Ep 455: Cava (Update) and the Other Quality Sparkling Wines of Spain

<p style="font-weight: 400;">Much has changed since our original 2017 episode (199) on Cava and Spanish sparkling wine. It's time for a refresh and an update!</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.cava.wine/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/Cava_DO_Cork_03.width-700.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="395" /></a></p> <p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><a href= "https://www.cava.wine/en/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Photo: Cava cork. Credit: cava.wine</em></span></a></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode we fill you in on the roller coaster the DO has been on since 2017 and where it stands today. The story shows how Spain has moved from just being ON the radar of international wine buyers to moving to a level of sophistication that demands its regions have the kind of terroir focus of the other great wine nations of the Old World – France, Italy, Germany, and Austria, to name a few.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"> </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">We review the regulations, changes, and the strife in the region and discuss what to seek out to get the best of these highly accessible, delicious, and decidedly Spanish wines.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"> </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em><strong>Here are the show notes...</strong></em></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"> </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>The Basics</strong></p> <ul> <li>We start with the statistics on Cava -- it encompasses 38,133 ha/94,229 acres and made 253 MM bottles in 2021</li> <li>91% of Cava is white, 9% is rosado (rosé)<br /> <br /></li> <li>Various zones produce the wine, but Penedés is the heart of Cava production, with more than 95% of total output</li> </ul> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>We discuss the early history of the area, beginning with the first sparkling production in 1872 with Josep Raventós to the point where the D