It’s easy to get into the habit of saving your favorite bottle of wine or most-delicious dessert for a special occasion. Lately I’ve been in the mood to celebrate the simple things in life and opening a bottle of Prosecco is my favorite way to do so. There’s something about the bubbles and the glasses that make the taste extra special. I was talking about Prosecco with Wilson, my go-to wine expert over at the grocery store, the other day and he brought up the topic of Bellinis. He said the employees at the store did a blind taste test of Bellinis versus mimosas and almost all the employees chose the Bellini. I was so surprised! I had never been a particular fan, but was determined to give them a try.

You can this drink the same way as a mimosa. In the case of bellinis, though, you swap Champagne for Prosecco and orange juice for peach juice. To be traditional, you can make the peach juice fresh on your own by pureeing and straining the peach. You would spoon the puree in the bottom and top off the glass with Prosecco. I went the easier route and elected to buy peach juice from the store and it still tasted so fresh.

You’ll want to pick a good Prosecco or sparkling wine for the base, but nothing crazy fancy since you’re adding the flavor of the peach. Wondering what the difference is between Champagne and Prosecco? I learned about the different flavor profiles with this infographic. For this drink: we’re sticking to Prosecco or sparkling wine. When I’m entertaining, I grab a few different bottles so we can taste test and find the best combination. This Secco bottle from Trader Joe’s was okay, but I actually preferred the RSVP Sparkling Brut for the same price. (Only $6!)

I like to live by the “splash” philosophy, meaning of 3/4 Prosecco and 1/4 (a splash of) peach juice. I don’t like it my drinks too sweet and want to be able to taste the sparkling wine. Play with it to find your ratio. You’ll be able to tell how people prefer theirs by the color of the drinks. Fainter orange is more Prosecco and deeper orange is more of a balance. Just like mimosas, there is no right or wrong way in my book! For entertaining, I like to put the peach juice in a carafe or glass bottle rather than just pulling out the carton. It makes the assembly feel more elegant.

Whether you’re having a weekend breakfast or just relaxing in bed, a Bellini would be the perfect way to celebrate the little things. Toss in some colorful straws, stir up your drink and enjoy. I think you may find yourself a new favorite thing to take a break from mimosas. As the Italians say, “Salute!”

Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela