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🍷 Cava

Type of wine ✔ Checked: 10.2026 · sources: 10 Updated:

Spanish sparkling wine made by the traditional method, mostly from Catalonia.

Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine made by the traditional method, like Champagne. The second fermentation happens in the bottle, where the wine also ages on its lees. The Cava appellation covers several parts of Spain, but nearly all of it is made in Catalonia, around the town of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia in Penedès.

Classic Cava is a blend of three local white grapes: Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada. Macabeo gives softness, Xarel·lo body and aroma, Parellada freshness. Other grapes are allowed, such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and Garnacha and Monastrell for rosé.

By the rules, Cava ages on the lees for at least 9 months. Reserva needs at least 18 months and Gran Reserva 30. Sweetness ranges from brut nature to sweet. In Spain all sparkling wines are called espumoso, and Cava is the best known of them.

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How it connects to Wine

🍷 Cava → → → 🍇 Xarel·lo → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine

Part of
🍷 Sparkling wine
Where it is made
🗺️ Spanish wine
Related to
🍇 Macabeo, 🍇 Xarel·lo, 🍇 Parellada
Similar and different
🍷 Traditional method, 🍷 Espumoso

Frequently asked questions

How is Cava different from Champagne?

The method is the same, but Cava is made in Spain from other grapes: Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada.

Where is Cava made?

Almost all Cava comes from Catalonia, mainly Penedès. The appellation also covers a few other parts of Spain.

How long is Cava aged?

At least 9 months on the lees; Reserva at least 18 months and Gran Reserva at least 30.

What to read next

  • 🍇 Macabeo — A white Spanish grape, also called Viura; the base of white Rioja and sparkling cava.
  • 🗺️ Spanish wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
  • 🍷 Espumoso — The general Spanish word for sparkling wine; the best known is cava.

Similar

🍷 Cap Classique · 🍷 Espumoso · 🍷 Trento DOC · 🍷 English sparkling wine · 🍷 Franciacorta · 🍷 Crémant

⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.

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