Why This Works
A Mimosa is a one-to-one drink with nowhere to hide, so both halves have to earn it. Freshly squeezed orange juice is not a nicety here, it is the difference between a real drink and a sugary one. Cartons are pasteurized flat; fresh juice keeps the brightness and slight bitterness that stands up to the wine.
This is a category where alcohol-free actually delivers, which is exactly why the drink works. Good non-alcoholic sparkling wine has real acidity, fine bubbles, and a dry finish, so you get the structure and celebration of the original rather than fizzy juice. Choose a dry, brut-style bottle so the drink lands crisp instead of cloying.
Temperature and pour are everything. Serve it ice cold with no ice in the glass, which would only water it down, and pour the sparkling wine slowly down the side to protect the bubbles. A twist of orange oil over the top ties the aroma together and makes the first sip smell like the whole drink.
The Alcohol-Free Swap
Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine is the base and the reason this works. Look for a dry, traditional-method or brut-style bottle with genuine acidity; it brings the backbone and celebration that turn juice and bubbles into a proper Mimosa.