Bellini – Original Recipe & History

What Is The History Of The Bellini?

The Bellini was invented during World War 2 in Venice, Italy, by Guiseppe Cipriani. The Bellini is named after Giovanni Bellini, a famous Venetian Renaissance painter with well-known work in Venice, where the cocktail was invented.

What Is The Difference Between The Mimosa And The Bellini?

The Mimosa was invented in 1925 at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, France, by Frank Meier. Even though the Bellini was created 15 years after the mimosa, it is unclear if the Mimosa inspired this Italian cocktail. They are very similar cocktails, but the peach juice and orange juice give each cocktail very different flavors. A Mimosa is more acidic and fresh tasting with a drier, thinner body, while the Bellini is sweeter with a slightly thicker nectar taste and fuller body mouth feel. This is not a fair comparison, but I would liken it to comparing a white to red wine. White is like the Mimosa, and red is like the Bellini.

The Bellini is a beautiful sparkling wine cocktail and perfect for brunch. Unlike the mimosa, though, I feel the Bellini also works well for an evening cocktail. It’s thicker, more nectar-like taste and mouthfeel lends itself well to a nice before or after-dinner drink. If you have only had a Bellini for brunch, try making one in the evening and see how versatile this cocktail can be.