Original Bellini Cipriani

TASTING NOTES FROM THE CURATOR

The Original Bellini Cipriani is made with the original recipe—a classic combination of white peaches and Prosecco (a classic Italian sparkling wine). It’s a lively, velvety drink, with an ABV of 5.5%. Its pink color is reminiscent of the hue white peaches take when they are ripe, and it’s filled with soft and fresh aromas. Lively and velvety on the palate, it gives fruity, sparkling sweet flavors.

PREPARATION AND PAIRINGS

The Original Bellini Cipriani is perfect for brunches! Serve it chilled, paired with savory foods to balance out the sweetness. Try it with Eggs Benedict, an omelet, or a light sandwich. You can also enjoy it for an afternoon get-together, paired with blinis with caviar, some smoked salmon, or cicchetti with anchovies.

THE BIRTH OF AN ICONIC DRINK

The Bellini is a cocktail invented by Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice, in 1948. Throughout June and September, peaches were abundant in Italy, and Cipriani himself loved the white ones particularly. So, he set out to make a drink for his bar using his favorite white peaches. It was a simple cocktail—he pureed some white peaches, and added Prosecco to it. Anyone who tried it out loved it.

The drink had a pretty pink color, which reminded Cipriani of a painting by Giovanni Bellini, a 15th century Venetian painter. So, he decided to name his concoction, the Bellini. It began as a seasonal specialty at his bar, but quickly grew in popularity both at the Venice location, and the one in New York. It became a year-round offering when they found a supplier of fresh white peach puree, who would ship to both locations.

Storage Instructions

Fine sparkling wine must be handled with care. For short-term storage (a few days to a month), you can keep your bottle upright—but away from bright or artificial light. For long-term storage, especially for vintage cuvées, you must store the bottles on their side in a wine rack or cellar to keep the cork from drying out. The ideal temperature for storage is between 7 to 10°C. Once opened, a bottle will be good for 1 to 3 days standing upright in the refrigerator.