A Revelation About Cava

June 23, 2011

Cava. I know what you’re thinking: cheap Champagne, right? The sort of wine you might see stacked up in the multiples and sold cheaply, destined to be drunk from a thousand plastic cups at the mid-summer office party.
Whereas other sparkling alternatives to Champagne such as Prosecco in Italy, Crémant (a sort of generic term for any sparkling wine made in France outside of Champagne) and countless examples from California, Australia, New Zealand and even England hold some sort of social caché, I have always felt Cava struggles a little. I’m reminded of the British playwright Willy Russell, who created a character, Rita, who when invited to a drinks party at her professor’s house loses her nerve at the last minute; ashamed of her working-class background and the wine she had bought. When the professor explains it wouldn’t have mattered if she bought a bottle of Spanish plonk, Rita admits her bottle was Spanish.

Snobbery aside, perhaps one of the reasons Cava’s reputation falters is that most of it is sold cheaply and a lot of its production can be very poor indeed. That and a series of court battles in the mid-’90s between the two largest producers, Codorníu and Freixenet, over various production methods, did nothing to promote the image of Cava around the world.

I don’t have a lot of time for poor wine, but I have even less time for wine snobbery. In the past five years, I have enjoyed many bottles from Codorniu and Freixenet, as well as smaller producers such as Castellblanch, Signat and Raventós, that have been immensely enjoyable. At its best, Cava appeals because of its fresh, citrusy nose, which can take on fruit flavors such as apple peel, lemon, pear and grapefruit. Married with a distinctive, nutty, sometimes herbal softness on the palate that can taste quite different to the full yeasty flavor of Champagne, it pairs well with strong cheese and fried white fish.

There is also the added appeal of price, as Cava is invariably less expensive than Champagne. Or so I thought before I was introduced a few weeks ago to a producer that has considerably changed my perception of the quality of wines Cava can produce. Bodegas Gramona produces a range of wines that, at their best, are reminiscent of those sparkling wines produced in the rippled valleys between Epernay and Reims. But before we discuss the delights of Gramona, it is worth looking at where and how Cava is made.

Unlike Champagne, Cava doesn’t actually represent a region. Technically, it is a term for all Spanish sparkling wine made in the same way that Champagne is made in France. In what is now referred to as the “traditional” method, the wine is bottled and stopped with a metallic crown cap after the first fermentation of the base wines. Just before the bottle is capped, a little mixture of sugar and yeast is added to kick off a secondary fermentation—this adds the fizz and bubbles to the wine. After the secondary fermentation, the wine is left to rest, neck up, on the debris of the fermentation, or lees, which adds character and deeper flavor to the wine. The bottles are then periodically shaken, a term known as riddling, before the neck of the bottle, which now contains the lees, is frozen. Later, the frozen debris are popped out, and the bottle is topped up with a mixture known as the dosage, which is sweetened according to how sweet the winemaker wants the final blend. After that, a cork is attached and a wire muzzle is fitted.

Most Cava is made in Penedès and Catolonia in northeast Spain, where the wine can trace its origins back to the 1880s, when José Raventós, then head of Codorníu, produced a bottle of sparkling wine after a trip to France. He was soon joined by Pedro Ferrer of Freixenet. Principally, three white grapes are used in Cava’s production: Xarel-lo, the grape that provides weight and structure, Parellada and Macabeo. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are also used.

At Gramona, in Penedès, they add a little Chardonnay. On first sip, their wines are a revelation, taking on a nutty, biscuity complexity usually associated with Champagne. It might have taken 130 years, but on this evidence, it seems that some Cava producers have finally earned a place on the top table of sparkling wine.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304259304576377371659670328.html?mod=rss_Food_and_Drink

Clark Wine Center is more than a wine shop to people living in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone. Clark’s wine shop is also a popular venue for parties and family gatherings. Conveniently located on the main highway of Clark Philippines, it is accessible to guests from Manila, Subic, Pampanga, Angeles City and of course those who live and work in Clark. Aside from the 2-storey wine shop which also has a nice roof deck lawn for small party of up to 80 people as well as an indoor wine tasting room which accommodates up to 60 comfortably, this wine store called Clark Wine Center also has one hectare of picnic grounds surrounding it.

Best birthday gift to send to someone living in the Philippines is a nice bottle of wine from Yats Wine Cellars. Delivery of birthday wine can made to Manila, Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines and Subic.

Wine Shop Manila offers best luxurious beers in Philippines called Vintage Beer.
Birthday gift of wine is the most popular gift idea this year in Philippines. Yats Wine Cellars offers birthday wine gifts that are unique and certain to make the recipient very happy. These birthday wines are not available in wine shops so it is a unique bottle of wine for the recipient.

This Manila Wine Shop is the largest wine shop in Philippines. This is the wine shop to go for fine vintage wines, not just the big names like Lafite, Latour, Petrus, Cristal, Krug, Grange, Vega Sicilia and Sassicaia. This wine shop in Manila offers many excellent vintage wine for under p4,000, even for some that are 20-30 year old from St. Emilion and Pomerol.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com