I like to think that I know a fair bit about champagne, having worked, in a previous career, with a leading champagne house for many years.  Recently though, I was lucky enough to be invited on a trip to Spain, as a guest of D.O.Cava, the regulatory board of these Spanish sparkling wines, and it was a vinous revelation.

Over a few days we visited not one, but seven different wineries, from the very large, to the boutique, and different as they all were, the quality of the wines was consistently superb. 

The traditional methods were all used, except of course, the larger wineries have been able to invest in some more automated production methods. 

We tasted a good range of D.O.Cavas, starting from well under £10 a bottle to some of the most spectacular vintages, that still cost far less, generally, than a rather mediocre champagne.

As the festive season approaches, we’ll be looking for the perfect bottles to accompany our celebrations.

D.O.Cava –  crafted using the same traditional method as champagne –  is a premium, versatile and gastronomic wine, and one that’s perfect for pairing so many festive dishes.

With the traditional method, the second fermentation – to produce bubbles and the unique flavour – takes place in the bottle.

D.O.Cava is crafted from key grape varieties: Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada. Macabeo offers freshness, Xarel·lo adds body, and Parellada lends delicatefruitiness.

Together, they create the crisp acidity and fine bubbles that define Cava.  D.O.Cava is split into four distinct categories, all of which can enhance your festive experience and suit your individual budget:

  • Cava de Guarda: Fresh and lively, with a minimum of 9 months ageing in the bottle, it’s perfect party wine and for festive aperitifs or light dishes. .
  • Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva: Aged for a minimum of 18 months, this Cava offers a refined complexity, making it an ideal companion to seafood dishes.
  • Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva: With at least 30 months of ageing, this option is suited to richer mains, such as the traditional Christmas meal, whether you’re having turkey, goose or beef. 
  • Cava de Guarda Superior Paraje Calificado: The pinnacle of Cava, made from grapes from a single vineyard and aged for a minimum of 36 months, this is the choice for the most special of moments. Its elegance and richness make it the ultimate choice for toasting on Christmas Day or ringing in the New Year.

What is D.O. Cava?

D.O.Cava is consistently one of the best sparkling wines in the world.  Internationally renowned and available in more than 100 countries, it’s the most widely exported sparkling wine with a Spanish Designation of Origin (‘D.O’).

The D.O. encompasses more than 93,900 acres of vineyards and more than 6,100 winegrowers. It’s made with a strict commitment to origin, land, and sustainability.

And from 2025, the Guarda Superior category will be 100% green and made from organic grapes only. 

Sadly, not all of the wonderful D.O.Cava we tasted is available yet in the UK, but here are some that are definitely worth checking out and stocking up with for the festive period. 

I’ve started with some of the smaller wineries, but also have looked at supermarket options.

Juvé y Camps

This is a family-owned winery, and today has established itself as one of the most highly regarded Cava producers in Spain.  We tasted some really amazing D.O.Cavas on our visit and I’m pleased to say that it’s available from some of the independent specialist wine retailers here like Simply Wines Direct at just £16.99 a bottle.  The Brut Nature Reserva de la Familia Cava has a typically pale golden colour, tiny, persistent bubbles and a rich, elegant nose of ripe white fruit such as apple and pears. The palate is creamy and full of toasty notes thanks to the 36 months it has spent ageing on its lees. The wine lingers on the palate with a ripe fruit finish.  Also stocked by Taurus Wines in Bramley, Surrey

Guilera Brut Nature Reserva 

This is a family owned boutique winery operating since 1927, with a rich tradition in the production of long-aged cava. Its focus is the production of Reserva and Gran Reserva cava in limited quantities, which guarantees meticulous attention to every detail. I tasted some amazing DO Cavas with Marta, who runs the winery with her brother Jordi.  It’s difficult to obtain in the UK, but it is stocked by vinissimus.co.uk so do contact them for stock information.

Roger Goulart Brut Reserva

Roger Goulart is located in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, a little village in the Alt Penedès region, where they have 20 hectares of vines. The predominant grape is the local Xarel.lo. The Xarel.lo is indigenous from the Penedès, and it is the main varietal in our blending. It is a grape of character and good structure, which makes it suitable for long ageing.

This long ageing D.O. Cava has a strong character from its ageing on lees. Yellow colour with golden reflections, bright with fine bubbles. On the nose it is creamy, highlighting the fruity notes with a background of toasted nuts. Fresh palate, silky and structured.  Currently on offer at £15.95 a bottle from ND John

Pere Ventura Cuveé Classic Brut

This elegantly balanced Cava has fine bubbles and a vibrant golden hue. The aromas of crunchy green apple and white peach come to the fore on the nose, alongside hints of lemon balm and toasted brioche. Pere Ventura’s high-quality Cava house was established in 1992, but draws on a sparkling wine heritage that extends deep into the past. Pere’s great-grandfather was responsible for the first cava ever made by the classical method used in Champagne, and his grandfather and father continued to hone their technique in producing cavas of distinction. Ageing takes a minimum of 18 months in the cool Pere Ventura cellars, although some of its cavas are allowed to rest for as long as three years or more. “Take risks and pursue excellence,” advises Pere. “That is the secret of success.”  £12.95 a bottle from The Great Wine Company

 

Mastinell Cava Brut Real Gran Reserva 201

A blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada. Each of the varieties are vinified separately and tasted in the January to decipher the best quantities to combine. After a long ageing process the batch is split in two and dosage is added to the Brut Real giving it it’s personality! Floral with hints of apple, pear, anise and a long finish with citrus fruit and fennel. £20 a bottle from Chesters Wine Merchants

 

Vins El Cep

In the 1980s four Catalan families – Carreras, Esteve, Masana and Parera – decided to resurrect Can Llopart de les Alzines, a historic estate dating back to 1499, in the heart of Cava country, Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. They joined their 4 estates to create one sharing the same philosophy: Vins El Cep, making Cavas that represent their terroirs and farming using sustainable, organic practices. This is one of only 25 estates out of 290 which produces Cava exclusively from their own vineyards. Amathus Drinks offers a series of organic Cavas from Vins El Cep from £12.50 a bottle. These include Cava Kila, using the classic local blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada, and the MIM Natura range of dosage-free, fully-dry and lip-smacking D.O.Cavas made from the oldest organic plots on the estate.

Codorniu Herencia Cava Brut 75cl

Herencia is a D.O.Cava made with a blend of the traditional grape varieties: Macabeu, Xarel-lo and Parellada. Pale gold in colour with fine, persistent bubbles. Fresh with intense aromas of apple and pleasant citrus notes. Great value at £8 at Tesco.   Codorniu is the oldest winery in Spain, founded almost 500 years ago in 1551. It’s famous for being the inventor of Cava in 1872.

 

Segura Viudas Premium Cava Brut Vintage 75cl (Xarello 40%, Macabeu 30%, Parellada 26%, Chardonnay 4%)  A balanced D.O.Cava with a fresh finish, intense and complex in aroma. White fruits – apple and pear dominating, along with citrus and tropical fruit – pineapple, over a base of dried fruit and nuts, with some toasty notes and a touch of vanilla. Clean and fresh in aroma. On the palate it starts soft and flavoursome, with bright, long acidity delivering freshness.  £12 Tesco

Asda has some great value D.O.Cavas and also available in rosé,  which is even more special for celebrations, in my opinion:  Casa Luis Cava Brut 75cl (crisp and light with fresh apple, lemon and almond flavours)   and Casa Luis Cava Rosé Extra Dry 75cl (fresh and fruity, bursting with strawberry and citrus flavours) are staggeringly good value at just £6 a bottle! Also available is the ASDA Extra Special Mas Miralda Cava Brut (An exceptional full-bodied wine, with a depth of flavour singular only to vintage D.O.Cavas) and ASDA Extra Special Mas Miralda Brut Rosé Cava (brimming with sumptuous red berry flavours) are slightly more at £7 a bottle but equally stonking value.  What’s more, Asda has a brilliant promotion running till 15 December whereby if you buy six bottles, you get a 25% discount!

 

Not surprisingly, Marks & Spencer has a very good range too:  M&S Cava Brut £7 (with flavours of apple and citrus, lifted by biscuit notes, made by Salvador Escoda, using traditional grape varieties) Rosado also available at same price (salmon pink sparkling wine with flavours of wild strawberries and cranberries) M&S Prestige Cava Brut £9 (with flavours of green apples, limes and peaches with a nutty twist. Made by Miquel Salarich, using local Macabeo and Parellada grapes sourced from north east Spain) M&S Vintage Cava Brut £12 (dry, bottle-fermented Cava with flavours of toast and green apple. This vintage Spanish sparkling wine is crafted by winemaker Miquel Salarich, from local Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel.lo grape varieties.) 

I love the fact that there are mini bottles available too at just £3.50 for 20cl – a great sampling opportunity,  or of course a stocking filler.

 

Most of the better supermarkets will have some D.O.Cavas – maybe it’s time that D.O.Cavas took some of the glory that prosecco has had of late?  I do become annoyed when I see a wine list that has, say, a couple of champagnes, a couple of English sparklings and some prosecco – but sadly no D.O.Cavas. 

We need to start asking why they aren’t offering us the chance to drink this wonderful Spanish sparkler!

So, if you want my advice, this Christmas check out the D.O. Cava range at your local supermarket or independent wine shop…I think you’ll be in for a very nice surprise!

For more info, visit the website www.cava.wine/en