Bellini Cocktail With a Twist

I’m not a big cocktail drinker – give me a lovely glass of red wine and I’m perfectly content. That was before I discovered a Bellini cocktail at the famous Harry’s Bar, in Venice Italy, where it is said to have originated. The traditional Bellini is made with peach puree and prosecco, a sparkling wine often referred to as Italy’s version of champagne. Prosecco is actually quite different from champagne. It is made with different grapes and a different winemaking method.

Prosecco also comes in three different styles, brut, extra dry and dry. The most popular is the brut-style and while that is considered very dry, don’t be put off by that fact as the grapes used in making it give off a fruity flavor, making it seem sweeter than the label implies. For this cocktail I would recommend using the brut-style of prosecco and look for the DOC or DOCG label on the spine of the bottle. It is an indication of quality and that it comes from the proper Italian region.

So why make a Bellini? If you’re looking for something different than a mimosa and a drink that has a wow-factor for your next party – perhaps a New Year’s celebration – you won’t be disappointed with this easy cocktail. While we’ve provided the traditional peach recipe, we’ve also added two additional flavors for a twist. They are ones that will match the different taste palettes of your guests but also make for a beautiful drink display.

For the peach Bellini, we recommend using fresh peaches. Fresh is always best. For tips on preparing the peaches, check out our How to Cut Peaches video, which features the 4" Paring Knife. That said, fresh peaches aren’t always available so you do have the option of using frozen fruit in this recipe.

Our twist on the traditional includes a variation that features strawberries. We hulled them and cut them in half with the Santoku-Style 3" Paring Knife.

Again, you have the option to use frozen strawberries, but this fruit tends to be more readily available throughout the year so I would encourage you to use fresh. Once you’ve pureed the strawberries, you’ll want to strain the puree through a fine-meshed strainer. This will remove all of the seeds, making the drink very smooth. We recommend straining all of the fruit purees to ensure you have the smoothest drink possible.

Our final twist, and perhaps the most surprising, is a grapefruit Bellini. This version is so refreshing, we were amazed at the blend of tart and sweet. You can learn how to section a grapefruit by checking out our How to Section Grapefruit With a Knife tutorial. We recommend using the 4" Gourmet Paring Knife for this process. It really makes the prep super easy.

If you want a shortcut, you can use jarred grapefruit segments. Just make sure they are not in syrup and there is no additional sugar added. You want the pure tartness of the grapefruit to come through, otherwise this drink will be too sweet.

All of the purees can be made the day before your party so all you have to worry about is making sure you have enough prosecco on hand. This Bellini Cocktail With a Twist is a show-stopper. It complements appetizers quite well and can make the perfect toasting drink for your next New Year’s celebration. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute sparkling juice or seltzer in place of the prosecco.

Our favorite version? Hard to say. The original peach Bellini has stood the test of time for a reason. It’s delicious. The strawberry Bellini produced a nice color and a softer taste with the use of the berries. The surprise was how much we all enjoyed the grapefruit Bellini. Tart and sweet and perfectly refreshing. We hope you enjoy our Bellini Cocktail With a Twist. Cheers!