Map The Wine

Map / Spain

Cava

Spain's traditional-method sparkling wine, made mostly in Penedès near Barcelona.

CeutaMelillaNavarraGipuzkoaHuescaLéridaGeronaBadajozCádizOrenseCáceresSalamancaZamoraPontevedraHuelvaBarcelonaTarragonaCastellónValenciaAlicanteMurciaAlmeríaGranadaMálagaSevillaLa CoruñaLugoAsturiasCantabriaBizkaiaBalearesZaragozaLa RiojaÁlavaAlbaceteTeruelCuencaToledoLeónSoriaBurgosÁvilaPalenciaCiudad RealCórdobaGuadalajaraJaénMadridSegoviaValladolidRías BaixasRibera del DueroRiojaRuedaToroValdeorrasCavaSant Sadurní d’AnoiaVilafranca del Penedès
The shaded area contains the region, and the rounded shape shows its rough extent; the gold dot marks its centre. Drag to pan, or use the buttons or Ctrl and scroll to zoom. Other regions of Spain are linked on the map.

Where it is

Cava is a denomination (DO) rather than a single place, and can be made in several regions of Spain. Around 95 per cent comes from Catalonia, most of it from the Penedès near Sant Sadurní d'Anoia.

How it is made

The method is the same as in Champagne: a second fermentation in the bottle. Minimum ageing on the lees is nine months for basic Cava, with Reserva at 15 months and Gran Reserva at 30 months. Cava de Paraje Calificado comes from single sites and has its own rules.

Grapes and wines

The classic trio is Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and others are allowed, and Garnacha and Monastrell can make rosé. Styles run from Brut Nature (no added sugar) to sweet.