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Cava is Spain's iconic sparkling wine style, and the Iberian Peninsula's answer to Champagne. Its name comes not from a place, grape variety or winemaking technique, but from the stone cellars (cavas) in which the wine is matured. The style was first produced in the 1870s, by a Josep Raventós, on his return to Catalunya after a visit to France. Raventós had married into the Cordorníu family, whose brand still dominates Cava production today.
For the first century of their existence, the wines were called Champaña. Raventós had, after all, intentionally tried to imitate Champagne, making them in the méthode traditionnelle. In the 1970s, however, the Champagne authorities clamped down on use and abuse of the name "Champagne", backed by international laws, creating the need for an alternative name for these Spanish sparkling wines. The name cava was chosen, and in 1970 the official Cava DO (Denominación de Origen) title was introduced, to cover exclusively sparkling white and rosé wines.
Since the adoption of its name, Cava and its producers have worked hard to distinguish it from its more famous French counterpart. It doesn't bear Champagne's hefty price tag and thus has been portrayed as a beverage not confined to special occasions that still offers quality and, of course, the beloved bubbles.
While the original Cavas were produced exclusively in Catalunya – specifically in a small town called San Sadurní de Noya – modern Cava can come from various parts of Spain. Aragon, Navarra, Rioja, Pais Vasco, Valencia and Extremadura have specific demarcated areas which qualify for the DO, although in reality less than 10% of Cava wine comes from these regions. The heart of Cava production very much remains in San Sadurní de Noya. All of the scattered areas share similarities of climate, largely Mediterranean, with moderate rainfall. Most vineyards sit at around 650-985ft (200-300m), although some reach 2,625ft (800m).
The traditional grape varieties used in Cava were Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel.lo, but the Champagne grapes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are also now being used. Macabeo makes up around half of a standard Cava blend – not because of its flavour (it is quite bland), but because it represents a viticultural insurance policy. Macabeo vines bud relatively late in the spring, ensuring that their flowers and grapes are safe from early frosts. The interesting, slightly earthy flavours that distinguish Cava from most Champagnes are generally attributed to Xarel.lo grapes. Pinot Noir and Monastrell are used to bring red pigment and depth of flavour to Cava Rosado, which may also be labelled as Cava Rosé. Grenache, Malvasia and Trepat are also authorised for use in Cava by the Consejo Regulador wine authority, although the latter is allowed only in rosado wines.
The production conditions placed on Cava winemakers are not dissimilar to those followed by their counterparts in Champagne. All Cava wines must be lees aged for a minimum of nine months, and reach a final alcohol level of no less than 10% and no more than 13%.
Cavas come in a variety of sweetness levels and are classified into the following (in ascending order of sweetness):
Brut Nature: Contains 0-3 grams per liter of residual sugar where no sugar has been added to the bottle.
Extra Brut: Contains 0-6 grams per litre of residual sugar
Brut: Contains 0-12 grams per litre of residual sugar
Extra Seco (also counterintuitively referred to as Extra Dry): Contains 12-17 grams per litre of residual sugar
Seco (also referred to as Dry): Contains 17-32 grams per litre of residual sugar
Semi-Seco (Semi-Dry): Contains 32-50 grams per litre of residual sugar
Dulce (Sweet): Contains more than 50 grams per litre of residual sugar
For the first century of their existence, the wines were called Champaña. Raventós had, after all, intentionally tried to imitate Champagne, making them in the méthode traditionnelle. In the 1970s, however, the Champagne authorities clamped down on use and abuse of the name "Champagne", backed by international laws, creating the need for an alternative name for these Spanish sparkling wines. The name cava was chosen, and in 1970 the official Cava DO (Denominación de Origen) title was introduced, to cover exclusively sparkling white and rosé wines.
Since the adoption of its name, Cava and its producers have worked hard to distinguish it from its more famous French counterpart. It doesn't bear Champagne's hefty price tag and thus has been portrayed as a beverage not confined to special occasions that still offers quality and, of course, the beloved bubbles.
While the original Cavas were produced exclusively in Catalunya – specifically in a small town called San Sadurní de Noya – modern Cava can come from various parts of Spain. Aragon, Navarra, Rioja, Pais Vasco, Valencia and Extremadura have specific demarcated areas which qualify for the DO, although in reality less than 10% of Cava wine comes from these regions. The heart of Cava production very much remains in San Sadurní de Noya. All of the scattered areas share similarities of climate, largely Mediterranean, with moderate rainfall. Most vineyards sit at around 650-985ft (200-300m), although some reach 2,625ft (800m).
The traditional grape varieties used in Cava were Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel.lo, but the Champagne grapes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are also now being used. Macabeo makes up around half of a standard Cava blend – not because of its flavour (it is quite bland), but because it represents a viticultural insurance policy. Macabeo vines bud relatively late in the spring, ensuring that their flowers and grapes are safe from early frosts. The interesting, slightly earthy flavours that distinguish Cava from most Champagnes are generally attributed to Xarel.lo grapes. Pinot Noir and Monastrell are used to bring red pigment and depth of flavour to Cava Rosado, which may also be labelled as Cava Rosé. Grenache, Malvasia and Trepat are also authorised for use in Cava by the Consejo Regulador wine authority, although the latter is allowed only in rosado wines.
The production conditions placed on Cava winemakers are not dissimilar to those followed by their counterparts in Champagne. All Cava wines must be lees aged for a minimum of nine months, and reach a final alcohol level of no less than 10% and no more than 13%.
Cavas come in a variety of sweetness levels and are classified into the following (in ascending order of sweetness):
Brut Nature: Contains 0-3 grams per liter of residual sugar where no sugar has been added to the bottle.
Extra Brut: Contains 0-6 grams per litre of residual sugar
Brut: Contains 0-12 grams per litre of residual sugar
Extra Seco (also counterintuitively referred to as Extra Dry): Contains 12-17 grams per litre of residual sugar
Seco (also referred to as Dry): Contains 17-32 grams per litre of residual sugar
Semi-Seco (Semi-Dry): Contains 32-50 grams per litre of residual sugar
Dulce (Sweet): Contains more than 50 grams per litre of residual sugar