Cava

Cava is a quality sparkling wine produced in a designated area (Cava region) under specific characteristics in which the second fermentation and aging take place in the same bottle that the consumer uncorks, allowing the bubbles to be... produced in a natural way following the traditional method.

Cava is a Greek term that was used to refer to a 'high end' table wine or wine cellar, and comes from the Latin word 'cava' which means cave in English.

Macabeo, Xarel.lo and Parellada are esteemed the main varieties of white grape, and also Chardonnay and Subirat Parent or Malvasia Riojana. Grenache and Monastrell are the two varieties of red. Pinot Noir and Trepat are two red varieties only authorized to make Cava rosés.

Cavas are classed according to different criteria which range from aging time, to sugar content and grape varieties used.

According to aging,
CAVA: a minimum of 9 months aging.
CAVA RESERVA: a minimum of 15 months aging.
CAVA GRAN RESERVA: a minimum of 30 months aging.

According to sugar content,
BRUT NATURE: No added sugar
EXTRA BRUT: Up to 6 gr. of sugar per litre
BRUT: Up to 15 gr. of sugar per litre
EXTRA DRY: Between 12 & 20 gr. of sugar per litre
DRY: Between 17 & 35 gr. of sugar per litre
SEMI DRY: Between 33 & 50 gr. of sugar per litre
SWEET: More than 50 gr. of sugar per litre

Grape varieties used for producing cava:
White grape varieties: Macabeo (Viura), Xarel.lo, Parellada, Malvasía (Subirat Parent) and Chardonnay.
Red grape varieties: Garnacha tinta, Monastrell, Pinot Noir and Trepat.
Trepat variety may only be used for the production of rosé cava.


Important information
Cava, as a product, has a much shorter bottle life than other aged wines. From the point at which the cava is disgorged and sealed with a cork, it is in optimum condition for drinking for the following 18 to 24 months, depending on the type of cava.
This is why it is very important to know the disgorgement date, as it indicates whether the cava is at its optimal consumption or not.

Qualification of harvests according to years of Cava

1993 Very good
1994 Good
1995 Good
1996 Very good
1997 Good
1998 Very good
1999 Very good
2000 Excellent
2001 Very good
2002 Very good
2003 Good
2004 Good
2005 Very good
2006 Excellent