The origins are unknown , however, between the Venetian population is said that a not inconsiderable part in the spread of the Spritz have had the soldiers of the Austrian Empire stationed in what was once the Republic of Venice, which, to dilute the high alcohol content of wines from Veneto, they would be stretched with sparkling water; hence the origin of the name to derive from the verb spritzen Austrian German , which means "spray", the gesture just to stretch your wine with sparkling water.