Move Over Mimosas, Breakfast Wines Are What Your Holiday Brunch Needs

A glass of wine can be the ideal complement to dinner—but popping open a bottle for breakfast or brunch can be just as satisfying and appropriate. After all, a traditional brunch may highlight mimosas and Bloody Marys on the beverage list, so why not wine?

According to sommelier Tahiirah Habibi, wines can be a great choice for breakfast over traditional options because of the complexity they bring to the table. “Wines offer a wide range of complex and subtle flavors that can pair wonderfully with breakfast foods such as cheeses, croissants, eggs, or fresh fruit,” she says. As a bonus, wine is typically made with fewer additives than cocktails, too, Habibi adds.

From crisp whites to lighter, fruity reds, here’s how to incorporate breakfast wines into your holiday brunch menu and beyond.

How to Pair Wine With Breakfast

To find the best bottle (or bottles) to pair with breakfast or brunch, you'll want to consider acidity, freshness, and sweetness. Keeping these elements in mind will help you to find a balanced pairing that doesn’t overpower your food menu. “Dry white wines with lower alcohol content and higher acidity are always a good pick,” says Greg Cantu, wine director at Portland restaurant Quaintrelle and co-founder of Hooray for You Wine Co. 

Acidity

“When you think about things that might be on the breakfast table, it’s bacon, sausage, hollandaise, eggs, pancakes, waffles, cheese, maple syrup,” says Cantu. “These foods are fatty, salty, and rich.” Lean into wines that will cut through the fat and salt and clean up the palate for the next bite, he suggests. Wines higher in acidity will help to achieve that.

Sweetness

Habibi suggests aiming for off-dry to slightly sweet wines. “Wines with a touch of residual sugar go well with salty breakfast items,” she says. Plus, sweetness can complement spicy breakfast foods on the table as well. 

Body and Flavor

While wonderful with dinner, heavily oaked wines or tannic wines should be avoided at breakfast. “They can be too intense for the food,” says Habibi. Cantu says if you must have a red, go for something like Trousseau, which tends to have higher acid and a lighter body. These wines also tend to have a lower alcohol content, which Habibi says is helpful to avoid overwhelming the flavors of breakfast foods. Options under 13 percent ABV are ideal.

Breakfast Wines to Try

Whites

Habibi says to consider a dry to off-dry riesling to pair with spicy breakfast dishes and fruit-based pastries. It’s also a wonderful pairing for a glazed holiday ham thanks to balanced sweetness and a hint of citrus and slight minerality.

For pancakes and sweet pastries, go for moscato d’asti, which has low alcohol content, light bubbles, and is slightly sweet. It’s an especially great pairing if you put sweet breakfast treats on the table on Christmas morning.

Cantu notes that sticking to classic go-to whites is a safe bet as well. sauvignon blanc or pinot blanc certainly have a place at the table.

Bubbles

Champagne is ideal for a special occasion. The bubbles help to cut through food, making it an ideal pairing for just about anything. Cantu says you want bright and fresh. “I love to have seafood with brunch, especially at the holidays. Oysters, crab, prawns, smoked salmon, even caviar. It feels decadent and should be,” he adds.

Another bubbly option? Habibi suggests pairing light and fruity prosecco with eggs Benedict or smoked salmon. Of course, a splash of cranberry juice will make it that much more festive for a Christmas brunch.

Reds

Love red wine? Look to a fruity, light-bodied Beaujolais to pair with eggs, bacon, and sausage. Habibi also suggests a bottle of slightly sparkling lambrusco as a refreshing pairing for savory pastries, egg dishes, and rich casseroles on Christmas morning. Trousseau is another great option with a light body, excellent acidity, and fruity notes if you want to reach for a red.

Rosé

A glass of rosé can make any occasion feel more festive. Habibi says to open a bottle of Provence rosé, which has a beautiful pale pink hue with subtle fruit notes. Pair it with eggs and bacon or breakfast sandwiches for any festive brunch.