, zesty flavour and lower alcohol of limoncello spritz made it an attractive alternative for drinkers.

Both Zonzo Estate and Idle Hands have released other spritzes, including peach-flavoured bellinis, but both companies expect limoncello’s popularity to roll on for at least another summer.

It’s mega. We did 455,000 bottles (nationally) in December.

“Limoncello will have its time in the sun,” Mr McIntyre said.

“I don’t think it’s going away any time soon, but people are going to start looking for other stuff too.”

Mr Micallef insisted the drink was more than a fad.

“Yes, it will have its highs and lows, like any product that’s been around for generations, but it’s up to the business to keep it in the consumer’s eye,” he said.