Bellini Spritzer

Let’s face it, the summer here in Britain hasn’t really begun – rain is a seemingly permanent fixture at the moment. However, being British means putting up with the occasional imperfect summer and battling on regardless. This takes on different forms depending on the person, with some acting as though trousers have been outlawed during the summer months. In my case, it means making a jolly nice cocktail when the weather is lacking the necessary clemency for it to be enjoyed in the open air. This is my first ever cocktail recipe, so please enjoy it even if the weather isn’t quite ideal.

A Bellini is an Italian cocktail flavoured with peaches. It was first invented in Venice and makes for a rather sweet and delicious accompaniment to a summer’s day, no matter what the weather. Traditionally it is made of white peaches and prosecco, but since this is a frugal recipe it has been transformed into a spritzer; a transformation that worked extremely well. Cutting down on the amount of wine in the recipe does a rather good job of reducing the cost of this cocktail, but it also means that wine selection is incredibly important. Please don’t go out and buy a medium white wine, because it wouldn’t have the necessary effect. Prosecco is a dry sparkling wine and one will need something similar for this. To be honest, it’s hard to suggest an exact wine to use, but something fruity would be good, considering the characteristics of prosecco.

Oh, before I forget I’ve been asked to tell all of you whose feeds I no longer appear on to contact WordPress support. Apparently it’s a fault on your end and not mine, very strange. Also, sorry for not replying to any comments for a week; I’m dreadfully busy.

Bellini Spritzer

Makes as much as you have enough peaches for

Ingredients:

• 1 part white peach puree, any peaches will do

• 1 part dry white wine

• 1 part clear lemonade

Method:

1. To make the peach puree, simply pass the fruit through a sieve. However, it is important to make sure you squeeze plenty of juice and colour out of their skins since this process is what gives the cocktail its colour.

2. Pour the puree into a jug; 4-5 peaches should make roughly 150ml of puree. Add the necessary amount of wine and lemonade and taste. If you’d like it a little sweeter you may add a little more lemonade. Serve without ice.

Cost: Peaches are another fruit which are rather cheap at the moment – my punnet cost £1. It’s hard to say exactly how much your cocktail will cost, but 5-6 smallish glasses should set one back no more than £3. The most important factor in this being such a cheap drink is the fact that it requires only half the wine of a normal Bellini. Though, if you want to get particularly sozzled it may be better to go ahead and drink two. It wouldn’t harm.

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By Admin | July 2, 2012 | Cocktails, Italian, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian | 66 Comments |

66 thoughts on “Bellini Spritzer”

  3. theplumpalate

    Donut peaches!! My favorites. I almost want to scold you for whirring them into a drink and not eating them plain but since it looks so amazing, you’re forgiven. Looks wonderful. Oh, and we’re just ahead of you re: summer. The past two days have been glorious. Before that, rain and more rain.

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  4. Willow

    I would take cool and rainy over the 100+ degree weather here any day! I haven’t cooked in ages because it’s too hot to even turn on the stove. A cocktail sounds nice, though! I’ve never heard of a bellini, but peaches and alcohol are a great combo!

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