Spanish sparkling wine at a glance Types: Cava, Corpinnat and EspumosoStyle: from dry (Brut Nature) to lightly sweetFlavour: citrus, apple, brioche and flowersServing: well chilled, usually at 4 to 8 degreesPairs with: aperitif, shellfish, sushi and light dessertsStoring: cool and dark, best drunk within a few yearsWhat types of Spanish sparkling wine are there? The best-known Spanish sparkling wine is Cava, but there are more types: Corpinnat, Espumoso and lightly sweet sparkling wine made from Moscatel.
Cava Cava has its own DO and is mainly made in Catalonia, with a second fermentation in the bottle. You can read all about grapes, ageing and styles on our page about Cava .
Corpinnat Corpinnat is a quality mark from a group of producers in the Penedès who left the Cava DO. They set strict requirements, such as organic grapes, hand harvesting and at least 18 months of ageing on the lees.
Espumoso Espumoso is the Spanish word for sparkling. It is a broad term for Spanish bubbles, including wines that are not called Cava or Corpinnat. Much Espumoso is made like Cava, with a second fermentation in the bottle.
Sparkling Moscatel Moscatel is an aromatic grape. As a sparkling wine it is lightly sweet and floral, a softer bubble than a Brut Nature.
Is there Spanish champagne? No, champagne is a protected name for sparkling wine from the Champagne region in France. A Spanish sparkling wine cannot be called that.
The Spanish alternative is Cava or another sparkling wine made in the same way: with a second fermentation in the bottle and ageing on the lees. Long ageing on the lees, often 18 months or more, gives the wine brioche notes and a fine mousse, as you also taste in champagne. The difference lies mainly in the grapes and the region. You can read more on the page about Cava .
What does Spanish sparkling wine taste like? Spanish sparkling wine tastes fresh and fruity, with citrus, apple and pear. Ageing on the lees adds brioche, almond and a creamy mousse. A Brut Nature is dry and taut, while a Moscatel is floral and lightly sweet, with tropical fruit.
Which Spanish sparkling wines can you buy at ONWINE? At ONWINE you buy Spanish sparkling wine directly from the winemaker. Right now that means three wines from Bodega Amadís de Gaula in Almagro, Castilla-La Mancha. Winemaker Paco Granados earlier in his career won a Zarcillo de Oro for a sparkling wine.
Creamy and dry: Chardonnay Brut Nature The 'Los Caprichos de Paco' Espumoso Chardonnay Brut Nature is made from 100% Chardonnay using the traditional method. The wine ages for at least 24 months on the lees and smells of ripe peach, quince and brioche. The grapes come from vineyards at about 950 metres altitude.
Taut and fresh: Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature The 'Los Caprichos de Paco' Espumoso Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature is a white wine made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The blue grapes are made into white wine with minimal skin contact. After 18 months on the lees it smells of red berries, dried flowers and brioche, with a mineral finish.
Lightly sweet and floral: Moscatel Espumoso The Espejo Líquido Moscatel Espumoso is made from 100% Moscatel. The grapes are harvested at the end of August and fermented at a low temperature, so that a small part of the natural grape sugar remains. That gives a subtle sweetness, with flowers, tropical fruit and citrus.
Which one suits you? You like it creamy and dry. Choose a Brut Nature with long ageing, such as the Chardonnay Brut Nature.
You want taut and fresh, with red fruit. Choose a Blanc de Noirs, such as the Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature.
You like it soft and floral. Choose a lightly sweet Moscatel, such as the Moscatel Espumoso.
You want to taste first. Choose the Bodega Amadís de Gaula Tasting Case , which includes the Moscatel Espumoso.
What food goes with Spanish sparkling wine? Spanish sparkling wine goes with an aperitif, shellfish, sushi, fish, rice dishes and soft cheeses. Dry styles such as Brut Nature and Blanc de Noirs suit savoury dishes best. A lightly sweet Moscatel goes with aperitifs, fresh fruit desserts and light pastries.
Buy Spanish sparkling wine at ONWINE At ONWINE you buy wine directly from the winemaker, and on our winemakers page you can read who is behind the wine. Shipping is free from 12 bottles from the same winemaker. You can read everything about Cava on our page about Cava . You can also taste Macabeo, one of the Cava grapes, as a still wine: see our page about Macabeo . You can find more white wine in our Spanish white wine and our wines from Castilla-La Mancha . Want French or Italian bubbles? Then have a look at our sparkling wine from other countries.
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Frequently asked questions about Spanish sparkling wine What does Brut Nature mean? Brut Nature is the driest style, with 0 to 3 grams of sugar per litre and no added sugar. The wine is dry, taut and fresh.
How much alcohol is in Spanish sparkling wine? Spanish sparkling wine usually has 11 to 12.5% alcohol. The exact percentage is on the product page of each wine.
How long can you keep Spanish sparkling wine? Young, fresh sparkling wine is best drunk within a few years. Store the bottle lying down, cool and dark. An opened bottle keeps its fizz for another day or two with a special bottle stopper.
