Classic Peach Bellini Recipe (with 5 Fun Twists)

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Last Updated on October 20, 2023 by Jo Fitzsimons

peach bellini glass surrounded by peaches

From fun boozy brunches to glitzy evening drinks, the classic Bellini is a versatile cocktail that can be enjoyed at any time of day. It’s light, fruity, and elegantly refreshing, without being too sweet or overbearing. And the best part? The classic peach Bellini is super simple to make at home. Below is how to make a peach Bellini, plus some fun variations (from a Strawberry Bellini to a Dark Summer Fruits Bellini) if you want to try something a little different.

What is a Bellini?

A Bellini is a sparkling wine and white peach cocktail that originated in Italy. The drink was invented in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of the legendary Harry’s Bar in Venice. Cipriani named the cocktail after fifteenth-century Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini. But some cocktail connoisseurs refer to the classic drink as the ‘Bellini Cipriani’ after its founder.

I ordered a Bellini at Harry’s Bar the first time I visited Venice. It was fun and atmospheric and the Bellini tasted great but it was overpriced and the whole experience felt like a conveyor belt with peach puree coming out of a pack and sparkling wine on tap (which isn’t technically Prosecco since it needs to be in a bottle). In short, I’ve enjoyed better Bellinis prepared at home. Including this recipe that I’ve got for you today.

Did you know Italy’s Prosecco wine region is only 1hr from Venice? Find out more about the Prosecco Region and check out our Prosecco Wine Tours here.

How to Make a Peach Bellini

Here’s the ingredients, instructions and our tips for making a classic Bellini. I have the a recipe summary below.

Ingredients

A classic Peach Bellini is made with just two ingredients:

  • Prosecco
  • Peach puree

Being such a simple cocktail, you’ll want to choose high-quality ingredients to get the best flavour. Tips below.

Steps

  • Add 1/4 cup (around 30g) of chilled peach puree to a glass
  • Pour in a small amount of Prosecco and mix with the puree
  • Top off glass with Prosecco
  • Stir gently and try not to mix out the bubbles
  • Garnish with a peach slice (optional)

Even if you’re making the peach puree in advance, don’t pour the Prosecco until just before you serve in order to preserve the bubbles.

Tips for making a Peach Bellini

Despite having just two ingredients, there is an art to making a Bellini. Here are our top tips.

How many peaches do you need?

For each bottle of Prosecco, you’ll want approximately 3 large ripe peaches or 1 pound of frozen peaches.

How to make fresh peach puree

  • Peel the peaches (boil in hot water then transfer to an ice bath to loosen skins)
  • Cut peaches in half and remove the pits
  • Blend in a food processor or blender until smooth

Making the peach puree in advance

Make the peach puree in advance and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before making the cocktail. Peach puree can be kept in the fridge for several days after it is made. Add a splash of lemon juice to help preserve the puree for longer.

Do you need to seive the peach puree?

I have a really powerful blender (by Ninja) that can turn pulp very smooth so I never seive any fruit puree. Provided you blend the peaches very well, you don’t need to waste time with a seive. Just give the peaches a few blasts if they’re still lumpy or so thick you wouldn’t want to drink them.

Freezing left over peach puree

You can also freeze any left over peach puree, great for next time. You can typically freeze it for up to 3 month. Defrost in the fridge for a few hours or overnight depending how much you froze.

Using frozen peaches

If using frozen peaches, make sure to thaw them (try running them under warm water) to room temperature before putting them in the blender.

White versus yellow peaches?

The original Bellini is made with fresh white peaches. If you can get your hands on these, this is what you want to use. And they’re what give the drink a romantic pink glow. However, they are only in season for a very short period from June to early July.

Many bartenders use yellow peaches as they are much more widely available and they make a great Bellini, so using them isn’t a problem. And, to be honest, it’s going to be easier for most of us making this cocktail at home.

Ready-made peach juice and purees

You can buy peach puree already made. It’s not a bad solution if you’re short on time but do check the ingredient list. Artificial flavours don’t taste so good and watch out for any extra added sugar as this will change the flavour of the drink. Try to avoid peach nectar or peach liqueur as these will also make the cocktail overly sweet; while peach juice is one to avoid as it’s too thin without the peach pulp.

Using canned peaches

If fresh peaches are out of season or you’re at home trying to make a cocktail from what’s in your pantry, canned peaches work too. However, processed peaches do tend to have a higher sugar content than fresh peaches, so you will end up with a slightly sweeter cocktail. Choose unsweetened canned peaches if you can.

Does a Bellini include raspberries?

Some recipes say that the pink tint of a Bellini comes from raspberries. But that’s not correct. The pink hue of a classic peach Bellini actually comes from the red coloured skin of the white peaches which are traditionally used. So, you can take it from us, the Prosecco and Venice experts – a Bellini only has peach and Prosecco in it. If you add raspberry, you might make a very nice drink, but it won’t be a classic Bellini.

Does a Bellini include simple syrup?

No. A classic Bellini has only two ingredients: peach and Prosecco. If you do like a sweeter drink, search for ultra-ripe peaches and get your sweet hit that way.

Which Prosecco should you use?

A traditional Bellini should be made with a proper Italian Prosecco rather than other sparkling wines like Champagne or Cava.

There’s a lot to know about choosing a good Italian Prosecco, but here’s a very quick summary of what to look for:

  • Check it’s actually Italian
  • Look for DOC or DOCG on the label
  • Make sure it’s at least 85% Glera grape

For a Bellini, use Brut Prosecco. Brut is less sweet than other Prosecco styles. We’ll say it again: a Bellini shouldn’t be too sweet.

Confusingly, if a bottle of Prosecco is labelled as Dry or Extra Dry, these are actually sweeter than Brut. So, check the label.

Can you make a Virgin Bellini?

It’s very easy to make a Bellini without alcohol. Just swap the Prosecco for an alcohol-free sparkling wine. Ideally, try to find an wine that has been ‘de-alcoholised’. That means it was made in the usual way then had the alcohol removed. This will give you the closest taste to a classic Bellini. Try to avoid alcohol-free wines with added sugars and grape juice, which can make the drink too sweet.

Bellini vs Mimosa

Although many people still confuse these two cocktails, they’re actually two very different drinks. Both include sparkling wine and a fruity mixer. But while a Bellini is made with Italian Prosecco and peach puree, a mimosa contains Champagne and fresh orange juice. Related: What is Prosecco?

Best glass for serving

A traditional Bellini glass is similar to a stemless champagne flute or small highball glass. But if you don’t have any of these at home, a regular Champagne flute works just as well. And I feel more elegant using these anyway.

Food to serve with a Bellini

If you’re serving Bellinis for breakfast or brunch, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs are a perfect food and wine pairing since Brut Prosecco goes very well with salty foods. Yet, the sweet lift from the peaches mean a Bellini can also pair well with Italian pastries.

Serving Bellinis as an evening drink, seek out salty canapes like cured means, Italian cheeses, nuts and antipasti.

Tip: With all that yummy peach juice, it’s easy to overindulge. If that happens, here are our guides to help you back to health: How to Ease Your Hangover in 7 Simple Steps and 15 Best Hangover Foods (and Foods to Avoid).

5 Bellini Variations

strawberry bellinis on a board with red straws

The recipe for a Peach Bellini is one that is often altered and played around with by bartenders and amateur cocktail makers alike. Below are some of our favourite alternative Bellini recipes to give you a twist on the classic.

1. Frozen Peach Bellini

The frozen Bellini is one of the simplest variations of the classic Bellini cocktail recipe. To make a frozen peach Bellini, just blend frozen peaches with Prosecco, pour into your glass, then top with a little more Prosecco and mix gently. Some people like to add a liqueur (such as peach schnapps) to a frozen Bellini too for a higher-alcohol and sweeter summer cocktail.

2. Strawberry Bellini

To make a strawberry Bellini, use the same method to make a peach Bellini but swap the fresh peaches for fresh strawberries. Don’t forget to strain the strawberries after pureeing them to remove any seeds. Any sparkling wine works well here, but many choose to add Champagne to this cocktail for the classic strawberries and Champagne pairing.

3. Bitter Bellini

The bitter Bellini is the lovechild of two of our favourite Prosecco cocktails – the Bellini and the Aperol Spritz. So if you’re a fan of both of these, give this variation a go. Simply mix together peach liqueur, Aperol, and Prosecco. A beautiful bittersweet creation you can enjoy at brunch or as a pre-dinner aperitif. You might also like our bitter Negroni Cocktail Recipe.

4. Bellini Royale

Truly the king of the Bellini variations, the Bellini Royale is made with only the most luxurious ingredients. Mix equal parts Cognac and peach brandy, then top with Prosecco or Champagne. This one is guaranteed to impress your guests.

5. Dark Summer Fruits Bellini

Inspired by the Bellini Royale, this is our own inspiration – pairing Prosecco with a blend of dark summer fruits. Whether you blend up the fruits that are going squidgy in your fridge or turn to one of the store-bought frozen dark fruit blends, this lower-sugar Bellini will refresh you on a hot summer’s day. Just follow the recipe for the strawberry Bellini, sieving the blended fruits. What dark fruits to use? Try blackberries, blackcurrants and dark cherries. If it’s too tart, consider using a sweeter Prosecco like Prosecco Extra Dry or Dry (remembering that Dry is actually sweeter than Brut with Italian wines).

Related Articles:

Glasses of bellini

Peach Bellini Cocktail

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

A simple two-ingredient cocktail made with peach puree and Italian sparkling wine.

Ingredients

  • 1 Bottle of Prosecco
  • 3 large peaches or 1 pound of frozen peaches
  • Peach slices (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Chop the peaches in half and remove the stone.
  2. Peel the peaches
  3. Blend the peeled peaches to a smooth pulp.
  4. Add ¼ of a cup (around 30g) of the blended peaches (or frozen peach puree) to a flute glass.
  5. Pour in a small amount of Prosecco and stir into the peach puree.
  6. Slowly fill the rest of the glass with Prosecco.
  7. Stir gently to combine.
  8. Garnish with a peach slice (optional).

Notes

To remove the peach skins, place the peaches in hot water then transfer to an ice bath to loosen skins.

Use a metal spoon for stirring the cocktail to help retain the bubbles.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 93Total Fat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 6.2gFiber: 0.9gSugar: 5.3gProtein: 0.5g

Nutrition via VeryWell Fit Nutrition Calculator. Nutrition details may not always be accurate.

© jofitzsimons
Category: Food & Wine Guides

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Peach bellini glasses

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