Bellini

As the 1920s were coming to a close, Giuseppe Cipriani was a young and popular bartender at Venice’s Hotel Europa. One of his regulars — a wealthy American named Harry Pickering — was unexpectedly cut off from his fortune and stranded in Italy. Giuseppe lent him 10,000 lire to get home, never expecting what would come next. Harry returned to Venice not long after to repay his debt, fourfold. Enough startup capital for Giuseppe to finally open his very own bar. Which, of course, he did in 1931, naming it “Harry’s Bar.” Renowned for his distinctive hospitality and refined, elegant style, Mr. Cipriani transformed Harry’s into a favorite gathering spot for connoisseurs of the arts — literature, art, and drama. It was, and still is, a place to see and be seen. And then, in 1948, he created his famous Cipriani Bellini recipe ... World War II was finally over and like so many, Mr. Cipriani was eager to celebrate peace. Meanwhile, that summer, Venice hosted an exhibition of the great Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini inside the Palazzo Ducale. Giuseppe had always admired the glowing pink hues Bellini favorited in his works — and was inspired to create a cocktail that mimicked its warmth. Using fresh purée from his favorite white Mediterranean peaches as a base, Giuseppe added the lively bubbles of Italy’s signature sparkling wine, Prosecco. An instant classic was born — a simple symbol of freedom, Italian art, and hospitality. He called it the Bellini.

Once picked, the peaches are unloaded directly into a bed of water to give them an initial wash and move them gently, without bruising. Then, they are repeatedly washed and receive a manual inspection to remove any leaves and unripe or damaged fruit. The skins and stones are removed by a passer working in cold conditions within a vacuum to preserve the peaches’ natural characteristics. After a gentle pressing, the peach purée undergoes a pasteurization heat treatment, which protects its freshness and flavor without the need for preservatives.

Brimming with intense aromas of juicy white peach. There’s a gorgeous balance between luscious, peachy sweetness and zippy acidity with lively bubbles dancing across the palate.