Cava Tasting Tour

Cava Tasting Tours

So, what are sparkling wines? These are wines that contain dissolved gas. This gas is the result of a second fermentation in the bottle (carbon dioxide is generated but cannot escape, and so ends up being dissolved). In other words, it’s a wine produced from another ‘base’ wine that has gone through an initial fermentation in stainless-steel vats. After this, yeast and sugar are added and the wine is ready for its second fermentation.This double fermentation is a typical stage for wines produced via the technique known as the Méthode Champenoise, the same used to make French champagne and Italian spumante wines. In Spain, this procedure is known as the Traditional Method, and the sparkling wines produced there using this method are known as ‘Cavas’ (protected under the Denomination of Origin label). While the three aforementioned sparkling wines are created in a very similar fashion, the grapes from which they are made tend to produce different results.

 

Cavas are classified according to the amount of sugar they contain per litre, measured in grams, (a whole range of Cavas is available, containing anything from three grams of sugar – known as Brut Nature – to 50 grams, as found in Semi Seco) and depending on the time they have spent maturing in the bottle.The Cava is left to sit for a minimum of nine months, as the longer the maturing period, the richer the range of nuances, aromas and flavours. Cavas are divided into three categories according to the time they have spent fermenting in the bottle. Those that sit for less time are lighter and fruitier, while those that mature for the longest are more complex and aromatic (as they’ve had more time to absorb the grapes’ properties). More precisely, they are classified as follows: Cava de Guarda (9 to 17 months), Cava Reserva (18 to 30 months), Cava de Gran Reserva (over 30 months) and Cava de Paraje Calificado (over 36 months).

 

 


There are a few tips you may find useful when drinking your Cava. For example, Cava should be served chilled. To do so, you can place the bottle in a bucket of ice water, but it should never be stored in the fridge or served with ice. Another interesting fact is that Cava goes very nicely with practically all types of food; Cava Brut can even be used as a cooking ingredient. Or, for example, Cava Semi Seco is ideal as a dessert wine.