The Case For Cava – I like to think that I know a fair bit about champagne, having worked, in a previous career, with a leading champagne house for many years. Recently though, I was lucky enough to be invited on a trip to Spain, as a guest of D.O.Cava, the regulatory board of these Spanish sparkling wines, and it was a vinous revelation. Over a few days we visited not one, but seven different wineries, from the very large, to the boutique, and different as they all were, the quality of the wines was consistently superb. The traditional methods were all used, except of course, the larger wineries have been able to invest in some more automated production methods. We tasted a good range of D.O.Cavas, starting from well under £10 a bottle to some of the most spectacular vintages, that still cost far less, generally, than a rather mediocre champagne.
As the festive season approaches, we’ll be looking for the perfect bottles to accompany our celebrations. D.O.Cava – crafted using the same traditional method as champagne – is a premium, versatile and gastronomic wine, and one that’s perfect for pairing so many festive dishes. With the traditional method, the second fermentation – to produce bubbles and the unique flavour – takes place in the bottle. D.O.Cava is crafted from key grape varieties: Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada. Macabeo offers freshness, Xarel·lo adds body, and Parellada lends delicate fruitiness. Together, they create the crisp acidity and fine bubbles that define Cava. D.O.Cava is split into four distinct categories, all of which can enhance your festive experience and suit your individual budget:
- Cava de Guarda: Fresh and lively, with a minimum of 9 months ageing in the bottle, it’s perfect party wine and for festive aperitifs or light dishes. .
- Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva: Aged for a minimum of 18 months, this Cava offers a refined complexity, making it an ideal companion to seafood dishes.
- Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva: With at least 30 months of ageing, this option is suited to richer mains, such as the traditional Christmas meal, whether you’re having turkey, goose or beef.
- Cava de Guarda Superior Paraje Calificado: The pinnacle of Cava, made from grapes from a single vineyard and aged for a minimum of 36 months, this is the choice for the most special of moments. Its elegance and richness make it the ultimate choice for toasting on Christmas Day or ringing in the New Year.
Cava is consistently one of the best sparkling wines in the world. Internationally renowned and available in more than 100 countries, it’s the most widely exported sparkling wine with a Spanish Designation of Origin (‘D.O’). The D.O. encompasses more than 93,900 acres of vineyards and more than 6,100 winegrowers. It’s made with a strict commitment to origin, land, and sustainability. And from 2025, the Guarda Superior category will be 100% green and made from organic grapes only. Sadly, not all of the wonderful D.O.Cava we tasted is available yet in the UK, but here are some that are definitely worth checking out and stocking up with for the festive period.
Juvé y Camps is a family-owned winery, and today has established itself as one of the most highly regarded Cava producers in Spain. We tasted some really amazing D.O.Cavas on our visit and I’m pleased to say that it’s available from some of the independent specialist wine retailers here like Simply Wines Direct at just £16.99 a bottle. The Brut Nature Reserva de la Familia Cava has a typically pale golden colour, tiny, persistent bubbles and a rich, elegant nose of ripe white fruit such as apple and pears. The palate is creamy and full of toasty notes thanks to the 36 months it has spent ageing on its lees. The wine lingers on the palate with a ripe fruit finish.
Codorniu Herencia Cava Brut 75cl Herencia is a D.O.Cava made with a blend of the traditional grape varieties: Macabeu, Xarel-lo and Parellada. Pale gold in colour with fine, persistent bubbles. Fresh with intense aromas of apple and pleasant citrus notes. Great value at £8 at Tesco. Codorniu is the oldest winery in Spain, founded almost 500 years ago in 1551. It’s famous for being the inventor of Cava in 1872.
Segura Viudas Premium Cava Brut Vintage 75cl (Xarello 40%, Macabeu 30%, Parellada 26%, Chardonnay 4%) A balanced D.O.Cava with a fresh finish, intense and complex in aroma. White fruits – apple and pear dominating, along with citrus and tropical fruit – pineapple, over a base of dried fruit and nuts, with some toasty notes and a touch of vanilla. Clean and fresh in aroma. On the palate it starts soft and flavoursome, with bright, long acidity delivering freshness. £12 Tesco
Asda has some great value D.O.Cavas and also available in rosé, which is even more special for celebrations, in my opinion: Casa Luis Cava Brut 75cl (crisp and light with fresh apple, lemon and almond flavours) and Casa Luis Cava Rosé Extra Dry 75cl (fresh and fruity, bursting with strawberry and citrus flavours) are staggeringly good value at just £6 a bottle! Also available is the ASDA Extra Special Mas Miralda Cava Brut (An exceptional full-bodied wine, with a depth of flavour singular only to vintage D.O.Cavas) and ASDA Extra Special Mas Miralda Brut Rosé Cava (brimming with sumptuous red berry flavours) are slightly more at £7 a bottle but equally stonking value. What’s more, Asda has a brilliant promotion running till 15 December whereby if you buy six bottles, you get a 25% discount!
Not surprisingly, Marks & Spencer has a very good range too: M&S Cava Brut £7 (with flavours of apple and citrus, lifted by biscuit notes, made by Salvador Escoda, using traditional grape varieties) Rosado also available at same price (salmon pink sparkling wine with flavours of wild strawberries and cranberries) M&S Prestige Cava Brut £9 (with flavours of green apples, limes and peaches with a nutty twist. Made by Miquel Salarich, using local Macabeo and Parellada grapes sourced from north east Spain) M&S Vintage Cava Brut £12 (dry, bottle-fermented Cava with flavours of toast and green apple. This vintage Spanish sparkling wine is crafted by winemaker Miquel Salarich, from local Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel.lo grape varieties.) I love the fact that there are mini bottles available too at just £3.50 for 20cl – a great sampling opportunity, or of course a stocking filler.
Most of the better supermarkets will have some D.O.Cavas – maybe it’s time that D.O.Cavas took some of the glory that prosecco has had of late? I do become annoyed when I see a wine list that has, say, a couple of champagnes, a couple of English sparklings and some prosecco – but sadly no D.O.Cavas. We need to start asking why they aren’t offering us the chance to drink this wonderful Spanish sparkler!
So, if you want my advice, this Christmas check out the D.O. Cava range at your local supermarket or independent wine shop…I think you’ll be in for a very nice surprise!
For more info, visit the website www.cava.wine/en
The Seasoned Gastronome