Cava: Spanish Sparkling Wine Final

The third and final installment on Cava's is a discussion on the different Cava's out there. There are quite a bit to choose from, and in my opinion there are no bad one's. That being said I do have a favorite, but I'll let you decide.

The first cava on the list is the most popular of them all: Freixenet. I'm sure you've been at a wedding or party and seen the famous black bottle. Freixenet is one of the largest cava houses in Spain, and held with the same high regard as France's Moet & Chandon. The Freixenet house employs the méthode champenoise process to produce their cavas; the same method the famed champagne houses use. Of the eight wines they make, the most popular would have to be the Cordon Negro Brut. The Cordon Negro Brut is a crisp dry, fruity cava that is constantly rated as a best buy. For $12 a bottle you cannot go wrong!

Next up is Codorniu, quite possibly the oldest Cava. (some people still debate that). What is known is that the Codorniu family owned wine presses as far back as the 16th century. But it wasn't until1872 that they produced their first cava. The house of Codorniu claims to have a cava for a thousand moments. And they just might. With eight highly distinctive cava's they have a taste to please any palate. One distinctive factor that separates Codorniu from others is their use of the Pinot Noir grape. This grape is not authorized or accepted for use in the traditional cava production. But the house of Codorniu feels (and I for one agree) that it helps and even improves the quality of the wine. The Codorniu Brut Pinot Noir has a pale pink color and exudes elegance. It has a unique but authentic taste with a hint of raspberry. With a price at around $14, it is a great buy.

Last on the list is a cava which I have mentioned before: Juvé y Camps. Much like Codorniu, Juvé y Camps offers several different cava's for one to choose. From the Gran Juvé, to the Brut Rosé, this winery has it all. My favorite is the Reserve de la Familia. Made from the "free-run juice" of Macabeu, Xarel-lo and Parellada grapes, this is what cava is all about. Bright gold, full of bubbles, and a fruity citrusy kick. The price on this guy ranges a bit. I've seen it as low as $16 all the way to $21. Not a lot of stores carry it, but if you ask, they should have no problem getting it for you.

I hope this was somewhat informative for you. I learned a lot!
Talk to you soon.

Salud