How many restaurants become famous because of a simple cocktail? Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy is one of them. The Peach Bellini recipe is simple: white peach puree, Prosecco and a bit of raspberry or cherry juice for that signature pink glow.
Peach Bellini Cocktails
In 1931, Giuseppe Cipriani opened Harry's Bar in a stone building along a canal near Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. Sometime between 1934 and 1948 he created a cocktail with a distinct pink color that reminded him of the hue of a saint's toga in a painting by Venetian artist, Giovanni Bellini. Thus the name: Peach Bellini.
I've tried many a Peach Bellini Recipe to come up with my favorite (work, work, work 😉 ), and this is it! Many modern versions of the Bellini leave out the raspberry or cherry juice, replacing it with lemon juice and sugar. But I love that classic pink blush! So I skip the lemon juice and sugar and add a few fresh raspberries instead. It's easy to puree them along with the peaches - they add a pop of color and just the right amount of sweetness.
Prosecco, from Italy's Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions, is the sparkling wine of choice for Peach Bellinis (and for the Campari Spritz). There's no need to splurge on an expensive variety, but do choose one that's tasty enough to drink on its own.
White peaches can be a challenge to find. Keep an eye out for them, but know that yellow peaches work well too. The key is that the peaches are sweet and ripe when you're ready to make cocktails. I like to buy hard peaches a few days in advance and let them ripen on a windowsill. Unripe peaches are sturdier in transit and less likely to be bruised.
Tips on Managing Foam
It's easy to pour or stir Peach Bellini cocktails too fast, causing the Prosecco to foam over the top. Here are a few tips for controlling the bubbles:
- Make sure that everything is cold: fruit puree, Prosecco, and, ideally, your flute glasses.
- Open your Prosecco 10 to 15 minutes before you plan to pour the cocktails, keeping it refrigerated. This will reduce the foam, but still leave plenty of carbonation.
- If you're making several Peach Bellinis at once, combine measured amounts of the fruit puree and Prosecco in a glass wine carafe and gently stir. Fill the glasses in a few small pours to maintain the consistency of each cocktail.
More Craft Cocktail Recipes to Try!
- French 75 Cocktail (A super refreshing champagne cocktail!)
- The Last Word Cocktail (Made with herbaceous Chartreuse liqueur!)
- Rhubarb Cocktail (With a rosemary infused simple syrup!)
- Boulevardier Cocktail (Think of a Negroni, but with whiskey instead of gin!)
- Campari Spritz (Another favorite that we discovered in Venice, Italy! Can be made with Aperol instead of Campari.)
How to Make A Peach Bellini
Step 1: Combine diced and peeled raw peaches with fresh raspberries and water in a blender pitcher; Blend until smooth. Strain puree through a fine sieve.
Step 2: Pour 2 ounces peach and raspberry puree into a flute glass, top with a little Prosecco. Stir gently. Top off with more Prosecco. Serve.
Peach Bellini Recipe Video
Peach Bellini Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ripe peach peeled and diced
- 8 fresh raspberries
- ½ cup water
- 1 bottle chilled prosecco
Instructions
- Combine diced peach, raspberries and water in a blender pitcher; blend until smooth. Pour puree into a measuring pitcher through a fine sieve to remove seeds. Use a rubber spatula to help the puree move through the sieve. (If possible, cover and chill for an hour or more before assembling cocktails.)
- Pour ~1 ½ ounces of fruit puree into a flute glass; top with a little Prosecco and gently stir. Once foam has subsided top off with more Prosecco. Serve.
Notes
- Note that foam can be an issue when making these cocktails. Starting with cold ingredients is helpful. If possible, make your fruit puree and chill for hour or more before making cocktails. Opening your Prosecco (but keeping it in the refrigerator) 10 to 15 minutes beforehand also reduces foam.
- The Peach Bellini is on the International Bartenders Association's list of "official cocktails". Cheers to that! They recommend a ratio of 1:2, peach puree to Prosecco. My preference is a little less puree - about 1 ½ ounces to 4 ounces of Prosecco. Try it both ways and adjust to suit your taste! 🙂
Delicious
Thank Gary!
In the winter, have you used frozen or canned peaches in their own juice?
Thanks!
Hi Sjb! I haven't used canned, but frozen peaches work great here! Just swap in ~3/4 cup of diced, frozen peaches to replace 1 whole peach.
The recipe is easy and very adjustable. Loved it. Thanks
So glad you're enjoying the recipe, Janice. Cheers!
Can I freeze the puree a week ahead?
Absolutely, Ann! I like to freeze it in ice cube trays and thaw in the refrigerator the night before I plan to use it.
CanI make peach purée the day before and just refrigerate it until the next day?
Hi, Barbara! Yes, absolutely. You can make it up to 3 days in advance. I'd recommend stirring it before making cocktails. Hope that helps!
That video is too cute!! Also, how delicious are these? I see these with weekend brunch real soon! Cheers, my friend 🙂
aww, thanks so much, Dawn! Cheers!
I know these would be perfect for a weekend brunch, but my Monday morning could really use one! They look refreshing and delicious Marissa!
ha! Mondays can be like that!! Thank you, Leanne!
What a fabulous looking cocktail, enjoy it for me!
Thanks, my friend!
I could use a glass right now of that peach bellini. Btw, lovely tip on the foam. Much needed to make it look extra pretty.
Thank you, Kankana!
I've never been to Italy, but I am definitely a huge fan of the Peach Bellini!!! Such a gorgeous and delicious cocktail! It's only 9 AM, but I'm already wanting to make one of these beauties!!! Cheers!
Thank you, Cheyanne! Cheers!
When I was last in Venice, Italy, I was too young to be drinking. Clearly it's time to go back! This is a beautiful drink and I will definitely put Harry's on my "must go to" list for Italy. Cocktails with prosecco are up my alley. ~Valentina
Thank you, Valentina! I'm with you - love that bit of bubbly in cocktails.
I've stood in front of Harry's Bar...several times in fact. However, we've never actually gone in there for a drink. Maybe next time! With that said, though, we certainly have enjoyed our share of bellinis (and Aperol Spritzes!). I've never tried making one at home, though. Excellent tip on the raspberries!
Thanks, David! Yes, the raspberries give it that little bit of pink glow!
how delightful and refreshing does this sound! yum Must try in summer. cheers sherry
Thanks so much, Sherry. Cheers!
A perfect drink for the summer time!
Thanks, Angie! Yes! All about fresh peaches this time of year.
This looks wonderful, refreshing and perfect for a warm summer night.
Thanks so much, Gerlinde!
I wish I was there for the taste testing Marissa! I know I'd love this cocktail! Cheers!
I wish you were too, Mary Ann! Thanks, my friend!
It takes a lot of work to come up with our favorite Peach Bellini, but someone's got to do it! 😉 This looks fabulous, my friend!!
ha! work, work, work... 😉 Thank you, Annie!
Great cocktail, thanks for the reminder and the recipe!! Making them for tonight! Ingredients fool-proof, preparation shows thought! Cheers!
Fantastic! Thanks, Frank!