Mimosas are the quintessential brunch cocktail: bright, bubbly, and delightfully refreshing. But the key to a truly great mimosa lies in the sparkling wine you choose. The right bottle enhances the citrusy sweetness of orange juice while adding just the right amount of effervescence. Whether you prefer dry and crisp or fruity and floral, here are the best sparkling wines to take your mimosa to the next level.
If we are being honest, mimosas are not the moment to break out your best champagne. Honestly, please don’t use champagne at all here, regardless of price point. The orange juice will mask the nuances of true champagne, which kind of takes away the entire point of enjoying it. We’ll go into more detail about champagne later, but these are the best sparkling wines to use for your mimosas.
Best Sparkling Wines for Mimosas
Cava
Cava is a budget-friendly sparkling wine made in Spain. Spanish cava is made using the traditional Champagne method, which is an incredible feat consider it’s price point, This Spanish sparkling wine is an a great option (and our personal favorite) for mimosas. It tends to be dry with bright citrus and green apple flavors, making it a refreshing pairing with orange juice. Good quality cava is available at a fantastic price point, and you can find a great bottle of cava for around $10-12.
Prosecco
Italy’s famous bubbly is known for its light, fruity character. This Italian sparkling wine typically has notes of pear, apple, and honeysuckle, Prosecco adds a touch of sweetness to balance the acidity of fresh orange juice – which makes a really good mimosa that’s a touch in the “sweet” direction.
Crémant
Often considered another affordable alternative to Champagne, Crémant is a French sparkling wine made with the same traditional method. It offers a fine mousse and a delicate, creamy texture, perfect for a smooth and refined mimosa. It isn’t made in the Champagne region of France, which is why it isn’t labeled the same, nor does it carry the same hefty price tag.
Sparkling Rosé
If you want to add beautiful blush hue to your mimosas, dry sparkling rosé is a fantastic option. We love rosé of pinot noir, which typically has notes of strawberry, raspberry, and citrus, adding a fun twist to the classic drink. But we’re talking dry sparkling rosé, not a sweet version.
All of these options are good choices, and we encourage you to mix and match a variety of bubbles and fresh fruit or citrus juice to create your own favorite mimosa recipe. Delicious mimosas are easy to make, it’s just a matter of discovering your favorite combination of flavors!
If you MUST use champagne…
Brut Champagne
For a more luxurious mimosa, try a Brut Champagne. A bottle of real champagne must come from the Champagne region of France to be labeled “champagne”, which makes it pricier than other bubbles because of it’s exclusivity. This French classic is typically dry and crisp, with rich flavors of brioche, citrus, and almond. While it’s pricier than other options, its refined bubbles make for an elegant and sophisticated cocktail. The least expensive bottle of dry champagne you’ll find will be around $40, which is the price point we recommend if you’re mixing it into mimosas. Save the expensive champagne for a special occasion.
Tips for the Best Mimosas
- Use fresh orange juice – Freshly squeezed juice brings out the best flavors in your mimosa. If you don’t want to mess with squeezing a bunch of oranges, Simply Orange Juice is our recommended bottled orange juice.
- Keep everything chilled – Serve your sparkling wine and orange juice cold for maximum refreshment.
- Ratio matters – A classic mimosa is typically 2 parts sparkling wine to 1 part orange juice, but adjust to your taste. The perfect mimosa is made to fit your taste!
- Skip the stirring – Let the bubbles do the work to blend your drink naturally.
If there’s one thing we love, it’s a good mimosa bar on a Sunday afternoon. Round up a few brunch guests, seek out a couple of fun brunch recipes to make, then set up a mimosa bar for everyone to create their own brunch mimosas. 🙂
How to Set Up a Mimosa Bar
A mimosa bar is a fun and interactive way to serve this beloved brunch cocktail. Here’s how to set one up:
- Choose your bubbly – Offer a selection of sparkling wines, like Cava, Prosecco, or sparkling rosé.
- Offer a variety of juices – While orange juice is classic, provide a variety of fruit juices like mango, pineapple, grapefruit, or cranberry juice. We even like watermelon juice, pomegranate juice, or lychee!
- All of the garnishes! – Set out fresh fruit such as orange slices, berries, and pomegranate seeds for an extra touch of flair.
- Glassware and labels – Set out your preferred glassware (champagne flutes are traditional) and label each juice so guests can easily mix and match their preferred combination.
How to Serve Mimosas
- Pre-chill your ingredients – Keep both the sparkling wine and juices refrigerated until serving time.
- Pour the wine first – Always pour the sparkling wine into the glass before the juice to help maintain the bubbles.
- Use proper glassware – Champagne flutes are ideal for preserving the bubbles and enhancing the drinking experience, but we also love these coupe glasses for an elegant touch. White wine glasses work, too! Especially stemless wine glasses if your party may get a little wild. 😉
- Serve immediately – Mimosas are best enjoyed fresh, so encourage guests to sip and enjoy right away. If they sit for too long, some of the juices will settle in the bototm of the glass for a less-than-appetizing appearance.
No matter which sparkling wine you choose, the best mimosa is the one that suits your taste. Cheers to bubbly brunches and effortless indulgence!
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