Why Sparkling Wine Belongs at Brunch
Sparkling wine is naturally light, refreshing, and low(ish) in alcohol, which makes it ideal for daytime sipping and long, relaxed brunches. The bubbles lift citrus, stone fruit, and berry flavours, turning simple juice or purée into something that feels special with almost no extra effort.
If your brunch menu already leans toward eggs, pastries, and salty sides, bright, crisp bubbles cut through richness and reset the palate between bites.
Here are 5 sparkling wine cocktails for weekend brunch:
1. Classic Mimosa (With a Simple Upgrade)
The mimosa is the brunch classic: equal parts sparkling wine and orange juice, poured over a chilled flute. To keep it from tasting flat or cloying, always use well‑chilled wine and juice, and aim for pulp‑free orange juice for a cleaner texture.
Basic ratio:
- 1 part chilled orange juice
- 1–2 parts chilled sparkling wine
How to elevate it:
- Add a splash of lemon or grapefruit juice for extra brightness.
- Use a strip of orange peel and a few pomegranate arils as a garnish for colour and aroma.
You can turn this into a mini mimosa bar by offering a few juices (orange, blood orange, pineapple, cranberry) and letting guests top up with sparkling wine to taste.
2. Peach Bellini
Where the mimosa leans citrusy, the bellini is all about ripe stone fruit. Traditionally made with white peach purée and sparkling wine, it delivers soft sweetness and a beautiful blush colour that feels right at home with a long, indulgent brunch.
Simple Bellini formula:
- 1 part peach purée or nectar
- 2 parts chilled sparkling wine
Gently add a little sparkling wine to the purée first, stir, then top up to keep the texture smooth and bubbly. If peaches aren’t in season, high‑quality peach nectar works well; you can balance sweetness with a squeeze of lemon juice.
For a brunch spread, bellinis pair especially well with French toast, waffles, or buttery pastries, where the fruit notes echo the flavours on the plate.
3. Berry Kir Royale (Brunch-Friendly Version)
A Kir Royale is typically blackcurrant liqueur topped with sparkling wine, but you can create a lighter, brunch‑appropriate spin by using a small amount of berry syrup or purée instead. This keeps the drink vibrant and fruity without tipping it into heavy cocktail territory.
Brunch Kir Royale idea:
- 10–15 ml berry syrup or mixed berry purée
- Top with chilled sparkling wine
- Garnish with a few fresh raspberries or a twist of lemon
The result is a jewel‑toned drink that looks more complex than it is, and works brilliantly with savoury dishes like smoked salmon, eggs Benedict, or cheese boards.
4. Citrus Spritz for Brunch
Spritz‑style cocktails aren’t just for summer evenings; a lighter citrus spritz is ideal when you want something lower in alcohol that guests can sip over a couple of hours. The basic spritz pattern is simple: bitter or citrus component + sparkling wine + soda.
Brunch citrus spritz template:
- 60 ml fresh orange or grapefruit juice
- 90 ml sparkling wine
- Splash of soda or sparkling water
- Orange or grapefruit slice to garnish
Built over ice in a wine glass, this style of drink stretches the sparkling wine, hydrates a little with soda, and pairs well with everything from savoury tarts to salads. Adjust the ratio of juice and soda if you want it even lighter for midday.
5. Sparkling Brunch Sangria
If you’re hosting more than a couple of people, sparkling sangria is an efficient way to serve a crowd without shaking individual drinks. Think of it as a fruit‑forward punch: a base of wine, fresh fruit, maybe a little juice, finished with sparkling wine just before serving.
Basic sparkling brunch sangria:
- 1 bottle of still white or rosé wine
- 1–2 cups chopped fruit (berries, peach slices, orange wheels)
- ½–1 cup fruit juice (orange, apple, or cranberry)
- 1 bottle chilled sparkling wine added just before serving
Let the still wine, juice, and fruit sit in the fridge for a few hours so the flavours merge, then top with your sparkling wine and plenty of ice when guests arrive. This kind of pitcher drink looks impressive on the table and lets everyone self-serve between bites of quiche, frittata, or pastries.
See our guide to hosting a sparkling brunch.
How to Choose the Right Sparkling Wine for Brunch
For brunch cocktails, you don’t need the most expensive bottle on the shelf. What you want is balance: enough acidity to cut through juice and fruit, and enough flavour to stand up in a mixed drink.
General guidelines:
- Use Brut or dry sparkling wine when your mixer is sweet (orange juice, peach purée, syrups).
- Off‑dry or slightly sweeter styles work with more tart juices like grapefruit or cranberry.
- Save highly complex or vintage bottles for sipping on their own; for cocktails, good‑quality non‑vintage sparkling is ideal.
Our Brut Sparkling works beautifully in mimosas and spritzes, thanks to its bright acidity and clean finish.
Hosting Tips for a Stress-Free Sparkling Brunch
A good brunch is as much about flow as it is about recipes. A few simple systems ensure you’re not stuck pouring all morning:
- Pre‑chill everything: Sparkling wine, juices, purées, and fruit all need to be cold for the best texture and flavour.
- Prep garnishes in advance: Slice citrus and stone fruit, wash berries, and store in airtight containers so assembly is fast.
- Set up a self‑serve bar: Arrange chilled bottles in an ice bucket, carafes of juice, and bowls of garnish so guests can top themselves up.
- Offer a non‑alcoholic option: Sparkling water or alcohol‑free sparkling juice with the same garnishes lets everyone join in the ritual.
Final Takeaway
Sparkling wine cocktails turn an ordinary weekend brunch into an occasion, without demanding bar‑level skills. With just a few bottles of bubbly, some fresh juice, and seasonal fruit, you can serve mimosas, bellinis, kir‑style drinks, spritzes, and sparkling sangria that look polished and taste effortless.
Ready to stock up for your next brunch? Discover our sparkling wines for cocktails and mimosas on the products page, and start planning your weekend bubbles.