Catalan Wines

This weekend we went to eat with our friends in a restaurant and something came up. We started debating on whether we should order mojito or sangria. Since we were in a Spanish environment, we decided to go for sangria. However, another dilema came up… did you know that here in Spain, there are two kinds of sangria? Classic sangria, and the sangria with Cava. What is Cava? Well, I actually did some research for you about Catalan wines and more specifically, the Cava.

History of Catalan wines

You all know that Romans took part in the development of Catalonia (and if you don’t, check this article). These good people were wine-lovers and helped developing the Catalan wine. They only contributed to its improvement, yet the real creators of the science of winemaking in this area were, according to the latest archeology evidences, the Phoenicians.

Catalan Wines

The Roman Empire was the real Catalan wine’s golden age. However this golden age stopped during the Moorish occupation. Hundreds and hundreds of years passed and the wine production never recovered the level of its previous productions.

Catalan wines, as well as other Spanish wines, started to have an international recognition in the 19th century when the French wine industry went through a big disaster (the phylloxera epidemic). The very same century saw the birth of the Cava in the Penedès area.

The Cava

What is the Cava? The Cava is a type of sparkling wine which was inspired by the French Champagne.

The Cava apellation can only be given to a wine produced in only 8 regions among which the Castille y León, Rioja… However you should know that the Penedès region counts for 95% of the total production.

Please beware, a sparkling wine which doesn’t have the Cava apellation is not a Cava. Some restaurants will try to sell you Spanish sparkling wine for a Cava wine. I’m not telling you that this wine will be bad, not at all. The only thing is that this wine won’t bear the Cava apellation because it does not comply with the traditional production methods.

Catalan Wines 

The Catalan Wines’ regions

10 wine regions have what we call a “Denominación de Origen” (it prevents other similar wines not produced in this area from bearing the same name).

You already know Penedès and the Cava, but in Catalonia they also produce white wine in Allela, Terra Alta… Red wine is usually produced in Tarragona, Empordà… And they also make rosé in Conca de Barberà.

Catalan Wines 

Well, you know what to do next, just sit in a bar and ask for a Sangria con Cava or any Catalan wine. You will be surprised!