Mondino Organic Aperitivo Senza. Alcohol-free organic aperitivo from the Chiemgau region with Alpine herbs, citrus, and dark berries – tart and fresh for Spritz and Tonic.

Mondino Organic Aperitivo Senza is an alcohol-free organic aperitivo from Traunstein in the Chiemgau: extracts of Alpine herbs, spices, and fruits, citrus notes, and berry juices in Bavarian water, balanced with beet sugar, alcohol-free, 675 ml. No syrup, no fruit juice, no alcohol – a bitter aperitivo that becomes a Spritz with tonic or non-alcoholic prosecco.

Organic Aperitivo Senza by Mondino is the alcohol-free answer to the Amaro from the same distillery. Senza means "without" in Italian, and it refers to the alcohol. The concept remains the same: a tart aperitivo in the Italian Amaro tradition that fills the hour before a meal. Instead of alcohol, water carries the flavor here, accompanied by herbal, spice, and fruit extracts, cranberry, lemon, and elderberry juices, and beet sugar for balance. The Wednesday evening when you have to get up early the next morning. The guest who still has to drive. The Sunday brunch with children at the table. In all these moments, a red glass with ice sits on the table, tasting tart and looking like something – and the next morning, there are no ill effects to be felt.

Tart, citrus-fresh, herbal-spicy – with dark berries in the background

Senza tastes initially tart from herbs and citrus, then dark berries emerge, and the finish remains dry and fruity-tart. The manufacturer describes it in five words: tart, fresh, citrus-fruity, herbal-spicy, light.

The Alpine herbs provide the spice and bitterness that distinguish an aperitivo from a soda. The citrus notes provide freshness, and the cranberry and elderberry juices, together with a blackcurrant note, give the glass its dark fruit side and deep red color. Compared to the Amaro Bavarese Rosso, the bitter aperitivo with 18% vol from the same distillery, Senza seems fruitier and somewhat softer because the alcohol—a carrier of bitter substances—is missing. It remains tart nonetheless, even with tonic in the glass.

It is sweetened with organic beet sugar, which is stated on the label and is part of its composition. Diluted in a long drink with tonic or non-alcoholic prosecco, the drink remains tart rather than sweet. For beverages like this, alcohol-free means under 0.5% vol, as stipulated by labeling regulations.

Senza Spritz, Senza Tonic, or neat on ice – all Mondino recipes also work alcohol-free

Senza is intended as a base for Spritz and tonic long drinks, and according to the manufacturer, every Mondino recipe can be mixed with it alcohol-free. It also works neat on ice, where you can taste the herbs and berries undiluted.

For a Senza Spritz, fill a wine glass with ice, add 3 to 4 cl of Senza, top with 10 cl of non-alcoholic prosecco, and finish with 3 to 4 cl of tonic water, plus a lemon zest. The Senza Tonic is even quicker to make: 5 cl of Senza on ice, top with tonic water, add a grapefruit or lemon zest to the glass. Anyone wanting to make the German Negroni from the Mondino recipe collection alcohol-free simply replaces the aperitivo with Senza. With 5 cl per glass, the bottle is enough for a good dozen tonics.

Olives, salted almonds, and a board of hard cheese go well with it, just like for an aperitivo in Italy. Before a meal, Senza takes on the role usually filled by a bitter with alcohol, just lighter. Once opened, the bottle belongs in the refrigerator and, according to the manufacturer, should be consumed within 14 days.

Our tip: For a pitcher of Senza Spritz for four guests, add ice, 15 cl of Senza, 40 cl of non-alcoholic prosecco, and 15 cl of tonic to a carafe, serve with lemon slices and a sprig of rosemary – then you can join the party instead of mixing at the counter.

From the Schnitzer distillery in the Chiemgau – the Amaro concept, reimagined alcohol-free

Mondino comes from the Schnitzer distillery in Kaltenbach near Traunstein, a family distillery in the Chiemgau that has been in existence for over 100 years according to the manufacturer. The fact that a distillery produces an alcohol-free aperitivo has to do with its history.

Master distiller Hans learned his craft in Italy in the 1960s and brought the recipe for an Amaro back to the Chiemgau. His grandson Max revived it with his friends Ferdinand, Florian, and Benedikt: consistently organic, with regional ingredients and little sugar. This became the Mondino Aperitivo, and with Senza, the distillery transferred the same idea to a bottle that can be opened before driving home or on a weekday. According to the manufacturer, the recipe is based on the Italian Amaro tradition, just alcohol-free.

Senza is produced by hand in Bavaria. The herbs and fruits are certified organic and, if possible, come from the region; the organic inspection body is DE-ÖKO-007. According to the manufacturer, no artificial flavors or additives are used in any Mondino bottles. At 675 ml, the bottle is slightly smaller than those of its alcoholic siblings, and the label reflects the contents accordingly.

For guests who are driving, for weekday evenings, and for anyone who likes an aperitivo

Senza is the bottle for anyone who loves the aperitivo ritual and wants to leave out the alcohol. Finishing work on a Tuesday, friends who have to drive, a colleague currently abstaining from alcohol, brunch with children at the table – everywhere there sits a red glass that tastes of herbs and berries instead of soda. As a gift, it is a perfect contribution for people who live alcohol-free but still enjoy toasting, and for hosts who think of everyone when serving a Spritz.

Those who want to have both versions on the table should place the Amaro Bavarese Rosso next to it and mix two pitchers using the same recipe. You can find all Mondino bottles on our Mondino page, and other alcohol-free aperitifs in the category alcohol-free spirits. Senza is not suitable for those expecting a sweet fruit soda – it remains tart, even with tonic and lemon. And it is not suitable as a stock bottle for an occasional glass: once opened, it belongs in the refrigerator and should be consumed within two weeks.

Alpine herbs, citrus, and dark berries – the alcohol-free organic aperitivo from the Chiemgau for a weekday Spritz and a tonic for guests who are still driving.