Today we are visiting Spain on our Sparkling Wine World Tour.
Cava is a sparkling wine made in the traditional method.
Sparkling wine in Spain was first produced in 1872 by Josep Raventós who learned the traditional method from France. The Raventós family still produces wine today. Please note that some of the wines in the “Around the World in Seven Days of Sparkling Wine” were provided to me as trade samples.
The word “cava” means cave in Spanish and refers to the cave/cellars where the wine is aged. The name was officially adopted in 1972.
95% of Cava production is centered in the Penedès region of Catalonia in Northeastern Spain, just outside of Barcelona.
Cava has “Denominación de Origen” (DO) status in Spain, which requires Cava producers to follow specific rules and regulations.
Cava is divided into different categories depending on the amount of time it is aged:
Cava de Guarda (9 months +)
Cava Reserva (18 months +)
Cava Gran Reserva (30 months+)
Cava de Paraje Calificado. (36 months+)
The most common grapes in Cava are Macabeu, Parellada and Xarello, but international varieties such as Chardonnay can also be used.
Today’s featured wine is Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad.
Segura Viudas is located in the Penedès region of Spain, and while founded in 1959, the “Heredad” or estate can trace its roots back to the 12th century and initially belonged to theMonastery of Sant Cugat.
Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad iis 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay.
Aged at more than 24 months with a minimum of 15 months on the lees, categorizes this wine as a Cava Reserva.
The dosage is 9g/l making this Cava brut.
I found it to have slightly floral notes, lemon, green apple and toast. On the palate there were hints of brioche and small, fine bubbles with a lovely mousse.
