The Bellini

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday October 2, 2007

Jacqui Taffel

Giovanni Bellini was a prolific Italian painter whose works grace churches across Venice and the nearby island of Murano. Bellini was also a mentor to the even more famous Tiziano Vercelli, better known as Titian. Neither of these great Renaissance artists would have suspected that the name Bellini would also be immortalised in a cocktail (right). And such an elegantly simple beverage at that. Combining one part fresh peach juice and two parts chilled prosecco - a crisp, sparkling wine from the nearby Veneto region - it was created by a barman called Giuseppe "Bepi" Cipriani, originally employed at Venice's Hotel Europa. With the assistance of a wealthy young American traveller called Harry Pickering, Cipriani set up his own establishment, Harry's Bar, in 1931. He went on to create Venice's Hotel Cipriani and a string of establishments worldwide.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home