How Much Mimosa for a Party?

Mimosa Planning Guide

Mimosas are roughly half sparkling wine and half juice, which stretches every bottle about twice as far as a straight pour. A 750ml bottle of sparkling wine makes around 8 to 10 mimosas at that ratio, and one bottle of orange juice keeps pace with it almost exactly. Brunch guests tend to have two to three mimosas, so plan one bottle of sparkling wine per three to four people. For a brunch of 12, that means about three to four bottles of sparkling wine and a matching three to four quarts of juice.

Skip true Champagne here and buy sparkling wine. Once the bubbly is cut with juice, the nuances of an expensive bottle are completely lost, so Prosecco, Cava, or domestic sparkling wine is the correct choice and lets you serve more for the same money. Fresh-squeezed orange juice is the upgrade that actually shows in the glass, so spend there instead. Whatever you choose, keep both the wine and the juice ice cold, because a warm mimosa foams over and goes flat fast.

A mimosa bar lets guests serve themselves and turns one juice into several drinks. Set out the chilled sparkling wine alongside two or three juices, orange plus something like cranberry, peach, or pineapple, and let people mix their own. Pour the wine into the glass first and top with juice, never the reverse, to keep it from foaming over. Include a non-alcoholic option by offering sparkling water in place of the wine, so designated drivers and anyone skipping alcohol still get a festive glass.