We weren’t the first to sip Bellini cocktails in Venice and we won’t be the last. People have been sipping the peach and Prosecco spritz since 1948. That’s the year that Giuseppe Cipriani concocted the sparkling white wine cocktail at Harry’s Bar with a simple recipe – two parts Prosecco and one part white peach purée.
It didn’t take long for the Bellini to become famous throughout Italy and beyond. While it’s still served at the original Harry’s Bar in Venice as well as at Cipriani locations around the world, the Bellini isn’t limited to those spots. It’s easy to find the peachy cocktail on menus at most bars as well as at many restaurants that serve brunch.
Fun Fact
Harry’s Bar also gets credit for serving the original version of beef carpaccio.
You may be wondering why Cipriani called his inspired recipe a Bellini instead of a Cipriani or even a Harry. Apparently, he got his inspiration from another Venetian – the artist Giovanni Bellini. Bellini’s San Zaccaria Altarpiece features an angel playing a violin wearing a rich peach/pink robe. Once you see the striking painting, you’ll understand Cipriani’s inspiration.
If you’ve been to Venice, you’ve probably walked by Harry’s Bar. The bar’s location, about a block from Piazza San Marco, makes it difficult to miss. Open since 1931, it’s located next to the Hotel Monaco, right by the Grand Canal.
And, if you’re like us, you channeled legends, past and present, including Humphrey Bogart, George Clooney, Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles by simply walking inside the bar’s art deco space.
