House Wine Mimosa

House Wine Mimosa is a sparkling wine from Esplanda, labeled United States with a Massachusetts appellation. The name points to the brunch classic of sparkling wine and orange, so expect a bright, citrus-leaning profile. No grape blend, ABV, or sweetness level is listed, so check the label for those. Drinks in this style usually have lively bubbles, light body, no tannin, and a clean, fairly short finish. They also tend to show orange peel, tangerine, and a little white peach, with enough acidity to keep the fruit from feeling heavy. Oak is not a feature of this style. Serve it well chilled, around 38 to 45°F, which in a home fridge means about four hours or an hour in an ice bucket. Colder service keeps the bubbles fine and the citrus crisp. Do not decant it, because that would only flatten the carbonation. A flute keeps the bubbles lasting longest. A tulip-shaped white wine glass gives the citrus aromas more room, and it is a good choice if you plan to sip slowly. Open the bottle by holding the cork and turning the bottle, so it comes out with a soft sigh instead of a pop. At the table, this style suits brunch dishes: eggs Benedict, smoked salmon on bagels, ricotta pancakes, fruit salad, and quiche. The acidity cuts through butter and hollandaise, and the fruit sits comfortably beside salty cured fish. It also works with lightly salted snacks like popcorn or soft cheeses. Very spicy dishes tend to overwhelm a delicate sparkler. Treat this as a drink-now bottle. Light, fruit-forward sparkling wines like this are made for freshness, not cellaring, and they are at their best in the months after purchase. Keep the bottle upright in a cool, dark spot until it goes in the fridge. Once opened, it holds its fizz for about a day with a proper sparkling-wine stopper.