Dr. Jaglas San Limello Spritz. Alcohol-free lemon spritz made with San Limello and dealcoholized Sparkling Riesling – pre-mixed in a 750 ml bottle.

Dr. Jaglas San Limello Spritz is a ready-to-drink alcohol-free aperitif from Berlin: half dealcoholized Sparkling Riesling from the VDP winery Leitz in the Rheingau, combined with lemon and lime juice, sugar, natural flavors, and carbonation, 0.0% vol, 750 ml. No mixing, no measuring, no need to have tonic on hand – chill, open, pour.

San Limello Spritz by Dr. Jaglas is the bottle sitting in ice water next to the grill in summer. The guests arrive, half of them are driving later, and instead of a round of lemonade, they get a wine glass with ice and a yellow, sparkling spritz that tastes of lemon and Riesling. Someone asks what it is. The answer: the Limello from Berlin, with a sparkling wine from the Rheingau from which the alcohol has been removed. The rest of the evening goes just like it would with a Limoncello Spritz – except that everyone can drive home at the end.

Lemon and lime up front, Riesling behind, dry on the finish

The Limello Spritz tastes first of lemon and lime, fresh and tart, then the acidity of the Riesling takes over and keeps the drink lean. The sweetness remains in the background – 7.9 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, significantly less than in a lemon soda. The finish features a subtle bitterness from the tonic aroma that is part of the recipe, and the carbonation is as delicate as in a sparkling wine.

The color is a light yellow, paler than the pure Limello because the wine makes up half the bottle. The herbs of the Limello – ginger, thyme, honey, chili – are quieter here than in the 500 ml bottle; the spritz is the light version. Those who want the full herbal distillate and their own dosage should choose the San Limello and mix it with tonic or alcohol-free sparkling wine.

Cold in a wine glass, on ice, with a slice of lemon

Dr. Jaglas recommends the spritz well chilled in a wine glass with ice cubes – a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint are a nice touch, but nothing else is needed. 750 ml yields four to five glasses. As a base for a punch, it works well with lemon slices, mint, and berries in a pitcher; a splash of tonic stretches it for a larger group.

It pairs well with light dishes: grilled fish, shrimp, a salad with goat cheese, melon with ham, or a plate of antipasti. Before a fish dinner, it is the aperitif that primes the palate for lemon. And for those who prefer something tart and red, the Hibiscus Spritz is the counterpart from the same series.

Our tip: A glass with two ice cubes and three raspberries – the berries give the spritz a delicate pink hue, and the lemon gets a second fruit to accompany it. Once opened, store chilled with a sparkling wine stopper and finish the next day.

Christina Jagla and Johannes Leitz: Lemon from Berlin, Riesling from the Rheingau

Dr. Jaglas is a Berlin-based manufactory located at Choriner Straße 40, originating from a family of pharmacists who have used monastic recipes, classic compendiums, and herbal lore for decades to create high-proof and alcohol-free herbal specialties. San Limello is Christina Jagla’s alcohol-free answer to Limoncello – featuring a lemon infusion and an herbal distillate based on the house’s pharmacy tradition.

For the spritz, she brought winemaker Johannes Leitz on board, whose VDP winery in the Rheingau is known for alcohol-free wine and sparkling wine. His dealcoholized Sparkling Riesling makes up half of the bottle and contributes the acidity and perlage that turn the Limello from an aperitif concentrate into a finished drink. Two houses, two regions, one bottle.

The spritz for summer parties, weddings, and tables with designated drivers

The Limello Spritz is the bottle for occasions where many people are holding a glass and some of them are driving: weddings, garden birthdays, baptisms, summer association parties. As a gift, it is a great choice for Italy lovers and anyone living alcohol-free who wants something other than juice in their glass when making a toast. All the manufactory's aperitifs and elixirs can be found on our Dr. Jaglas page.

The spritz is not suitable for those expecting a sweet, syrupy drink – it is dry, tart, and light, closer to a Riesling than to a soda.

Limello and dealcoholized Riesling, pre-mixed – the alcohol-free lemon spritz from Berlin for the summer evening when everyone is driving home.