Bellini cocktail recipe 2026 – Venice’s elegant brunch staple that teaches gentle pouring to preserve bubbles

The Bellini. It’s one of those effortlessly beautiful cocktails that feels like a sunny morning in Venice – delicate, fruity, and sparkling with pure elegance. Fresh peach purée meets crisp Prosecco in a flute that delivers soft stone-fruit sweetness and lively bubbles without ever feeling heavy or overly sweet.

In 2026, with the continued revival of classic brunch drinks and a growing appreciation for low-effort, high-impact sparkling cocktails made with real fruit, the Bellini is enjoying a lovely resurgence. Bartenders love it for teaching the gentle art of pouring to preserve those precious bubbles. Home enthusiasts adore it because it uses just two ingredients yet looks and tastes like something from a high-end Venetian café. Once you master the purée and the slow pour, it becomes one of those drinks you’ll serve at every weekend brunch or celebration.

What makes this version stand out from the recipes you’ll find elsewhere? We’re using fresh ripe peaches for vibrant colour and natural sweetness, a precise purée-to-Prosecco ratio, and a technique that keeps the fizz lively from first sip to last. It stays true to Giuseppe Cipriani’s 1948 original at Harry’s Bar in Venice while feeling bright and modern for 2026 brunches. Give this a go this weekend – I promise you’ll be hooked.

Bellini cocktail recipe 2026 – Venetian peach brunch classic Why the Bellini is better than ever in 2026

The Bellini was invented in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry’s Bar in Venice. Named after the 15th-century Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini because the drink’s soft pink colour reminded him of one of the artist’s paintings, it quickly became a symbol of Venetian elegance. The original used white peaches from the Veneto region, which are famously fragrant and less acidic than yellow peaches.

In your series, it sits perfectly after the refreshing Americano and before the Kir Royale, showing how a simple two-ingredient sparkling drink can feel luxurious when technique is right. Compared with the French 75 you covered earlier, the Bellini is softer, fruitier, and far more brunch-friendly. Compared with the Aperol Spritz, it is gentler on the palate and more delicate. In 2026, with the trend towards real-fruit brunch cocktails and mindful sparkling drinks, this Venetian classic feels fresher and more relevant than ever.

Ingredients (for one Bellini)

100 ml chilled Prosecco – a good dry or extra-dry style such as Mionetto or La Marca 50 ml fresh peach purée (made from ripe white or yellow peaches) Thin peach slice, to garnish (optional)

Pro tip: peel and stone the peaches, blend until smooth, then pass through a fine sieve for the silkiest texture. Make the purée fresh the same day for the best flavour and colour.

Step-by-step preparation Chill your Prosecco and flute glasses well in advance. Prepare the fresh peach purée by blending ripe peaches and straining to achieve a smooth consistency. Pour the peach purée gently into the bottom of the chilled flute glass. Slowly pour the chilled Prosecco over the back of a bar spoon or down the side of the glass to preserve as many bubbles as possible. Give the glass the gentlest swirl if needed to mix without flattening the fizz. Garnish with a thin fresh peach slice on the rim.

The drink should have a soft peach-pink hue and lively, yet delicate, bubbles – pure Venetian sophistication in a glass.

Serving tips & glassware Serve your Bellini in a chilled flute glass to keep it cool and showcase the beautiful colour and bubbles. It is the quintessential brunch drink – perfect with eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, fresh pastries, or simply on its own as an elegant start to the day. This drink pairs wonderfully with light brunch fare, fresh fruit, or delicate pastries. The peach notes complement both sweet and savoury dishes beautifully. Glassware recommendation: Champagne flute or coupe (flute preserves bubbles longer). Nutritional info & abv (estimated per serving) Abv: approximately 9–11% (the Prosecco provides most of the alcohol) Calories: around 140–170 kcal Naturally lower in sugar when using fresh peaches instead of sweetened purée

This elegant sparkler slips down easily at brunch – always drink responsibly.

5 delicious variations to try in 2026

Rossini – replace peach purée with fresh strawberry purée for a brighter red version. Pomegranate Bellini – use pomegranate juice or purée for a tart, jewel-toned twist. Mango Bellini – swap peach for ripe mango purée for a tropical brunch variation. White Peach Bellini – stick to white peaches for the most authentic Venetian colour and delicate flavour. Frozen Bellini – blend the peach purée with ice and a splash of Prosecco for a slushy, refreshing summer 2026 take.

Non-alcoholic variation (virgin Bellini): Use 100 ml non-alcoholic sparkling wine or sparkling grape juice and 50 ml fresh peach purée. Pour the purée into the chilled flute first, then gently top with the sparkling wine, preserving the bubbles as much as possible. Garnish with a fresh peach slice. It captures the elegant peach sparkle without the alcohol – perfect for any brunch gathering.

Common mistakes to avoid Serving in a warm glass – it flattens the bubbles and warms the drink too fast. Over-mixing after pouring – a gentle swirl is enough; aggressive stirring destroys the fizz. Pouring the Prosecco too quickly – it kills the bubbles and creates too much foam. Using canned or sweetened peach nectar instead of fresh purée makes the flavour flat and artificial. Bellini cocktail recipe 2026 – Venetian peach brunch classic

Faq – Bellini cocktail questions answered

What is a Bellini cocktail made of? Prosecco and fresh peach purée. It is Venice’s elegant two-ingredient brunch staple.

How do you keep the bubbles lively in a Bellini? Pour the Prosecco very slowly over the back of a spoon and use well-chilled ingredients and glasses.

What’s the difference between a Bellini and a Mimosa? The Bellini uses peach purée instead of orange juice, giving it a softer, more delicate stone-fruit character.

What Prosecco is best for a Bellini? A dry or extra-dry Prosecco, such as Mionetto or La Marca, lets the peach flavour shine without clashing with the sweetness.

Is the Bellini strong? No, it’s only around 9–11% abv – light and perfect for daytime sipping.

Can I batch Bellinis for a brunch party? Yes – prepare the peach purée in advance and keep chilled. Pour individual flutes to order, adding the Prosecco gently for each guest to preserve the bubbles.

What food pairs well with a Bellini? Eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, fresh pastries, fruit salads or light brunch dishes. It also shines at elegant celebrations.

Why is gentle pouring so important? It preserves the delicate bubbles that make the Bellini feel luxurious and lively from first sip to last.

There you have it – the ultimate Bellini cocktail recipe 2026 that’s more elegant, bubblier, and truer to its Venetian roots than anything else out there. It slots perfectly into your classic cocktail series right after the refreshing Americano and before the luxurious Kir Royale.

Recommendations: Americano cocktail recipe 2026 – low-abv Italian aperitif French 75 recipe 2026 – fizzy gin celebration Kir Royale recipe 2026 – sophisticated French sparkler Aperol Spritz recipe 2026 – low-abv summer staple

Share your Bellini creations – did you use white peaches or try the Rossini variation? Photos are always welcome!