Bellini Cocktail: the Recipe for the Fruity, Sweet and Fresh Drink Ready in Just a Few Minutes!

The Bellini Cocktail is an ideal long drink for the spring and summer that is part of the sparkling cocktail family, i.e. those made with fresh fruit and sparkling wine or Champagne. It is prepared with seasonal white peaches mixed with brut sparkling wine or prosecco. A refined and delicious Italian cocktail: the structure and freshness of the sparkling wine combine perfectly with the aroma and scent of the peaches. Regarding the doses, the ratio of the ingredients is 1 to 2: the sparkling wine must be present in double the quantity compared to the peach nectar. This is especially important if you need to prepare jugs of cocktails for spring or summer parties.

Bellini Cocktail's History and Origins

The Bellini Cocktail was created in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, in the famous Harry's Bar in Venice. The long drink was prepared in honor of the painter Giovanni Bellini, on the occasion of an exhibition of his. It is said that the pink color of the cocktail was inspired by the color of the tunic of a saint portrayed by Bellini: originally, in fact, the drink was prepared with Champagne, white peach nectar and a little raspberry puree which gave the cocktail a pink color. Bellini then became famous, not only thanks to its fruity and sweet flavor, but also thanks to the artists who frequented Harry's Bar and who spread its knowledge around the world.

Tips to Make the Best Bellini Cocktail

• To prepare the Bellini Cocktail, use well-ripe white peaches, which you can find fresh from June to August. These are juicy peaches with a delicate flavor, furthermore the skin has streaks ranging from white to pink. This cocktail should only be prepared with this type of peach, as the others are more fibrous and less sweet.
• You can also use a spoon to crush the peaches and extract the nectar; in this case you'll have to peel them as well, after washing and cutting them.
• Avoid using industrial peach juice to prepare the Bellini Cocktail, and at most use artisanal peach nectar.
• To prepare a Bellini Royal Cocktail you can replace the prosecco with Champagne.
• If you want to prepare a non-alcoholic version, you can replace the sparkling wine with soda.

Can I Make This Drink Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can prepare one half of the drink ahead of time: prepare the peach puree up to a day in advance and store it in the fridge, inside of an airtight container until you're ready to assemble the drink. Prosecco needs to be added when you're ready to serve your drink, otherwise it might lose its fizz and the bubbles.

Can I Use Frozen Peaches Instead of Fresh Ones?

Yes, you can use frozen peaches in your drink, but you have to make sure they're fully thawed before crushing or blending them, otherwise they won't blend smoothly. Leave them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or at room temperature for 3-4 hours.

Is Bellini Cocktail the Same Thing as a Mimosa?

While both drinks are a part of the aforementioned sparkling cocktail family, their ingredients and preparations are very distinct. The Bellini Cocktail is made with peach puree and Prosecco, and has a distinct sweet flavor. The Mimosa Cocktail, instead, is made with orange juice and champagne, and is the undisputed king of brunches all around the world. Both are, however, beloved cocktails for parties and gatherings with friends and family.

What is The Best Type of Prosecco for Bellini Cocktail?

The best type of Prosecco to use is a dry or an extra-dry variety, like the Brut sparkling wine we use in this recipe: this type of Prosecco acts as a balance with the sweetness of the peach purée, making sure that the flavors are well-rounded and aren't overly too sugary.

More Spring and Summer Cocktails You're Going to Love

Strawberry Spritz

Pina Colada

Strawberry Pina Colada

Classic Mimosa Cocktail

How to Store Bellini Cocktail

The Bellini Cocktail should be consumed immediately after mixed and served, to preserve its fizzy quality. Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to a few hours, but be aware that the drink will lose its bubbly quality, as the Prosecco will lose carbonation.

How to Prepare Bellini Cocktail

Start by cutting the peach into wedges, and don't remove the peel. Put all the peach wedges into a blender glass and blend with a hand mixer. Keep mixing until you obtain a peach purée.

Once you've obtained your purée, filter it through a strainer and into a shaker or a mixing glass for cocktails. Open the very cold brut sparkling wine (or extra-dry Prosecco).

Mix the ingredients with a cocktail stirrer until they're well blended together, and strain the cocktail as you pour it into the flute.

Garnish with a fresh peach slice and enjoy!