A mimosa is a light, bubbly cocktail made by mixing sparkling wine (usually Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava) with chilled citrus juice, most commonly orange juice, and serving it in a flute glass, especially at brunch or celebrations.

What is a mimosa drink?

A mimosa is a cocktail that typically combines equal parts sparkling wine and orange juice, though the ratio can vary depending on taste (often between 1:1 and 2:1 wine to juice). It’s known for its bright yellow color (inspired by the mimosa flower) and is popular at brunches, weddings, and special occasions because it’s refreshing, lower in alcohol than straight wine, and easy to sip.

Basic ingredients

  • Sparkling wine (Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, or other dry sparkling wine).
  • Chilled orange juice, or sometimes other citrus juices like grapefruit or lemon.

Some recipes keep it as simple as a 50/50 mix, while others lean more towards wine (for a stronger drink) or more juice (for a lighter, brunch-friendly version).

Typical ratios

  • 1:1 – Equal parts sparkling wine and orange juice, a very classic approach.
  • 2:1 – About two parts sparkling wine to one part orange juice, for a drier, more alcoholic drink.
  • Variations may use roughly 75 ml Champagne and 75 ml orange juice per serving.

When do people drink mimosas?

Mimosas are strongly associated with:

  • Brunch and weekend breakfasts.
  • Celebrations like weddings and holiday gatherings.
  • Business or first-class service on some airlines and trains, as a light, elegant drink.

They’ve become a cultural brunch staple, often mentioned alongside Bloody Marys as go-to “daytime” cocktails.

Variations and twists

  • Other citrus: Grapefruit, blood orange, or lemon juice instead of standard orange juice.
  • Other fruit juices: Peach, for example, shifts it toward a Bellini-style drink.
  • Non-alcoholic version: Use non-alcoholic sparkling wine or soda water in place of the sparkling wine.
  • Sweeteners or add-ins: A splash of grenadine for color and sweetness appears in some recipes.

Very quick how-to

  1. Chill both the sparkling wine and juice thoroughly (no ice, to avoid dilution).
  1. Tilt a champagne flute slightly and pour in the sparkling wine to preserve bubbles.
  1. Top with chilled orange juice to your preferred ratio and serve immediately.

TL;DR: A mimosa drink is a simple, fizzy cocktail made from chilled sparkling wine and orange juice (usually in roughly equal parts), famously served at brunch and celebrations.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.