Yes, we know it’s no longer Christmastime, but even so we’re drinking (Valencian) Cava. Because the days of popping open the bubbly just at Christmas are long gone. Nowadays, Cava is the perfect partner to enjoy with a meal all the way from starter to dessert. Its versatility and the different styles available mean that it can go with any dish, as long as we set ourselves to choosing the right Cava.
Cava is defined according to the amount of sugar it contains:
-Brut Nature: From 0 to 3 grams of sugar, with none added.
-Extra Brut: 3 to 6 grams of sugar per litre.
-Brut: 6 to 12 grams of sugar per litre.
-Extra Seco (Extra Dry): Between 12 and 17 grams per litre.
-Seco (Dry): Between 17 and 32 grams.
-Semiseco (Semisweet): Between 32 and 50 grams per litre.
-Dulce (Sweet): more than 50 grams per litre.
Also, depending on how long it ages for, Cava can be classified as follows:
-Joven (Young): 9 to 15 months of ageing
-Reserva: From 15 to 30 months.
-Gran reserva: More than 30 months
The above allow us to identify the Cava according to how it has been made. It is also worth remembering that Cava can currently be made, using the traditional method, in just seven Spanish autonomous regions: Catalonia, Valencia (Requena), La Rioja, the Basque Country, Aragon, Navarre and Extremadura.
In recent years, Cava, considered one of the world’s great sparkling wines, has become a go-to option when it comes to food and wine matching. Breaking free of the convention that it was to be enjoyed with dessert, Cava is now seen as a highly versatile food wine. For instance:
– Young Cava: Young Cavas are distinguished mainly by aromas of white orchard fruit (apples, pears…), along with floral, lemony and herbaceous notes. These fruit aromas, with their acidity and freshness, go perfectly with grilled prawns, sushi or seafood ceviche. At Coviñas we match these seafood dishes with some of our own Cavas, such as Cava Enterizo Brut or our Cava A Rosé
– Cava Reserva: Longer-aged Cavas are characterized by the presence of fully ripe white and yellow fruit (pears, peaches, apricots…) amid richer wafts of dried fruit and honey aromas. So, we tend to pair this type of Cava with smoked fish and even meat dishes, such as roast chicken, or spare ribs… At Coviñas we have just the thing in our Enterizo Brut Nature or our Cava A Brut Nature Reserva (aged for 36 months)
– Gran Reserva: Notable for rich, toasty aromas, with hints of butter and just a touch of jam… This style of wine is perfect for dishes such as beef, Iberian ham, scallops, mussels… Interestingly, these dishes also pair well with our Cava A Brut Nature Reserva or you can intrigue your companions by matching it with Marqués de Plata Brut Rosé.
