Costco's Kirkland Signature Mimosa seems to have garnered quite the fan base: While some commenters on the retailer's Instagram dismissed the affordable cocktail as "too orange" that is technically what a mimosa is supposed to look like. After all a classic mimosa is made with equal parts orange juice and sparkling wine (like Champagne if you have it). In Costco's case the secret to its private label mimosa is proudly printed on the label: Sicilian Blonde Oranges. If you were to try to make a mimosa in that style yourself what does "Sicilian Blonde Oranges" mean?
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With this easy mimosa recipe you are ready for brunch
Specifically the drink is made from Ribera oranges or officially Arancia di Ribera DOP (Denominazione d'Origine Protetta or "Protected Designation of Origin" meaning that all oranges labeled "Ribera" must be grown in Ribera Sicily). Ribera oranges are typically seedless oranges with a very bright intense color — you can see that bright "blonde" color reflected in the mimosa which is very orange. Perhaps fittingly they are known to be very sweet. So you'll need similarly bright seedless varieties of oranges to make your own version.
It would be difficult to make the Costco mimosa perfectly without importing ingredients since Ribera oranges are specific to that part of Sicily. The drink uses a blend of oranges that grow in that region primarily Washington navel oranges. These get their name from a small indentation in the peel that vaguely resembles a navel which is actually caused by a mutation that would allow a second fruit to grow. They are always seedless meaning they must be cut or grafted in order to propagate. Ribera oranges also include Navelina oranges which are similar except for a smaller “navel.”
While “blonde orange” isn’t a common term it generally refers to pale sweeter oranges like navels and Valencia oranges as opposed to darker citrus fruits like tangerines or blood oranges. Valencia oranges are just as brightly colored and sweet though they often do have seeds. Your imitation mimosa would probably benefit from navel oranges even if they’re a variety more local to your city than Sicily.
