What Is a Negroni Sbagliato? How to Make the Viral Cocktail and Why *Everyone* Is Talking About It

The days of the Dirty Shirley are over (well, at least until next summer). Cocktail lovers are currently obsessed with something far more refined and fancy-sounding that might be tricky to order at your local Applebee’s. Introducing the negroni sbagliato, the classic negroni’s cool, bubbly cousin. The TLDR? A negroni sbagliato is identical to its predecessor, only it’s made with prosecco or another sparkling white wine instead of gin. It’s been around for decades, so why is everyone talking about it now? Read on for all the details on the trending cocktail, plus an easy recipe to follow at home so you can see what all the fuss is about.

You’re familiar with a standard negroni, which is a classic Italian libation made with gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. Traditionally, it’s served on the rocks with an orange twist, which drives home the citrusy flavor of the Campari. The negroni sbagliato (sbagliato means “wrong” or “mistaken” in Italian) substitutes sparkling white wine for gin. Not only does the prosecco make the drink lighter and effervescent, but it also curbs the O.G.’s intense bitterness and sweetness.

This drink trend took off once HBO released an interview between Olivia Cooke and Emma D’Arcy, who play Queen Alicent Hightower and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively, on House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones. Cooke asks D’Arcy their drink of choice and they answer, “A negroni. Sbagliato. With prosecco in it.” (Cooke is partial to a gin martini with a twist, in case you’re wondering.)

We don’t know if it’s the ingenious cocktail itself or D’Arcy’s hypnotizingly sultry delivery (OK, it’s mostly the latter…and Cooke’s equally endearing response, “oh, stunning!”), but this clip broke the internet. Now, bartenders everywhere are likely being tasked with making this underrated cocktail. In case you don’t want to be one of those patrons…

…here’s how to make one at home. (However, if you *do* want to order it at a bar, you can simply ask for a “negroni sbagliato” instead of a “negroni sbagliato with prosecco”—the sparkling wine is already implied.)

A standard negroni is made with three ingredients that are poured in equal parts. You can stick to that ratio when making a negroni sbagliato, or you can go heavier on the prosecco since it’s less boozy than gin.

According to Julie Myers of Food52, you don’t need to splurge on an expensive bottle of sparkling wine to make a tasty sbagliato, since the sharp Campari and vermouth will overpower it anyway—but you shouldn’t buy the cheapest bottle of prosecco you can find either. (You’ll have plenty leftover, after all.) Even better, you don’t need to shake or muddle anything to prepare the cocktail; all you do is pour everything over ice and stir, so it’s a breeze to prepare for yourself or a crowd. Read on for the easy recipe.

Ingredients

• Ice (either regular cubes or one large ice cube)
• 1 to 1½ ounces Campari
• 1 to 1½ ounces sweet vermouth
• 1 to 1½ ounces (or more) prosecco
• Orange twist or wheel, for garnish

Directions

Step 1: Fill a rocks or Old Fashioned glass with ice. Pour in the Campari and vermouth, then stir with a bar spoon.

Step 2: Add the prosecco, either measured or to the top. Garnish with an orange twist or wheel and serve immediately.

_{Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.}