Cava is a type of sparkling wine originating from Spain, that is made through a second alcoholic fermentation in the bottle. The term “cava” is a Spanish Protected Designation of Origin and its production process is similar to that used in the production of French champagne, which is obtained in the Champagne region.
However, it is important to emphasize that, unlike champagne, cava is distinguished by its own identity and character. This is because it is made with native grape varieties such as Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Monastrell and Pinet Noir, among many others. Furthermore, the production of cava with Designation of Origin is especially focused, on the area of Catalonia, where the famous Penedés region is located.
However, there are other autonomous communities, such as the Valencian Community, Extremadura, Aragón, La Rioja or Navarra, among others, that produce this type of wine, although with a much smaller production. In total, cava production takes place in only 160 Spanish municipalities. Thanks to this, in this article we can talk about different types of cava to address the different classifications and styles that define this drink. Keep reading to learn more about them.
What are the main characteristics of cava?
As we have mentioned, it is a drink similar to champagne, so it is characterized by producing fine and persistent bubbles, by its fruity aroma and by having a fresh, elegant and very balanced flavor. For this reason, it has positioned itself as the perfect drink to toast on special occasions and celebrations.
Likewise, it can also be enjoyed at a meeting with your friends or in the afternoon. It is such a versatile type of wine that it can be paired with a wide variety of dishes, such as paella, cheeses, prawns or crayfish and with any type of meat dishes. If you like this type of drinks, you can take a look at the cava category that you will find in the drinks catalog available on our website.
What types of cava can you find on the market?
All types of cava follow a similar fermentation production process, so the main way to distinguish the different types of cava is sugar. That is to say, you can obtain types of cava with very different characteristics depending on the amount of sugars that are added during the second fermentation in the bottle, as well as depending on the aging time. Therefore, you can find this type of drinks suitable for all tastes and palates. Among them, we can find the following:
Cava Brut Nature
Brut Nature This makes it a type of wine with a very intense flavor. This type of cava is perfect for those who love the purest and most authentic flavors, and is usually recommended to accompany savory dishes and appetizers.
In addition, the character and personality of cava Brut Nature, which you can find in our beverage catalogue, make it the ideal type of wine to pair with fish and seafood, which allows its flavors and aromas to be enhanced. For this reason, we believe that it is the most suitable type of wine for those people with more demanding palates since it allows you to taste complex, persistent and very elegant flavors.
Cava Extra Brut
Within the classification of cavas, only can contain up to 6 grams of sugar for each liter of drink. Thanks to this, this type of cava is characterized by being fresh, light and with a slightly sweeter touch, so, although it is more versatile than the previous one, it is also perfect for pairing with fish and shellfish. Its relative low amount of sugar allows you to perfectly appreciate the aromas and flavors of the grapes. used in its production, as well as the foods we consume when paired with this type of wine.
Cava Brut
This category encompasses all cava types that have a residual sugar level of up to 12 grams per liter, which makes it a drier and fresher option within the types of cava that we have discussed so far. These cavas are usually made with high-quality grapes and have a balanced acidity that makes them an excellent option to pair with a wide variety of dishes, such as, for example, seafood or white meats. Its flavor is medium-low sweetness, it is more refreshing than the previous ones and its aroma is equally intense.
Extra Dry Cava
Extra Dry cava is characterized by being one of the types of cava with an intermediate sugar content, since cannot exceed 17 grams of sugar per liter. This makes it an ideal type of wine for those people looking for a balanced and sweet flavor, but not excessively so. Its moderate level of sugar allows it to be paired with a wide variety of dishes, from salty appetizers to desserts that are not too sweet.
Cava Seco
Seco is a type of cava that is characterized by having a moderate amount of residual sugar in its composition, which usually ranges between 17 and 32 grams for each liter of wine. This amount of sugar must be added during the second fermentation in the bottle. In this way, after the aging time, this wine manages to acquire a perfect balance between acidity and sweetness. The result is a fresh cava, moderately sweet and lively on the palate, perfect to pair with light meals and appetizers and can even be combined with desserts and sweets.
Semi Dry Cava
Semi-dry cava is another type of cava that, in this case, is characterized by containing in its composition an amount of between 32 and 50 grams of sugar per liter which is added in its second fermentation. Thanks to this, this cava Seco, which you can find in our drinks catalog, has a more rounded and smooth flavor, which is ideal to pair with desserts or to satisfy the palates that prefer a sweet cava. Therefore, it is recommended to pair it with desserts and sweets, since its flavor will be enhanced.
Sweet Cava
Among the different types of cava, Dulce is characterized by its high content of added sugars during the second fermentation in the bottle. In this case any type of cava that exceeds 50 grams of sugar per liter of wine is considered Sweet. It is perfect for those people who prefer flavors with a more intense sweetness. Therefore, we can say that it is perfect to pair with desserts and appetizers, and it is recommended to serve it very cold to highlight its qualities on the palate.
Now that we have seen the different types of cava, we can say that it is a drink that offers a full range of flavors, from dry Brut Nature to Sweet, it can be adapted to all tastes and palates. With its origin in the region of Catalonia and the use of native grapes, it is a type of sparkling wine that has a unique identity and you cannot waste the opportunity to consume it in celebrations and special moments.
