There's nothing quite like sipping a cold mimosa on a hot day. The classic brunch cocktail, which traditionally combines orange juice and Champagne, is simple but effective. Tart and refreshing, mimosas are beloved for good reason—they're delicious.
Since there are just two star ingredients in a classic mimosa, quality ingredients—especially the bubbly—can take your brunch cocktail from good to pitcher-worthy. Not that mimosas always follow such a strict formula: Variations abound, and we've got recipes for everything from pomegranate-infused mimosas to tequila-spiked margarita mimosas.
But back to bubbles. Read on for what we've deemed are the best Champagnes and other sparkling wines for mimosas, so you can spend more time sipping and less time shopping.
Next to orange juice, bubbly is the most important part of a good mimosa. Typically, the go-to option is Champagne, a labor-intensive, often pricey sparkling wine made only in the Champagne region of northern France. To balance the sugar in O.J., we honed in on dry or semi-dry Champagnes (our preference here at Delish), which are just slightly sweet, and brut Champagnes, which are even less sweet. We also considered other sparkling wines like Prosecco (which hails from Italy) and cava (from Spain), both of which are often utilized as less pricey Champagne alternatives. After all, Champagne can be expensive!
Our list includes options from all of the above categories, from both the low and high-end of the price spectrum. Without further ado, here are the sparkling wines you'll want on hand the next time you're pouring mimosas.
You've probably seen this bottle before. After all, Veuve Clicquot is a classic. Dry and crisp with fruity notes on the palate, this bottle is the perfect pairing to orange juice. "Bright and dry, effervescent and light... all the things you want Champagne to be," offered one Drizly reviewer. This well-balanced brut is a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier and is a no-fail choice whether you're mixing it with O.J. or enjoying it on its own.
Fresh, clean, and crisp, this medium-bodied brut delivers an elegant taste with notes of citrus and red fruits. "One of my favorites—clean, light, luxurious," wrote one Drizly reviewer.
Produced in Limoux, France, this sparkling wine can't technically be referred to as Champagne. However, it's made the same traditional way as Champagne—méthode traditionnelle—and offers a beautiful golden hue and a fresh, crisp flavor with notes of baked apple, white cherry, and lemon meringue. Bonus: It's often priced under $20, making it a budget-friendly bubbly.
Affordable and easy to find, Korbel Brut is a classic Champagne alternative for brunch-time cocktails. It's medium-dry with flavors of orange, lime, and vanilla, and pairs perfectly with indulgent brunch staples like cheesy croissant casserole and chicken and biscuit sliders.
If you're looking to step up your mimosa game, Ruinart Blanc De Blancs is our most luxe pick. Finely textured and elegant, it's made of 100-percent chardonnay and offers strong notes of fresh citrus, which helps it pair seamlessly with orange juice.
Who says you can't use rosé in a mimosa? This sparkling rosé is a brut, so it won't turn your brunch cocktailtoo sweet. It will, however, contribute a nice fruity flavor with notes of berries, apples, and cherries. "Light fruity flavor, not too sweet, refreshing," wrote one reviewer. "Perfect summer rosé."
Prosecco is often used in place of Champagne in mimosas because of its generally more reasonable price point. This light-bodied Prosecco is a great option, with notes of apple, white peach, and honeysuckle. What could pair better with a cold glass of O.J.? "I love the smooth taste this Prosecco gives," said one reviewer.
It's a bestseller for a reason. La Marca Prosecco is affordable, available at most liquor stores, and pairs perfectly with OJ. It's light and refreshing with notes of green apple and citrus.
With notes of apple, grapefruit, and brioche, this sparkling cava is a great alternative to Champagne. "Nice crisp, and perfect by itself or paired with orange juice for a mimosa," offered one reviewer. The brand also notes that it offers a fantastic balance to salty brunch offerings like crispy strips of bacon or cheesy omelettes.
Don't feel like drinking? No worries. No one has to miss out on brunch cocktails with this tasty sparkling brut. Napa Valley-based operation Fre uses traditional methods to make its wines, but then utilizes a spinning cone process that removes alcohol while preserving flavor. This sparkling brut is crisp, refreshing, and dry (but not too dry), with notes of green apple, pear, and peaches.
Allison Arnold is the Associate SEO Editor at Delish, where she writes about kitchen gadgets and food and culture. She likes exercising almost as much as eating, and has a thorough Google Maps ranking system for her favorite restaurants and bars. You can find her spewing hot takes on the food world and planning her next trip, all with multiple cans of seltzer open at a time.