Top 100 wines of Cava
Discover the top 100 best wines of Cava as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Cava and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Cava
Cava is Spain's signature style of Sparkling wine, and the Iberian Peninsula's answer to Champagne. The traditional Grape varieties used in Cava were Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo, but the Champagne varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are also used. While the first Cava was produced exclusively in Catalonia - specifically in a small town called San Sadurní de Noya - modern Cava can be sourced from various regions of Spain. Aragon, Navarre, Rioja, Pais Vasco, Valencia and Extremadura have specific delimited areas that can benefit from the designation of origin.
In reality, less than 10% of Cava wines come from these regions. The heart of Cava production is still in San Sadurní de Noya. All the scattered areas share similarities in Climate, largely Mediterranean, with moderate rainfall. Most of the vineyards are at around 200-300 metres (650-985ft), although some reach 800m (2,625ft).
News from the vineyard of Cava
First single-vineyard Rioja sparkling wine released
It had been possible to produce sparkling wines in Rioja, certified as DO Cava, since the creation of Spain’s main sparkling wine entity. But this fact was often unknown to consumers given that 95% of Cava is produced in the Catalunya region. The area for production of Cava in Rioja is however limited to only 18 of the nearly 150 municipalities within the entire DO zone. In a bid to better show point of origin, the new subzone labelling of Cava that was approved in 2021 now refers to the p ...
Colombia for wine lovers
Think of Colombia, think of balmy evenings dancing to salsa, fuelled by shots of aguardiente and arepas. But there’s plenty more than the anise-based spirit and cornmeal cakes to sample in the South American country. Chefs have stepped up their game to put gastronomy on the map, with sommeliers and bartenders following suit. Not just appreciating local ingredients and distilling spirits, they also seek out wines from around the world to accompany fine-dining experiences. Their endeavours have pa ...
DO Penedès: new rules and aiming for Spanish wine’s top-tier
On 16 November 2021, the Denomination of Origin Penedès in Catalunya (DO Penedès) announced an extensive roadmap up to 2030, taking into account sustainability and establishing the region as a high-quality wine producer in Spain. Most immediately, all grapes for DO Penedès wines must be from fully-certified organic vineyards by 2025. While it’s an aggressive timeline, DO Penedès president Joan Huguet told Decanter, ‘Currently around 60% of the vineyards are already certified and our ...