Spanish sparkling wines: description, varieties and characteristics

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Spain is one of the three largest wine producers in the world. The vine occupies vast territories - about six million acres. No country in the world has such areas for growing raw materials for the future drink, which is exported to many states. This article introduces the reader to sparkling Spanish wines, their description, assortment and production.

When did winemaking begin in Spain?

This activity has existed since the Romans and Phoenicians ruled the country. Spain has been making wine for over 2000 years. The first source mentioning Spanish wines dates back to 873. The production of this drink in the country developed thanks to the Romans, who diligently taught the local population the secrets of its production and storage. They themselves exported wine to the Roman Empire.

In the Middle Ages, Spanish sparkling wines became popular thanks to the efforts of monks who sought toimprove their quality. The manufacture of this product in the country was treated with trepidation. So, in the seventeenth century, the mayor of the city of Logroño issued a decree, according to which it was forbidden to drive horse-drawn carriages along the streets adjacent to wine cellars. This, according to the ruler, interfered with the quality of the drink.

The wineries built by the French in Spain had a positive impact on the development of this industry. It so happened that the vineyards of France were invaded by phylloxera, brought from America. It caused irreparable damage. Then the French growers became interested in the Spanish regions and launched their production there. They especially liked Rioja, as the wines produced there reminded the French of the drink of their homeland - the notorious Bordeaux.

Cava - sparkling wine

There is not a single festive event in Spain that would take place without the use of this drink, although kava has earned undeniable popularity in many other countries. Sparkling Spanish wines are produced in a specific region called Cava. The predominant part of the wine production is located in the Catalan provinces of Barcelona and Tarragona.

Spanish sparkling wines are produced in the country in a large assortment. But not every one of them has earned the right to be called sparkling kava. This name is given only to those drinks that are created using the appropriate grape varieties grown according to classical technology and in a certain region of sunny Spain.

Spanish white sparkling wines Cava are made from grape varieties such as Macabeo, Charello, Parellada. Suitable for rosé wines: Garnacha, Pinot Noir, Monastrell, Trepat.

History of Creation

The history of sparkling wines in Spain goes back several centuries. The first appearance of kava dates back to 1872. Its creator is Don Jose Raventos, a representative of one of the oldest families in Spain - Codorniu. He mastered the method of champagne, which was developed in France, and successfully introduced it in his homeland, in Catalonia. Currently, almost 100% of Cava sparkling wine production comes from this region. Already in those distant times, Jose had a small production of this drink there.

Spanish sparkling wine cava has become as popular as other drinks ever since. This is evidenced by the fact that its annual production capacity is 200 million bottles. It is quickly bought up by the local population and sold outside the country.

Production

Cava production is based on secondary fermentation in bottles. To get the best Spanish wines, raw materials are further subjected to various procedures: from blending to dilution with liquor.

• Kava doesn't go straight into bottles. First, the drink undergoes a fermentation procedure in containers made of steel, after which it is mixed with grapes of different varieties and wine of the last year. Only after blending, cava is bottled, into which liquor is added,made with yeast and sugar.
• After such preparations, the neck is tightly corked with corks, and the bottles are sent for storage for a period of 9 months to 4 years in a dark cellar. The wine will age. The strength of the drink is due to the carbon dioxide that is formed in the bottles. The main indicator of quality for kava is the bubbles. The smaller and thinner they are, the higher the quality.
• But that's not all. The drink passes the next test - the riddling process. The result of this procedure is the precipitation of yeast in the sediment, visible to the eye, which forms on the neck. Subsequently, the bottle is frozen, and the cork with sediment is pulled out of it. This is disgorgement.
• The volume of the drink must comply with the norm. Therefore, the same wine of the previous year and liquor are added to the bottle. The last step is to seal the container with a cork and reinforce it with a wire mesh. The wine is ready.

What is kava like?

This drink of various brands is made according to the traditional method of champagne. Sparkling Spanish wines have a noble aroma and taste of ripe grapes. The production of Cava is carried out using an original method that completely mechanizes the riddling process. The bottles were replaced with a large metal structure called a hirasol ("sunflower"). This container holds five hundred bottles. There is no need to subject each individual to the riddling procedure, this problem is removed.

Officially, kava is divided into pink and white. The first has a rich fruity and floral aroma and a dense dry taste. Below are the types of kava classified according to the concentration of sugars:

• Natural kava, or Brut Natur (super dry).
• Brut (dry).
• Seko (quite dry).
• Semi Seko (semi-dry).
• Semi Dolce (semi-sweet).
• Dolce (sweet).

If the question arises "how to choose sparkling Spanish wines", pay attention to the manufacturer of the drink. Most famous firms:

• "Castellblanche". It produces such famous Spanish wines (the best sparkling ones) as Brut Zero and Crystal Seco.
• "Castillo de Perelada" - famous for such drinks as "Grand Claustro" and "Perelada".
• "Codorniu" - famous for its excellent wines "Codorniu", "Ana de Codorniu", "Non Plus Ultra", "Gran Codorniu".
• Gonzalez & Duboks - Produces the excellent product Juan Perico.
• Hill is the producer of the Reserva Oro Brut Cava drink.

How to enjoy kava?

This drink should not only be drunk, but also enjoyed. To get started, choose a great company in which you feel comfortable. Snack is important. Fruit, seafood, caviar and various cheeses are ideal with this wine.

The drink is served chilled. It is poured into tall transparent glasses shaped like a tulip orflutes. So the wine aroma will last longer. Through the transparent glass, the color is visible and the sizes of the bubbles are well distinguished, by which the quality of the drink is determined. Pour kava into glasses carefully so that the liquid flows down the walls. Do not pour all the way to the top.

What dishes are served with different wines?

Undoubtedly, Spanish wines are considered the best. The discussion of their taste qualities can be continued indefinitely. It depends on the preferences of each person. But in Spain, traditions are observed when drinking wine, each type of which is combined with a particular dish. So, for example, cava and sherry are called among the best aperitifs. Drinks made from pink grapes are suitable for stewed vegetables. Cava is washed down with dried fruits and meat dishes, and sherry with paella, a traditional dish of the wine country.

When choosing alcohol, you should follow the basic rule: wine and dishes should not differ much in color. Therefore, it is better to use cheeses and meat with red wine, and seafood with white wine.

Types of drinks in Spain

Classification of Spanish wines – is a detailed system that at first glance may seem complicated. Built on a legislative basis, it inspires respect for itself. Thus, the type of drink established by the law on vineyards and wines is influenced by its quality and place of origin. So, the wines of Spain are:

1. Canteens. Several varieties of grapes are used for the production of these drinks. However, this category may includeaperitifs that are not branded. This is the lowest level of classification, therefore, the requirements for them are minimal. As a result, the range of products produced is very wide. Table wine in Spain can be bought on tap, packaged in paper bags or expensive bottles.

2. Vintage (quality), which are divided, depending on the place of origin, into:

• wine with special names that are not a brand;
• branded drinks;
• wines that have a unique value due to the limited area in which they are produced.

How to tell a good Spanish wine from a bad one

Wines containing bubbles are sparkling and fizzy. They are classified according to pressure. In a bottle of real champagne, the pressure should be 5-6 atmospheres. The best Spanish sparkling wines naturally develop bubbles that are the result of fermentation. Effervescent wines are usually sweetened and artificially injected with carbon dioxide. Cheap fizzy drinks contain a large number of various undesirable ingredients. This wine should not be bought.

The best sparkling drink in Spain is cava - white or rosé wine. It is produced in six regions of the country. What are Spanish wines depends on the grape variety used to make the drink. A good kava should be pale in color with a nutty flavor and a pleasant lemon flavor.

Wine list (Spain):list of wine brands

Spain is famous for its winemaking, and Rioja is considered the most prestigious area. Here, the local microclimate, formed under the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Ebro River, favorably affects the vineyards, in the valley of which delicious grapes are grown. Its most successful variety is Tempranillo.

The leading region of Catalonia for the production of sparkling wines is Penedès. Its climate makes it possible to grow excellent grapes that love warmth and humidity. This is where the Spanish sparkling wines Cava are produced.

The largest viticultural region in Europe is La Mancha. Growing grapes here is quite difficult. Of the twelve months of the year, nine are in winter. Therefore, not every variety of culture will take root in such harsh climatic conditions. But this environment is suitable for Airen grapes, here it is grown on huge areas.

The Ribera del Duero region is famous for producing the most expensive elite wines in Spain. Here, the climate itself has created all the conditions for the growth of high quality raw materials.

Drinks of Spain

Spanish wine is considered the best in the world. Wines of Spain, the types of which are presented in the widest range, have thousands of names. Here are some of them:

1. Rioja is the most recognizable wine in Spain. Usually men, having gathered three together, offer to drink rioja. In fact, this name summarizes the very concept of a wine-growing region where wine of all varieties and denominations is produced. The region itself includes:

• the northwestern part, whichmost influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, which makes the climate cool;
• southeastern zone, occupying the territory in the Ebro Valley (the climate here is hot and dry);
• the so-called piece of territory that was once the Basque country - the climate here is Mediterranean, but subject to the influence of the Atlantic.

2. Sherry is a fortified Spanish wine. The wines of Spain cannot be imagined without this drink. In its production, a special technology is used that involves the addition of alcohol. This drink is made from grapes harvested in September, which are placed in huge oak barrels (600 liters in volume) for up to several months (for fermentation). During the winter, the wine is clarified, and it is poured into other similar containers, which are placed in a cellar for aging for three years. They are placed in tiers of four pieces each. As the drink ages, the barrels are rearranged from the upper tier to the lower. Wine is consumed only from lower barrels. The most common variety of sherry is Fino. This is the whitest and always dry wine.

3. Sangria is made with the addition of citrus essence and carbonated water to white or red wine, which is 50% by volume. The drink may contain pulp or zest.

4. Malaga is made using three types of must, which is juice:

• flowing from ripe grapes;
• carefully squeezed out;
• obtained from a normal spin.

Each kind of mustfermented and aged separately. In addition, Malaga is produced using simple wines. Such a sweet dessert drink based on white grapes is characterized by a large number of varieties, depending on the sugar content, color, strength. This wine is currently an endangered species. The fact is that it is produced from native grape varieties, and he, for the most part, died in the last century as a result of the phylloxera epidemic.

Rose wine

It is considered the unloved stepson. The population of Spain is ambivalent about the product of this color. Many consider it "unfinished". Although rosé wines are produced using the same technology as red ones. The only difference is that the grape berries are peeled from the shells earlier. This is done so that they do not color the wine too intensely.

If you put aside the Spanish prejudice, you can fully enjoy the rosé wine, such as Rosado, drinking it chilled. This drink will perfectly complement poultry dishes, cold meats and various salads.

Vegetables used to make Spanish wines

In every region of Spain those varieties of grapes are grown, which give the greatest yields on its lands. More often than others, raw materials of the following varieties are used in the production of Spanish wines:

• Viura - the place of its growth is Rioja and Navarra. The fruit contains a large amount of acid and alcohol. These grapes are used to produce aromatic white wines.
• Airen is the most common white grape variety.
• Tempranillo is the staple wine in Rioja. The fruit has a very rich black-violet color. Cultivated not only in this region. But there this grape has a different name.
• Mairasia - is considered one of the main varieties of white grapes. Catalonia and Rioja are the best places to grow it. Wines with a soft, delicate taste are produced from this variety of culture.
• Moscatel - belongs to the oldest varieties. This grape is indispensable for making dessert wines.

What is the difference between rosé and white wine?

Knowing everything about Spanish wines is simply impossible. But some knowledge is simply necessary, especially for those who are going to travel to Spain. Thus, rosé-colored wines have a pleasant aroma of strawberries and rose petals, and a hint of spices is clearly felt in them. The best are those that use amber grapes from Rioja and Tempranillo, which tastes like ripe cherries.

White wine produced in Catalonia and has the aroma of alpine herbs and exotic fruits. There is a slight citrus flavor.