Cava is to Spain what Champagne is to France. Cava is probably the most popular sparkling wine in the world, and is definitely the "value king" when it comes to quality-to-price ratio. Since the beginning of Cava, it has rivaled Champagne, offering similar tastes for a fraction of the price. Cava was born in Catalonia in the late 19th century, after "phylloxera" (grape root bugs) destroyed most of the vineyards, which where mostly red grapes. With the great success Champagne was having around the world, local white varietals where planted to create sparkling wine: Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo grapes. Within a couple of years, the winery of Codorniu crafted Spain's first Sparkling wine.

In the past Cava was called "Champan", but once the European Union gave the French region of [Champagne] Exclusive rights to the name [Champagne], Spain changed the name of their sparkling wine to Cava, which translates to "Cave" in Latin, which is where the bottles where stored and aged. Cava was awarded with its own D.O. in 1986 as it was producing high-quality sparkling wines. Over 96% of the Cava production in Spain comes from the region of Catalonia, 4% of Cava's production is produced in the Spanish regions of: Aragon, Comunitat Valenciana, La Rioja, and Navarra, with all mentioned regions having rights to the D.O. Cava name. In order for a bottle of Cava to state "D.O. Cava", it must be made using the "methode champenoise", which includes fermenting the grapes and then bottling the wine, with a second fermentation occurring in the bottle.

Most Cava's found in today's market usually range from $8 to $20, and are available in array of styles, classified according to their sweetness: Brut Nature, Brut (extra dry), Dulce (sweet), Seco (dry), and Semiseco (medium). Most of the Cava's you will find will be "Non Vintage" which means the Cava is made from 2-3 blended vintages to offer high-quality, year after year. However, there are a few Cava's that are made from single vintages. The average alcohol content in Cava is between 12% to 14%. Cava usually offers aromas of complex yeast and biscuit, with flavors of orange, pear, and green apples, ending with a smooth finish and a light acidic note. Around the world, Cava is always enjoyed during celebrations, and can make a regular day, into a great day. 

KEY INFORMATION ABOUT CAVA

• Official Denominación de Origen Year: 1986
• Regions Making Cava under D.O. Cava: Catalonia (96%), Aragon (1%), Comunitat Valenciana (1%), La Rioja (1%), Navarra (1%)
• Acres Under Vine: 160,000
• Soil: Chalk, Clay, Limestone
• Vineyard Elevation: 160 to 1,960 Feet
• Major Grapes: Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo
• Major Styles of Cava: Brut Nature, Brut (extra dry), Dulce (sweet), Seco (dry), and Semiseco (medium)
• Annual Production: 1 billion liters
• Estimated Wineries Producing Cava: 258

WEATHER WHERE CAVA IS MADE (PENEDES, CATALONIA)

Codorniu, Anna de Codorniu Brut
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Parellada
Usually Scores: 88-90
Price: $15

Freixenet, Cordon Negro Brut
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 40% Parellada, 35% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo
Usually Scores: 86-90
Price: $12

Cristalino Brut Cava
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel-lo
Usually Scores: 85-90
Price: $8

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel-lo
Usually Scores: 86-90
Price: $9

Montsarra Cava Brut
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 50% Macabeo, 35% Xarel-lo, 15% Parellada
Usually Scores: 88-90
Price: $20

Codorniu Brut Pinot Noir
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Usually Scores: 85-90
Price: $15

Poema Brut Cava
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 40% Macabeo, 40% Xarel-lo, 20% Parellada
Usually Scores: 85-88
Price: $11

Segura Viudas, Aria Brut
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 50% Macabeo, 40% Parellada, 10% Xarel-lo
Usually Scores: 85-90
Price: $12

Cristalino Brut Rose
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Trepat
Usually Scores: 85-88
Price: $10

Segura Viudas, Brut Reserva Heredad
Region: Cava
Grape Varietal: 67% Macabeo, 33% Parellada
Usually Scores: 89-92
Price: $23