Cava: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
| Cava The Cava is a, white or rosé, sparkling wine, its name comes not from a place, a grape variety or winemaking technique, but instead from the stone cellars (cavas) in which the wine is matured. Just 8% of Cava is rosé. In 2020 the world produced 2.5 billion bottles or sparkling wine, just under 8% of the world’s then total wine production (at 32.5 billion bottles). Prosecco was the biggest seller in 2023 at 880m bottles, Champagne sold 325m bottles and Cava achieved just 250m bottles. The Cava style was first produced in the 1870s, by a Josep Raventós, on his return to Catalonia from 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, Cava was called Champaña. Raventós had imitated Champagne, by applying its méthode traditionnelle, produced the same way as Champagne, but with different grapes.  Image source: coravin.co.uk The heart of Cava production remains in Catalonia, south of Barcelona in the Penedés area and particularly around the town of San Sadurní de Noya. However, Cava can come from various parts of Spain. Aragon (Zaragoza), Extremadura (Badajoz), Navarre, Pais Vasco (Araba/Álava), Rioja and Valencia where they have specific areas that qualify for the DO. But less than 10% of Cava wine comes from these other regions.  Image source: winefolly.com The Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo (pronounced cheryl-ooh). are the traditional grape varieties for producing Cava, but other grapes are also used: White: Chardonnay, Garnacha Tinta, Graševina, Leányka, Malvasía (aka Subirat Parent), Monastrell, Mourisco tinto, Pinot Meunier, Trepat and Viura. Red: Cayuga, Pinot noir and Trebbiano.  Image source: coravin.co.uk Italian Prosecco is more commonly produced as Extra Dry or Dry, as it contains more residual sugar than the typical Cava, produced as Brut. |
 Image: decanter.com Taste/smell: Cava is generally dry and light to medium-bodied, with a fruit-forward taste and zesty citrus aromas. It is less sweet than Prosecco and not as acidic as Champagne. Its taste is decribes as fresh, floral and aromatic when harvested early and aged in stainless steel, but weighty, honeyed and nutty when aged in oak and harvested slightly later. Vintage and aged Cava (on the lees) has more body, it is described as nutty and toasty, with notes of almond, apple and honey. Varieties/Mutations Cava has various sweetness levels: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Seco, Seco, Semi-Seco and Dulce. It also comes in various qualities: Brut, Cava Reserva, Cava Gran Reserva and Cava Paraje Calificado. Macabeu has ten certified clones. Areas (in Penedés, Spain): Comtats de Barcelona (Conca del Gaià, Pla de Ponent, Serra de Mar, Serra de Prades, Valls d’Anoia – Foix) Requena Valle del Ebro (Alto Ebro, Valle del Cierzo) Viñedos de Almendralejo | Description: Macabeo (aka Viura or Macabeu) vines are capable of withstanding water shortages. It buds medium-late, and as a young shoot it proves to have an an erect bearing and is thus trainable. It has a very high density of prostrate hairs. Mature leaves have five lobes with slight blistering on the upper side, and grow fluffy hair between the veins. It tends to ripen in the medium term and has elongated, conical, and compact clusters of round berries.  Image source: Wikimedia Commons  Image source: plantgrape.fr |
| Cava producing countries: Big Five Producers: (overall 42% of vineyards, 64% of wine production and 41% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Spain: Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Cava and Murcia. France: Roussillon (Champagne!)). Italy: not detected (Prosecco!) USA: Napa Valley, California. Chile: not detected. Next Ten Largest Producers: (with big five, responsible overall for 75% of vineyards, 88% of wine production, 64% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Argentina: Mendoza. Australia: not detected. China: not detected. Germany: not detected. India: not detected. New Zealand: not detected. Portugal: not detected. Romania: not detected. South Africa: not detected. Turkey:not detected. Others countries growing Cava Querétaro, Mexico | Grape is also known as: Macabeo: Alcañol, Alcañón, Blanca de Daroca, Charas blanc, Forcalla, Gredelín, Lardot, Listan Andaludschii, Listan Andaluzskii, Lloza, Macaban, Macabeu, Maccabéo, Maccabeou, Maccabeu, Makkobeo, Malvoisie, Provensal, Queue de Renard, Rossan, Subirat, Tokay, Viura. Parellada: Martorella, Montonec, Montonech, Montonega, Montoneo, Montonero, Montonet, Parellada blanc, Perelada and Perellada. Xarel-lo: Cartoixà, Cartuja, Pansa, Pansa Blanca, Pansal, Premsal Blanca, Xarelo Blanco, Xerello.  Image source: plantgrape.fr |
Image source: wine-searcher.com
Cava: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
