London welcomes new Bellini bar

With global Prosecco sales having overtaken those of Champagne, a new bar dedicated to the Prosecco-based Bellini cocktail has opened in London.

Bartender Richard Woods mixes a Blood Orange Bellini. Photo credit: Addie Chin

Cartizze, named after the most prized piece of land in Valdobbiadene – a 107-hectare, 1,000-foot high vineyard considered to be the “Grand Cru” of the region, opened in Mayfair this week.

Decked out with Art Deco-inspired interiors including leather bar stools in pastel hues, the cocktail list was devised by Richard Wood, the UK winner of Bombay Sapphire’s World’s Most Imaginative Bartender 2014 competition.

In keeping with the savoury cocktail trend currently sweeping the capital, in addition to a series of twists on the Bellini, including a blood orange version, also on pour will be an Olive Oil Gin Fizz and a Truffled Liquorice Whisky Sour.

Lemon sorbet and Prosecco palate cleansers meanwhile, will be served in vintage glassware sourced by the bar’s antiques fanatic owner, James Robson.

Cartizze also boasts “The Conoissuers Collection” – a privately sourced spirits range dating back to the 1800s, with customers given the option of keeping purchased bottles from the list housed in one of the bar’s “spirit lockers”.

Among the bar snacks on offer are hand-dived Orkney scallops; figs wrapped in San Daniele ham and drizzled with truffle honey; and Parmesan biscuits with poppy seeds.

Next Monday and Tuesday evening, the bar will be offering complimentary cocktails to any London Marathon runners who come in wearing their medals.