Wilderton Aperitivo Co. Declares Spritz Season To Be Anytime Of The Year
|As 2024 came to a close, Wilderton, the Hood River, Oregon based non-alcoholic distillery and tasting room, reintroduced itself as Wilderton Aperitivo Co. This rebranding arrived with new packaging and a focus on the spritz and aperitivo culture, the fastest-growing cocktail trend in America.
During the summer of 2023, Wilderton opened the first non-alc distillery and tasting room in America. At that time it was offering three different non-alcoholic bottes – Lustre, Bittersweet Apertivo, and Earthen.
Now a year and a half later, the team is now known as Wilderton Aperitivo Co. and offers up two bottles – Bittersweet and Citrus. Both bottles are in new 750mL bottles and are accompanied with new, vibrant labels that bring forth a more appealing look!
With these two varieties, Wilderton Aperitivo Co. has set its sights on marketing the spritz culture. Originating in Italy, the spritz culture celebrates light, refreshing drinks that enhance social occasions, reflecting a trend towards mindful drinking with non-alcoholic or low-ABV options. With the spritz now ranked the #1 fastest-growing cocktail in the U.S. and the #7 most popular cocktail overall, Wilderton is now joining this movement with its Bittersweet and Citrus bottles.
The recent rebranding sees the debut of Citrus Aperitivo, a bright and lush flavorful newcomer joining the beloved Bittersweet Aperitivo for a sweeter side of non-alcoholic spritzing. Each variety is made by hand in Oregon from a blend of lemon, blood orange and raw botanicals sourced from six continents. The flavor profiles an intense and eerily similar to full strength bottles.
Both bottles arrive with fairly low calories. Citrus Aperitivo comes in at 40 calories, 10 grams of carbs and 9 grams of sugar while Bittersweet Aperitivo contains 30 calories, 8 grams of carbs and 8 grams of sugar. A serving size is 1.5 ounces. Plus, each bottle is gluten free, vegan, and caffeine free.
Bittersweet and Citrus both make for some fine tasting non-alcoholic cocktails or mocktails that are full of flavor and reminiscent of the real thing. You can find a slew of recipes at wildertonaperitivo.co. Here are a few that we created and enjoyed!
WILDERTON APERITIVO COCKTAILS
Bittersweet Spritz
Glassware: Stemless Wine Glass
Garnish: Orange Slice
2 oz Bittersweet Aperitivo
3 oz Club Soda
Add Bittersweet Aperitivo to a stemless wine glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and stir gently. Garnish with an orange slice.
Winter Spritz
Glassware: Flute
Garnish: Kumquats + Rosemary Sprig on a pick
1.5 oz Citrus Aperitivo
.75 oz 100% Cranberry Juice
.25 oz Meyer Lemon Syrup (or .25 simple+.25 lemon juice)
3 oz non-alcoholic sparkling wine (recommend Joyus)
Add all ingredients to the flute, except wine, with 1-2 ice cubes. Stir 3x to integrate. Finish with sparkling wine. Garnish with rosemary sprig and kumquats on a pick.
“Wilderton has always been guided by the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest— a region synonymous with exploring uncharted territory and paving a new way forward,” stated Brad Whiting, CEO and Co-Founder of Wilderton. “Much like the non-alc industry at large, we’re creating new options for consumers that didn’t exist five years ago. This launch isn’t just about introducing a new look; it’s a testament to our vision of elevating non-alc beverages with the complexity and care they deserve. We’re reshaping spritz culture and setting a new standard for how people experience mindful drinking.”
Wilderton Aperitivo Co. is bridging two megatrends in the beverage space: the explosive growth of non-alc beverages and the spritz revolution. With 81% of consumers who enjoy alcoholic spritzes saying they’re open to trying a non-alc version, Wilderton is positioned to recruit fans of the classic spritz and offer them something just as exciting but without alcohol or guilt.
“We’ve always been about exploring botanicals in unexpected ways, reimagining tradition rather than discarding it. Aperitivos give us the perfect playground to build something both familiar and fresh.” shares Seth O’Malley, Founding Distiller and lifelong aperitivo aficionado. “Our drinks don’t just replace alcohol—they deliver an experience that’s rich, vibrant, and layered, perfect for any cocktail that lets botanicals shine.”
Launching at a retail price of $36.99, Wilderton Aperitivo Co.’s products will be available online and in stores, restaurants, and bars across the U.S. To learn more about Wilderton, you can check out their website at wildertonaperitivo.co or follow along on Instagram @WildertonCo.