Harry’s Bar’s famous Bellini
Although Venice isn’t known for its cuisine, there’s a small bar and restaurant in the city that’s an institution – Harry’s Bar near the Basilica di San Marco. One of its claims to fame is that it is the place where the Bellini was invented.
The Bellini is the signature cocktail of Harry’s Bar, invented not long after the bar first opened in 1931 (the actual date of the cocktail’s origin is unknown). The drink consists of a mix of pureed white peaches and Prosecco, sparkling Italian white wine. At Harry’s Bar, they also mix in a dash of either cherry or raspberry juice to give it its unique pink color.
It was, in fact, that color that inspired the drink’s name. Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder of the bar, thought the color of the Bellini was similar to that of a costume in a painting by Giovanni Bellini, a Venetian painter.
Today, the Bellini is listed by the International Bartenders Association as a “Contemporary Classic” cocktail, alongside drinks like the Bloody Mary, Cosmopolitan, Margarita, Mint Julep, and Singapore Sling. There are variations on the original, too, with similarly artistic names. The Rossini is made with strawberry puree and Prosecco, while the Tintoretto mixes Prosecco with pomegranate juice.
A Bellini in Harry’s Bar in Venice
Originally, the Bellini was only available when white peaches were in season. Later in the 20th century, when high-quality produce began to be shipped internationally, the drink became available year-round. Harry’s Bar was the famous haunt of celebrities in Venice, including Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote.
To make a Bellini at home, mix one part white peach puree with two parts Prosecco, putting the peach puree in the glass first and pouring the Prosecco over the top. Add a dash of cherry or raspberry juice for color. Don’t substitute French Champagne, as the flavor is different and it won’t be as good, but if you have another type of Italian sparkling wine (besides Prosecco) that can work.
Harry’s Bar in Venice is the type of bar where you pay for the atmosphere and experience even more than the food and drinks. A Bellini alone will cost you about €20, but it’s a taste of history.
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