Cava hits all of the right notes when it comes to great sparkling wine: it has a serious sense of complexity, lots of gorgeous fruit flavors, and is much less expensive than Champagne. No wonder fans of bubbly are so passionate about it!
What is Cava?
Cava, also called Cava wine and Cava brut (and sometimes even Cava alcohol), is a sparkling wine from Spain typically produced in Catalonia’s Penedès region. However, it’s also made in other regions throughout the country.
Where does Cava come from?
Cava only comes from Spain. Plenty of other countries produce sparkling wine, but Cava is a strictly Spanish product. No matter where in Spain it’s made, some specific rules and regulations govern its production.
How is Cava made?
The main grape varieties for Cava production are Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarello. Like all wine, grapes are harvested, selected for quality, and then pressed, after which the juice is fermented into wine. At this point, the non-sparkling white wine is put into a bottle and topped up with a mixture of unfermented grape juice or a sugar solution, as well as yeast. The bottle is then closed with a metal crown cap—like what you’d find on a beer bottle—and laid down on its side. The yeast ferments the sugar, which produces a bit more alcohol as well as carbon dioxide. Since the bottles are sealed, the CO2 dissolves into the liquid, which is where the bubbles come from. Once the yeast has fermented the sugar, the Cava is allowed to rest for a time with the lees or spent yeast, which lends the wine greater flavor depth. When the winemaker is ready, they will have the bottles disgorged, expelling the plug of yeast from the bottle and topping up the liquid before sealing it with a cork and wire cage. It’s a labor-intensive process, but it results in a wine of profound complexity.
How do you drink Cava?
Cava is best enjoyed well-chilled and from either a sparkling-wine flute or a white wine glass, allowing the aroma more room to express themselves fully.
What does Cava wine taste like?
Cava tends to have flavors of apples, citrus fruit, and occasionally a hint of spice and fresh-baked bread. The colder you drink it, the more citrus will come out, whereas enjoying it at a slightly less-cold temperature will highlight the more savory characteristics.
Is Cava Brut sweet?
The word “brut” literally translates to “dry” from the French. However, it’s common for professional tasters to find ripe fruit notes in Cava, which can be perceived as a bit sweet. Still, if the bottle says “Brut,” it’ll be made in a drier style.
Is Cava or Prosecco drier?
It depends on the producer’s style as well as what the label says. In general, however, Cava is going to be the drier of the two.
Is Cava the same as Champagne?
No, it’s not. Though they’re made in strikingly similar ways, they are each unique to their country of origin. Cava is Spanish, and Champagne is French (and can only be produced in the region of the same name by law). Also, they are made from different grape varieties. Some people refer to the great Spanish sparkler as “Cava Champagne,” but that’s not correct—there’s no such thing.
What is the difference between Cava and Prosecco?
Prosecco is made, by Italian law, in a specific region of Northeastern Italy, from a grape variety that used to be called “Prosecco” but is now referred to as “Glera.” The production of Prosecco is different from the one used to make Cava, too. Whereas the secondary fermentation that gives Cava its bubbles takes place in the individual bottles, Prosecco is typically fermented for a second time in a massive, pressurized stainless steel tank. This allows Prosecco to focus on the fruit, aromas, and flavors since the wine isn’t resting in contact with such a high ratio of spent yeast. Prosecco tends to be more overtly fruity than Cava.
What are popular brands of Cava?
As Cava has grown in popularity, the range of great brands being imported into the United States has also increased. Freixenet and Segura Viudas are excellent, as well as Rondel, Cristalino, and Conde de Caralt.
Want to learn more about Cava wine?
Visit our Guide to Cava wine to learn more about Cava from Spain.
