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Named from the stone cellars (cavas) in which the wine is matured, Cava is Spain's premier sparkling wine but it has a lot of quirks and variations, all of which we discuss in the podcast. From unique grapes to diverse sourcing areas to a new top tier classification, we cover it all. Hopefully the show will give you insight into why this wine is so special and why it holds so much potential for becoming even better!\\xa0

Here are the show notes:

Overview of regions and grapes:

• Cava is from Catalonia and other regions \\u2013 95% in Penedes, Sant Sadurni d\\u2019Anoia \\u2013 home of the largest producers like Codorn\\xedu and Freixenet, Seguras Viudas
  • Other areas \\u2013 Rioja, Navarra, Valencia, Aragon, Basque Country, Castilla y Leon, and a few more
  • Most have Mediterranean climate, moderate rain and vienyards are at altitude
• The wine is made as white or rosado
  • White grapes: Macabeo (most used, also called Viura), Parellada, Xarel-lo, Chardonnay
  • Red grapes: Garnacha, Monastrell, Pinot Noir
• Because the grapes are mainly native ones, you can\\u2019t compare the flavors to Champagne except in production methods
  
  • Made like Champagne
  • Same sweetness levels of Champagne in order of driest to sweetest: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Seco, Seco, Semiseco, Dulce\\xa0

History:

• First made in 1851
• Josep Raventos traveled through Europe in 1860s \\u2013 shilling Cordorniu\\u2019s wines (married into the family) but thought Spain could make its own Champagne.Made his own in 1872. \\xa0
• For the first century of their existence, the wines were called\\xa0Champa\\xf1a.\\xa01970s -- international laws,enforced and the wine became Cava.
• Top brands:
  • Ravent\\xf3s i Blanc
  • Gramona (organic)
  • Recaredo (biodynamic)
  • Mestres
  • Bohigas
  • Castellroig

• New top classification for the category, the\\xa0Cava de Paraje Calificado.
  • Only vintage dated, only single vineyard \\u2013 like a burgundy climat
  • Other specifications around acidification, aging levels

The first 12 Cava de\\xa0Parade\\xa0sites and their owners:

• Vinyes de Can Mart\\xed\\xa0\\u2013 Torell\\xf3
• Tur\\xf3 d\\u2019en Mota\\xa0\\u2013 Recaredo
• Serral del Vell\\xa0\\u2013 Recaredo
• Vallcirera\\xa0\\u2013 Alta Alella
• La Capella\\xa0\\u2013 Juv\\xe9 i Camps
• Can Sala\\xa0\\u2013 Freixenet
• La Pleta\\xa0\\u2013 Codorn\\xedu
• El Tros Nou\\xa0\\u2013 Codorn\\xedu
• La Fideuera\\xa0\\u2013 Codorn\\xedu
• Can Prats\\xa0\\u2013 Vins el Cep
• Font de Jui\\xa0\\u2013 Gramona
• Terroja\\xa0\\u2013 Castellroig

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