Sparkling Wines (Cava) is a category of over 70 Spanish sparkling wines made by the traditional method of fermentation directly in the bottle, predominantly from the D.O. Penedès region. Alongside classic Cava it also offers the more strictly certified Corpinnat wines from the producer AT Roca, which came about as a response by several leading producers to a desire for rules stricter than those of ordinary Cava DO. The range includes white and rosé sparkling wines in various levels of sweetness, from very dry Brut Nature to sweeter versions. The producers represented include Anima Mundi, Artadi, AT Roca and Celler Kripta. The choice is guided mainly by the level of sweetness and by the occasion at which the wine will be served.
How to find your way around this category
Cava is a protected designation for Spanish sparkling wine made by the traditional method, mainly in the Penedès region. Corpinnat is a newer, stricter certification held by a group of producers who place emphasis on organic growing, hand harvesting of grapes from their own vineyards and longer ageing on the lees. Both categories are further divided by colour (white, rosé) and level of sweetness.
Dry Brut or Brut Nature versions are suited to a celebratory toast, while sweeter styles go better with dessert or as an aperitif for lovers of a more pronounced flavour.
Level of sweetness - how to choose
The sweetness of a sparkling wine is determined by the amount of dosage added after the second fermentation and follows a single European scale:
Designation
Residual sugar
Flavour
Recommended use
Brut Nature
0-3 g/l, no added dosage
The driest, markedly mineral
Aperitif, seafood
Extra Brut / Brut
up to 6-12 g/l
Dry, fresh
Versatile aperitif, toast
Seco / Extra Seco
12-32 g/l
Gently sweetish
Lighter starters, fruit
Semi Seco / Dulce
32 g/l and more
Markedly sweet
Desserts
The vast majority of the Cava on offer is of the Brut or Brut Nature type - sweeter versions are more of an exception. You will always find the specific dosage level in the product description.
Storage and serving
Cava is served well chilled, at 6-8 °C. Store it in a dark, cool place, with the bottle lying down or standing up depending on the type of closure. Once opened, use it as soon as possible, ideally the same day - the bubbles disappear quickly even with the help of a special sparkling wine stopper.
Ageing on the lees (longer for Corpinnat and premium Cavas) gives the wine finer and more complex bubbles - the longer the ageing, the finer the bead.
Frequently asked questions
What is Corpinnat and how does it differ from Cava?
Corpinnat is a stricter certification held by a group of producers from the Penedès region who place emphasis on organic growing, hand harvesting from their own vineyards and longer ageing on the lees, going beyond the standard Cava DO rules.
What does Brut Nature mean?
Brut Nature is the driest category of sparkling wine, with a residual sugar content of up to 3 g/l and no dosage added after the second fermentation.
What is the ideal serving temperature for Cava?
Around 6-8 °C, that is markedly chilled, much like other sparkling wines.
How long does an opened bottle of Cava keep?
It is best used the same day; with a special sparkling wine stopper it will keep a little longer in the fridge, but the bubbles gradually weaken.
How does Cava differ from champagne?
Both wines are made by the same traditional method of fermentation in the bottle, but Cava comes from Spain, mainly from the Penedès region, whereas only wine from the French region of Champagne may bear the name champagne.
The level of sweetness (dosage) and the time spent ageing on the lees. Also: Corpinnat and longer ageing usually mean finer bubbles.
What we base this on
On the European sweetness scale for sparkling wines and information from the producers AT Roca, Anima Mundi and Celler Kripta. Also: we verify the exact dosage on the specific product.
Where the limits are
Sweeter versions (Seco, Semi Seco) are more of an exception in the range. Also: check the current offer in the product detail.
What this category does not cover
Still wine or fortified Sherry. Also: you will find those in the White Wine, Red Wine and Sherry categories.