{"id":6021,"date":"2025-09-27T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=6021"},"modified":"2025-10-01T21:42:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T21:42:58","slug":"stop-dismissing-cava-as-just-cheap-fizz-it-deserves-more-respect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/27\/stop-dismissing-cava-as-just-cheap-fizz-it-deserves-more-respect\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop dismissing Cava as just cheap fizz \u2014 it deserves more respect"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cava deserves more respect than it gets (Picture: Getty Images\/fStop)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

I want you to forget everything you think you know about Cava.<\/p>\n

I’m going to let you in on an industry secret, while many shoppers breeze straight past the Cava and opt for Prosecco<\/a>, the former is actually the go-to for so many wine experts. <\/p>\n

It’s even sometimes known as \u2018the wine industry\u2019s best kept sparkling secret\u2019.<\/p>\n

That’s because Cava is actually the world\u2019s most difficult-to-produce sparkling wine and it also delivers the best value for money of any fizz.<\/p>\n

The drink is currently going through a bit of a rebrand to highlight just how great it really is. Here’s everything you need to know about it…<\/p>\n

Where and how is Cava made?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Around 95% of Cava production is concentrated around the Comtats de Barcelona<\/a>, in the northeastern Pened\u00e8s region of Catalonia<\/a> in Spain<\/a>. The municipality is called Sant Sadurn\u00ed d\u2019Anoia (san-sad-ur-ni-dannoy-a), aka \u2018The Capital of Cava\u2019, where they\u2019ve been producing wine since 1872. <\/p>\n

It can also legally be made in other regions around Spain, including Rioja and Valencia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It’s not the same as Prosecco, which is made in is from northern Italy<\/a>, in a tank and then sold immediately, hence it goes flat quickly. <\/p>\n

Cava is made in the same way as Champagne, where they make a base wine by fermenting and blending three indigenous grapes from the region, each with unique flavours; Parellada (citrus and white flowers), Xare-lo (pear and melon) and Macabeo (lemon and almonds).<\/p>\n

The base wine is bottled, with the addition of sugar and yeast, to kick start a second fermentation. This creates CO2 as a bi-product, introduced into the wine in the form of bubbles. The wine is then left to mature on the dead yeast (for added flavour and texture) for a minimum of nine months, a sugar solution is added (or not) before sealing it with a cork and a wire cage (the muselet).<\/p>\n

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95% of Cava production is concentrated around the Comtats de Barcelona region (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why does Cava deserve more respect?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Because, in response to Cava being seen as a cheap and cheerful party fuel, D.O. Cava regulatory board (D.O. means designation of origin) have massively tightened up their rules on producing it. All stages of the winemaking process are hyper-carefully monitored, from production through to labelling.<\/p>\n

And now, in a move unprecedented by other wine producing areas, top-end Cavas have achieved an 100% organic status, where no pesticide, herbicide or fungicides are used, making it an altogether cleaner and more sustainable<\/a> wine style.<\/p>\n

These elite bottles are called Cava de Paraje Calificado, and are the pinnacle of Spanish sparkling winemaking. <\/p>\n

They are single-vineyard (only produced from grapes grown in one vineyard), sourced only from exceptional vineyards and aged for a minimum of 36 months. They have all the patience, pedigree and craftsmanship you would expect from a prestige champagne, not to mention the complexity, all for half the price.<\/p>\n

A notch down, and you have Cavas de Guarda Superior, which includes Reserva (minimum of 18 months ageing) and Gran Reserve (minimum of 30 months ageing). This quality level was introduced in 2022, and grapes must be hand-harvested and only vineyards established a minimum of 10 years ago can produce them.<\/p>\n

So, it’s easy to see that Cava has the most demanding regulations for any sparkling wine on Earth. Which just goes to show, Cava isn\u2019t trying to be Champagne, it\u2019s not trying to be Prosecco, it\u2019s trying to be the best version of Cava.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, here are some bottles you should try, including bargains, sustainable sips and rich fizz:<\/p>\n

Baron Amarillo Cava Brut, \u00a35.75, Aldi<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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A bargain wine (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even at the basic end of the spectrum, Cava is exceptional value for money. A lovely, lean and dry fizz with enticing notes of lemon thyme and fennel seed. Aldi\u2019s is the perfect gateway Cava if you\u2019re not familiar with the style.<\/p>\n

Vilarnau Organic Brut Reserva, \u00a39.80 (save \u00a33), Ocado<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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An bright, organic fizz (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I can\u2019t not mention the eye-catching, Mir\u00f3-inspired bottle, representing vibey Barcelona. This organic Cava (they\u2019ve been fully organic since 2015) is produced by Vilarnau, one of the Wineries for Climate Protection. Heck, even the winemaker rides around her vineyards on a pushbike. The wine itself is bright, clean and dry with lemon sherbet notes and a well-seasoned, oyster shell salinity.<\/p>\n

Vilarnau Ros\u00e9 Delicat Reserva, \u00a310 (save \u00a33), Ocado<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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A glowy drink (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This glowy, ros\u00e9 Cava is made by a particular method, called saign\u00e9e, literally meaning \u2018bleeding\u2019. This involves draining, or bleeding off, the juice from a tank of pressed red grapes, ready to ferment into a ros\u00e9. The result is a far more intensely-flavoured wine, in this case, with cherries, wild strawberries and raspberries with a balancing almond skin finish.<\/p>\n

Mas Maci\u00e0 Brut Nature Reserva, \u00a314.99, Drinkwell.com<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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A deliciously bone dry Cava (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dosage is the sugar solution that\u2019s added to sparkling wine before the cork is pushed into the bottle. This decides whether the wine will be dry or sweet, with most of us favouring a Brut style (6 \u2013 12g of sugar per litre). This sparkling has no dosage added, making it deliciously bone dry, super lean with flavours of pear, fennel, herb salt and a green apple finish.<\/p>\n

Ars Collecta Codorniu Blanc de Blancs Reserva 2021, \u00a316 (save \u00a32), Ocado<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Rich and complex (Picture Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Codorniu is the oldest Cava house in existence, and also one of the most famous. This sits a few notches above their widely-available bottles; a fully-organic, Reserva-level Cava with the addition of Chardonnay. The latter grape gives the wine a noticeable creaminess, with rich and complex flavours of russet golden apples and pears, fennel, sea mist and lemon salt.<\/p>\n

Pere Ventura Tresor Gran Reserva 2021, \u00a321, The Great Wine Co<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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This is one of my favourites (Picture: Rob Buckhaven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of my favourites, this is a Gran Reserva Cava with a minimum ageing of 36 months. Bear in mind that an equivalent champagne or English sparkling would be around the \u00a340 mark, minimum, so there\u2019s lashings of value for money here. It\u2019s bright and saline with  green apple, oyster shell and anise-flavoured bubbles, which are noticeably refined and \u2018champagne-like\u2019 through its extended ageing.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tLooking for more expert drinks content?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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If you count yourself a purveyor of the finer things in life, Metro\u2019s Drink Up column<\/a> is where you need to be.<\/p>\n

Immerse yourself in the world of good drink, fronted by industry expert Rob Buckhaven \u2013 a place for readers to whet their whistle with the latest and greatest in the world of drinks. From unpacking the best supermarket wines<\/a> from Aldi<\/a>, Tesco<\/a> and Lidl<\/a>, to introducing audiences to the wallet-friendly Cremant out-bubbling the fanciest of French Champagnes<\/a> (or the best wines to drink after sex<\/a>), and finding out what it\u2019s like to go on a bar crawl with Jason Momoa,<\/a> this is a haven for those who love to celebrate.<\/p>\n

Stay ahead of the curve<\/a> as Rob plucks from the vines the wines of the season and the spirits you need to know about; speaking with experts and mixologists while unpacking the latest concoctions, finding the best non-alcoholic options<\/a> for those looking to moderate, discovering the best food pairings for your drops, and going up against the latest TikTok <\/a>chatter to demystify the liquid landscape.<\/p>\n

What are the best drinks to take to a summer picnic?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wine that you should never serve at a wedding<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And, truly, how <\/a><\/em>should<\/em><\/a><\/strong>\u200b we be storing our wine?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Read More.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n


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