Quite recently, around 70 years ago, sparkling Spanish wine in Spain was called champán or chámpaña.
Thus, clearly implying at Champagne.
One day France got tired of those hints.
Champagne is from Champagne region- shouted French. So, Spanish sparkling wine had to turn into cava.
Cava in Catalan means basement, cellar.
Why use a Catalan word?
Because 95% of all Cava is produced in Catalonia.
And here is yet another delicate matter. Spaniards from other regions, normally not being very fond of Catalonia or Catalans really suffer, having to drink Catalan Cava for special occasions.
For those martyrs exist Cava from other Spanish regions, often from Extremadura, Rioja or Valencia.
Although those regions have different climates and using different grapes.
So, technically is wrong to call all that sparkling wine by the same name: Cava.
But let us leave those details to Spanish people. I believe soon enough they will separate Cava of Catalonia from other Spanish sparkling wines to a separate category.
And let us discuss how does Cava taste like?
Does it remind of Champagne?
Both Cava and Champagne are sparkling wine.
Both made using the same technique: the traditional champenois method. But that’s it.
Taste is really different.
Because soil, grapes, climate: all is different.
Spanish climate is way warmer so grape is sweeter, that’s is why it is even allowed to add some acidity to the wine.
The good news is that Cava is way more economic than Champagne.
A decent Cava bottle will cost you 5-10 euros.
For 20-30 euros you will get an amazing example.
Meanwhile an average French guy will have to spend around 20-30 ++ euros for an average bottle of Champagne.
Most famous Spanish Cava brands with mass productions are as follows:
✔️Codorniu (by the way, this oldest Cava winery in Catalonia).
✔️Freixenet
✔️Juve & Camps
✔️Pago de Tharsys
✔️Segura Viudas
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Have you tried Cava? Do you like it?
