"I had no idea at the time that the pink glow my father had so admired in one of Bellini's paintings would be the inspiration for his famous cocktail," wrote Arrigo Cipriani in Harry's Bar: The Life and Times of the Legendary Venice Landmark. "Peaches are in abundance throughout Italy from June through September, and my father had a predilection for the white ones. So much so, in fact, that he kept wondering whether there was a way to transform this magic fragrance into a drink he could offer at Harry's Bar. He experimented by puréeing small white peaches and adding some prosecco [Italian champagne]. Those who tested this new concoction gave it rave reviews, and my father was encouraged to pursue his alchemy."
[aus Cocktail - Drink of the Week]

Dabei sei es doch ganz anders gewesen, wie mir ein befreundeter Bestattungsunternehmer erzählte, dessen Grossvater unter Guiseppe Cipriani hinter Harry's Bars Bar gearbeitet und eines Abends den Bellini erfunden habe.