It is time to tell the whole truth, to answer the eternal question about champagne and cava. Is champagne better than cava? The answer is DEPENDS, there will be some champagne better than some cava, but there are also many cavas better than many champagnes. In other words, it is not possible to generalize.
Two sparkling wines
The method of elaboration of these two sparkling wines are exactly the same. It is true that the elaboration of sparkling wines dates back to France, but that is not an indicator that it is better.
Difference between cava and champagne
The main difference between cava and champagne is the grape, the classic champagne varieties are Chardonnay, Meunier and Pinot Noir. The cava varieties are Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel.lo. In addition, the climate and soil are also different.
French champagne comes from a very specific area, Champagne, and is protected by an appellation of origin, i.e. only those from this region can be called champagne.
On the other hand, in Spain, the need for the Cava Denomination was established for quality sparkling wines obtained by the traditional method, thus forming the Cava Region. Currently made up of 159 municipalities spread throughout Spain: Catalonia, La Rioja, Aragon, Valencia and Extremadura.
In short, cava and champagne are two sparkling wines that the only similarity between them is the way of elaboration. They differ in the type of grapes, the climate and the soil.
So if you have not yet tried cava, we invite you to do and learn more about this wonderful Spanish sparkling wine of great quality.
What is Cava?
Cava is a sparkling wine that originates from the Catalan region of Spain. It is made using the traditional method of secondary fermentation in the bottle, which gives it its signature bubbles. Cavas can be white, rosé, or Brut (a dry style), and they are typically lighter and less acidic than Champagnes.
The History of Cava
Cava has been produced in Spain since 1872, when winemaker Josep Ruiz Zamora started making sparkling wines using the traditional method Champenoise. Cava production really took off in the 1970s and 1980s, when several large producers began mass-producing the wine. In 1986, the Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOQ) was established to govern the production of Cava and protect its quality standards.
Today, most Cava is produced in the Penedès region of Catalonia, where more than 90% of all Spanish Cavas are made. The terroir here is well-suited to growing traditional Cava grapes like Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada.
Cava Pairings
Cava is incredibly versatile when it comes to food pairing. Because of its acidity, Cava is a great match for fried foods—think chicken nuggets or French fries. It’s also a great partner for shellfish like shrimp or lobster. And if you’re looking for a cheese pairing, Cava goes well with aged sheep’s milk cheese like Manchego or Ibores.
Champagne also tends to be more expensive than cava thanks to the higher cost of produce champagnes vines as well as strict regulations surrounding champagne production. So next time you're looking for a bubbly wine to enjoy, pop open a bottle of cava and save yourself some money!
Cava is a delicious sparkling wine that deserves to be included along side Champagne when considering bubbly wines. It's produced using high-quality grapes in the traditional methode Champenoise style and offers a delightful drinking experience at a fraction of the cost of similar Champagne wines. So next time you're in the mood for something fizzy, pour yourself a glass (or two!) of Spanish cava instead of reaching for that bottle of Champagne. You won't regret it!
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