Spanish Sparkling Wine

Spanish sparkling wine means one thing – Cava. And while the style has traditionally been more associated with the cheap-and-cheerful end of the world of fizz, in recent years, the finest examples have offered increasing sophistication. The wines come from Cataluña, specifically the area of Penedès, west of Barcelona, and are made with local grape varieties, bottle-fermented via Champagne’s traditional method. The premium renderings – many now made outside the Cava DO – are a world away from Cava's bargain-basement image, and are gaining more and more plaudits for their vitality, precision and freshness.