Pineapple-Mango Mimosa

A mimosa is a combination of juice and sparkling wine. Orange juice and Champagne are the classic mix – dating back to the early 20th century – but any combination of fruit juice, fruit purée, or nectar can be combined with a sparkling alcohol (or even sparkling nonalcoholic beverage) for a mimosa recipe.

For today’s sweet-tart, tropical twist, we’re using pineapple and mango with a brut Cava.

What Is Cava?

While any sparkling wine would technically be an acceptable choice for a mimosa, I find that certain types of sparkling beverages are better for some juices than others.

For the sweet-tart combination of pineapple and mango, I’m sticking with the Spanish sparkling wine called Cava.

Cava is often confused with Prosecco, from Italy, since they are both sparkling wines often found intermingled in the wine area of your liquor store. Spanish Cava, however, is made in the same traditional way that Champagne is produced, and also has a smaller bubble due to the way it is fermented.

So, if you don’t want big, aggressive bubbles in your drink, Cava is a good pick for you. Cava is slightly acidic with citrus and green apple notes. It comes in several styles:

• Brut Nature : no to very little residual sugar
• Brut: dry/not very sweet, most common on liquor store shelves, what I use in this recipe
• Semi Seco: very sweet with the most residual sugar

Where to Find Mango Juice

Mango juice can often be found in the refrigerated juice section at your local grocery store. If juice is not available, check the international section or health food section for bottles of mango nectar.

Keep in mind that nectar will be thicker and sweeter, so you’ll need to taste a little to see how much mango-to-pineapple juice ratio will work for your preference. Pineapple juice is widely available in most supermarket juice aisles, and also large market chain liquor stores.

Do You Need Champagne Flutes for Mimosas?

Almost every brunch service with mimosas on the menu serves them up in a flute glass—but you don’t have to! If you’re casually entertaining with friends and family, stemless wine glasses are a good choice or even a regular wine glass. If flutes aren’t in your home bar, don’t sweat it!

How to Get the Perfect Pour

After one too many times of pouring sparkling wine into juice and having it bubble and overflow my glass, I almost always pour the wine first, and then the juice. You can always taste and adjust the flavor a bit as you go (as long as you’re pouring your own drink!).

Need a Mimosa Mocktail?

No booze? No problem! This mimosa can easily be made nonalcoholic in a few ways. A good quality club soda like Q Club would thin out the juice while giving the drink a pleasant effervescence.

For more complexity, nonalcoholic sparkling wines will also give you bubbles as well as more fruity notes in the glass. If you find your nonalcoholic wine is on the sweeter side, add in a splash of club soda into the mix as well.

Ways to Garnish a Pineapple Mango Mimosa

A pineapple leaf is a beautiful contrast to the bright, bold colors of this mimosa, and it doubles as a drink stirrer too! If your glass accommodates it, edible flower garnishes are also a beautiful presentation and add more punches of color in your drink.

If you don’t have either of those garnishes around the house, mint sprigs will give you a similar contrast and add a little extra aroma to your glass.

More Refreshing Drink Ideas

• Aviation Cocktail
• Lavender Lemonade
• Dark and Stormy
• Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca
• Rosemary Lemon Rhubarb Spritzer
• Ginger Switchel