Whether you are having friends round for brunch, hosting a party, or just enjoying the weekend, serving mimosas is a great way to impress your guests and liven up the atmosphere. Mimosas add a touch of elegance to any occasion, and they are a delicious drink to enjoy.
The trick to making the perfect mimosa is to select the right sparkling wine. This can make all the difference to the flavor and the overall finish of the drink. The problem is, there are so many sparkling wines to choose from. How do you know which one is going to be best?
For the most fancy mimosas you can use Champagne. Prosecco (see also 'All Major Differences Between Prosecco And Moscato') is a very popular choice and it is easy to get hold of. Some people prefer to use Cava in their mimosas, and you can even try using sparkling Rose wine instead of sparkling white wine.
Don't worry - we have put together this list to help you decide which sparkling wine to use for your mimosas. Here are the 7 best sparkling wines that you can choose from.
What Is A Mimosa?
A mimosa is a classic cocktail consisting of champagne (or other sparkling wine) mixed with orange juice. It's an easy-to-make drink that everyone loves. To create it, simply combine equal parts Champagne and fresh squeezed orange juice in a glass filled with ice.
Add a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice if desired. Garnish with a wedge of orange and serve immediately.
What Should You Look Out For?
Some people think that they can get away with using a cheap or substandard sparkling wine in their mimosas because the juice will cover up the flavor.
This is not the case - the juice will actually enhance the flavor of the wine. The better the wine you use, the better your mimosas will be!
You should try and stick to a dry sparkling wine to use in your Mimosa. The dryness of the wine refers to how much sugar is left in the wine after the fermenting process. Dry wines have very little sugar left in them, whereas sweet wines have a lot of sugar left.
A sweet wine will make your mimosa too sickly. A dry wine will balance out the sweetness of the orange juice for a more refreshing drink.
Floral and fruity tasting notes tend to work well in mimosas. Citrus fruits and orange blossom are a great combination to complement the orange juice in the mimosa, but there are lots of other flavors that would taste just as good.
The Best Sparkling Wines For Mimosas
OUR TOP PICK
If you don't want to spend too much money then this Cava is a perfect option. It is usually priced at around $10 per bottle, proving you don't have to spend a fortune to find a nice bottle of sparkling wine.
You cannot fault the delightful flavors of citrus rind, sweet honey and crisp green apples. This is a Spanish sparkling wine, made in the Catalonia region. It has an alcohol percentage of 11.5% so it is not as strong as some of the others on the list.
EDITORS CHOICE
Prosecco is a great choice for mimosas as it tends to be fruity, with a fresh flavor and a light feel in the mouth. This one is made in the Veneto region of Italy and it has an alcohol percentage of 12.5%.
It is a good balance of affordability and quality, though the price will depend on which seller you buy it from.
The main flavor notes of this wine are fruity elements of peach, floral orange blossom and white flowers. This is a lovely combination with the orange juice used in a mimosa.
BEST VALUE
This is a particularly dry Prosecco which balances perfectly with the sweetness of the orange juice.
It is very popular which means it is easy to get hold of from most wine merchants. It is made in the Veneto region of Italy and has an alcohol percentage of 11%.
It is a very refreshing choice, perfect if you do not want your mimosas to be overly sweet.
It also works well with other types of juice, not just orange, so feel free to experiment.
You will notice tasting notes of white peach, citrus fruits, and a floral honeysuckle finish.
Try adding a mix of orange juice and pineapple juice to this sparkling wine to make a mimosa with a tropical twist.
RUNNER UP
Cremant is a great alternative to champagne if you don't want to spend too much money. It is made in a very similar way to champagne, but with various varieties of grapes and in different regions of France.
This particular Cremant comes from the Burgundy region, which is known for producing excellent wines. It uses a blend of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay to create an amazing flavor.
The most prominent flavors in this sparkling wine are acacia flowers, apple blossom and buttered toast. This gives it a decadent feel. It has an alcohol percentage of 13.5% which is quite high - perfect for a boozy brunch.
RUNNER UP
This is a non-vintage champagne, so it is made in the Champagne region of France using a very particular method but it is more affordable than vintage champagnes.
It is dry which balances out the sweetness of the orange juice. It is quite fruity, but with plenty of acidity to complement the acidity of the oranges.
You will pick up tart flavors of lemon and marmalade, with the sweetness of apricot jam. On the nose, it has a sumptuous aroma of roasted hazelnuts and freshly baked brioche.
If you want to make your mimosas with a twist, try adding a splash of apricot juice along with the orange juice to really bring out the flavors of the champagne.
RUNNER UP
You don't have to use white sparkling wine for mimosas - a rose works very well too. This Champagne Rose is quite expensive, but if you want to treat your guests then it is a great option.
It is dry, which contrasts well with the sweetness of the orange juice. It has a fruity aroma of berries and strong tasting notes of cherry, peaches and plums.
This could be the perfect sparkling wine to use for a fruity mimosa. You could add a dash of grenadine to the mimosa and garnish it with fresh red fruit to make it extra special.
As it is Champagne, it is made in the Champagne region of France. It has an alcohol percentage of 12%.
RUNNER UP
This sparkling wine is made in the Champagne region of France and it has a 12.5% alcohol percentage. It is dry yet fruity, which contrasts the sweetness of the orange juice yet contributes to the overall fruity flavor of the mimosa.
It has a light feel in the mouth, with delicate aromas of white peach. The flavor notes may surprise you - gingerbread, warm spices and even Viennese pastries.
If you want to try something a little different with your mimosa, try adding a very small amount of cinnamon to the juice before you mix it into the champagne.
This might sound strange, but it will complement the flavors of gingerbread and spices of the champagne. You could even garnish the glass with a piece of candied ginger.
Summary
These are just some of the best sparkling wines to use in your mimosas. If you want to try something else, just remember to stick to something dry, preferably with fruity flavor notes and a light body.
A floral aroma is also an excellent feature to look out for. Don't be afraid to get experimental with the ingredients of your mimosa to create something really special.
I want to share with you all of my favorites, as well as share advice on picking certain alcohols and flavors.
I hope you enjoy my articles as much as I enjoyed researching them!
- Why Are Some Alcohols Referred To As Spirits? - February 11, 2023
- The Healthy Benefits Of Drinking Cannonau Wine - January 31, 2023
- All Major Differences Between Prosecco And Moscato (And Which You Should Choose) - January 7, 2023
