Mimosa Recipe: Best Orange Juice-to-Sparkling Wine Ratio

A Mimosa is almost impossible to complicate: cold orange juice, cold sparkling wine, pour, serve. The one decision that really changes the drink is the ratio.

If you want a softer, more orange-forward Mimosa, equal parts works beautifully. If you prefer more bubbles, a drier finish and a drink that still tastes fresh rather than juice-heavy, start with 1 part orange juice to 2 parts sparkling wine. That is the Love My Drink starting point.

The Mimosa ratio worth remembering

There is no single ratio that everyone uses, and that is actually useful. The two most practical versions are 1:1 and 1:2, measured as orange juice : sparkling wine.

1:1 — softer and fruitier

• 90 ml / 3 oz orange juice
• 90 ml / 3 oz chilled sparkling wine

This version tastes rounder, sweeter and more orange-forward. It is a good choice if you want a gentler brunch drink or if your sparkling wine is especially dry.

1:2 — brighter and bubblier

• 60 ml / 2 oz orange juice
• 120 ml / 4 oz chilled sparkling wine

This version is lighter on the juice, livelier with bubbles and usually feels more balanced if you are using naturally sweet orange juice. It is the ratio I would make first.

Love My Drink tip: Keep the finished volume the same when you compare the ratios. That way you are tasting the balance, not simply a bigger or smaller drink.

Easy Mimosa recipe

Quick info

• Prep time: 2 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Glass: Champagne flute or small stemmed wine glass
• Taste: Citrusy, sparkling, fresh and lightly fruity
• Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 60 ml / 2 oz chilled orange juice
• 120 ml / 4 oz chilled dry sparkling wine
• Orange slice or twist, optional

How to make it

1. Chill the orange juice, sparkling wine and glass before you start.
2. Pour the sparkling wine slowly into the glass.
3. Add the orange juice gently.
4. Give the drink one very light stir only if it needs help combining.
5. Garnish with a small orange slice or twist if you like, then serve straight away.

Pouring the sparkling wine first is my practical preference because you can add the juice gently and avoid unnecessary stirring. The exact order matters less than keeping everything cold and treating the bubbles carefully.

If you want simple glasses for brunch, these Champagne flutes or stemmed glasses are an easy fit. You do not need special Mimosa glassware; a narrow flute simply helps the drink stay lively a little longer.

For more genuinely simple drinks, the Mimosa also belongs in our easy 2-ingredient cocktails collection.

1:1 vs 1:2: which Mimosa should you make?

Choose 1:1 if you want orange juice to lead. It is fruitier, softer and usually a little sweeter.

Choose 1:2 if you want the sparkling wine to stay obvious. It is drier, more refreshing and better at keeping that crisp brunch-cocktail feel.

You can also meet in the middle. Start with 60 ml / 2 oz orange juice and 120 ml / 4 oz sparkling wine, taste it, then add another small splash of juice if you want more fruit. There is no need to turn two ingredients into a rulebook.

What orange juice is best for Mimosas?

Use orange juice that you would happily drink on its own, and serve it very cold. Freshly squeezed juice gives you the brightest citrus character, but a good chilled bottled juice works perfectly well when you are making drinks for a group.

Freshly squeezed

Fresh juice tastes vivid and aromatic. If the oranges are very pulpy, strain the juice lightly so the Mimosa stays smooth and does not foam excessively when it meets the sparkling wine.

A simple citrus press or juicer makes fresh juice much easier when you are preparing more than a couple of glasses.

Pulp-free bottled juice

This is the easiest option for a larger brunch. Choose one with a clean orange flavour, chill it thoroughly and avoid overthinking it. Cold, pleasant-tasting juice matters more than whether it came from your kitchen five minutes ago.

From concentrate

It can work, especially if it is a brand you already like. Taste it first. If the juice is noticeably sweet, the 1:2 ratio usually gives a fresher finished drink than equal parts.

Champagne, Prosecco or Cava?

You do not need Champagne to make a good Mimosa. Dry Prosecco, Cava and other dry sparkling wines all work well.

• Prosecco: fruity, soft and easy for a relaxed brunch
• Cava: often dry, crisp and slightly savoury
• Champagne: complex and elegant, but not necessary for a two-ingredient brunch drink

Look for a dry style such as Brut if you want the orange juice to provide most of the sweetness. Whatever you choose, chill it properly before opening.

If you like sparkling brunch drinks, see our easy Prosecco brunch cocktails. And if you are deciding between two brunch classics, our Bellini vs Mimosa guide breaks down the difference.

How many Mimosas does one bottle make?

With the recommended 1:2 ratio, each drink uses 120 ml / 4 oz sparkling wine. A standard 750 ml bottle therefore makes 6 full Mimosas, with about 30 ml / 1 oz left.

At a 1:1 ratio using 90 ml / 3 oz sparkling wine per drink, the same bottle makes 8 full Mimosas, with about 30 ml / 1 oz left.

That is why it helps to choose your ratio before you shop. The difference becomes noticeable once you are making a whole brunch round.

Mimosa quantities for a brunch crowd

These quantities use the recommended 1:2 orange juice : sparkling wine ratio and a 180 ml / 6 oz finished drink.

For 6 Mimosas

• 360 ml / 12 oz orange juice
• 720 ml / 24 oz sparkling wine
• Buy 1 x 750 ml bottle sparkling wine

For 10 Mimosas

• 600 ml / 20 oz orange juice
• 1.2 litres / about 41 oz sparkling wine
• Buy 2 x 750 ml bottles sparkling wine

For 20 Mimosas

• 1.2 litres / about 41 oz orange juice
• 2.4 litres / about 81 oz sparkling wine
• Buy 4 x 750 ml bottles sparkling wine

For a larger brunch, a clear pitcher or carafe makes serving easier, but do not mix every bottle hours in advance. The bubbles are part of the drink.

Should you make Mimosas in a pitcher?

Yes, but make them close to serving time. Chill the juice, sparkling wine and pitcher first, then combine the batch gently when guests are ready for it.

For the freshest result, make smaller batches rather than one giant pitcher that sits through the whole brunch. Keep the remaining sparkling wine sealed and cold until you need the next round.

If you open a bottle and do not finish it, a sparkling-wine or Champagne stopper is useful for holding onto the carbonation until later. It will not keep an opened bottle perfect forever, but it is much better than leaving it loosely covered.

Love My Drink tip: For the least dilution, chill everything well and skip ice in the pitcher. If you do add ice for serving, pour the batch promptly rather than letting it sit and dilute.

Easy Mimosa variations

Blood Orange Mimosa

Replace the regular orange juice with blood orange juice. The flavour is slightly more tart and the colour is naturally dramatic.

Grapefruit Mimosa

Use grapefruit juice for a sharper, less sweet version. Start with the 1:2 ratio and adjust after tasting.

Cranberry Mimosa

Swap the orange juice for cranberry juice for a brighter, more tart drink that works especially well for festive brunches.

Alcohol-free Mimosa

Use a dry alcohol-free sparkling wine in the same 1:2 ratio. Taste before adding more juice because zero-proof sparkling wines vary quite a lot in sweetness.

These variations all keep the same simple idea: cold fruit, cold bubbles and a ratio you can adjust to taste.

For another classic peach-and-bubbles brunch option, try our easy Bellini recipe.

Mimosa FAQ

What is the best Mimosa ratio?

Start with 1 part orange juice to 2 parts sparkling wine for a bright, bubbly Mimosa. Use 1:1 if you prefer a softer, fruitier drink with more orange juice.

Is a Mimosa better with Champagne or Prosecco?

Neither is automatically better. Champagne is more complex, while Prosecco is usually fruitier and often more practical for a casual brunch. A dry sparkling wine that you enjoy drinking is the important part.

Do you pour orange juice or sparkling wine first?

I prefer sparkling wine first, then orange juice added gently. It keeps stirring to a minimum and makes it easy to preserve the bubbles. If you reverse the order, the drink still works; just pour slowly.

Can you make Mimosas ahead of time?

Do not fully batch them far ahead. Chill the ingredients in advance, measure the juice if helpful, then add the sparkling wine close to serving so the drink stays lively.

Does a Mimosa need ice?

No. A Mimosa is best made with thoroughly chilled ingredients and served without ice, so the flavour stays crisp instead of becoming diluted.

How many Mimosas does a 750 ml bottle make?

At the 1:2 ratio used in this recipe, one 750 ml bottle makes 6 full Mimosas. At a 1:1 ratio using 90 ml / 3 oz sparkling wine per glass, it makes 8.

What is the difference between a Bellini and a Mimosa?

A Mimosa combines orange juice and sparkling wine. A Bellini traditionally combines peach with sparkling wine. Both are simple brunch cocktails, but the fruit base gives them very different personalities.

Final sip

For an easy Mimosa that still feels crisp and properly sparkling, remember one number: 1 part orange juice to 2 parts sparkling wine. Start there, switch to equal parts if you want more fruit, and keep every ingredient cold.

Two ingredients. One useful ratio. Brunch is handled.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, Love My Drink may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.