Cava

Cava is the Spanish sparkling wine speciality with protected origin. Most of it comes from Catalonia around Penedès. Typical grape varieties are Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada, with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir also common.

As with Champagne, the second fermentation takes place in the bottle. Minimum yeast ageing is several months to years depending on category. Cava exists from brut nature to dulce. It is regarded as an affordably priced alternative to other bottle-fermented sparkling wines and pairs well with tapas and light dishes.