Spanish sparkling wines: description, varieties and characteristics

Spain is one of the three largest wine producers in the world. The vine occupies vast territories - about six million acres. No country in the world has such areas for growing raw materials for a future drink, which is exported to many states. This article introduces the reader to sparkling Spanish wines, their description, assortment and production.

When was the origin of winemaking in Spain?

This type of activity has existed since the time when the country was ruled by the Romans and Phoenicians. In Spain, wine making has been practiced for more than 2000 years. The first source with references to Spanish wines dates back to 873 year. Production of this drink in the country developed thanks to the Romans, who diligently taught the local population the secrets of its production and storage. They themselves exported wine to the Roman Empire.

In the Middle Ages, Spanish sparkling wines became popular thanks to the efforts of monks who sought to improve their quality. The production of this product in the country was treated with trepidation. So, in the seventeenth century, the Mayor of Logroño was issued a decree, according to which it was forbidden to ride horse-drawn carriages through the streets adjacent to wine cellars. This, according to the ruler, interfered with the quality of the drink.

The wineries built by the French in Spain have had a positive impact on the development of this fishery. It turned out that the vineyards of France were invaded by phylloxera, imported from America. This caused irreparable damage. Then the French wine growers became interested in the Spanish regions and started their production there. They particularly liked the Rioja, since the wines produced there reminded the French of the drink of their homeland - the notorious Bordeaux.

Kava - sparkling wine

There is not a single festive event in Spain that would have taken place without the use of this drink, although kava deserved undoubted popularity in many other countries. Sparkling Spanish wines are produced in a specific region, called Cava. The predominant part of the wine production is in the provinces of Catalonia Barcelona and Tarragona.

Spanish sparkling wines are produced in the country in a wide range. But not every one of them deserved the right to be called sparkling kava. This name is given only to those drinks for the creation of which the appropriate grape varieties grown according to classical technology and in a certain region of solar Spain are used.

White sparkling Spanish Cava wines (Cava) are made from grape varieties such as Macabeo, Charello, Parellada. For pink wines comes Garnacha, Pinot Noir, Monastrel, Trepate.

History of creation

The history of making sparkling wines in Spain dates back several centuries. The first appearance of kava refers to 1872. Its creator is Don Jose Raventos, the representative of one of the oldest birth in Spain - Kodorniu. He mastered the method of champagne, which was developed in France, and successfully introduced it in his homeland, in Catalonia. Currently, almost 100% of the production of sparkling wine Kava falls in this region. Already in those distant times there Jose was established a small production of this drink.

Since then, the popularity of Spanish sparkling wine kava is not inferior to other beverages. This is evidenced by the fact that the annual volume of its production is 200 million bottles. It is quickly bought up by the local population and sold outside the country.

Production

The basis of production of kava is secondary fermentation in bottles. To get the best Spanish wines, raw materials are further subjected to various procedures: from blending to dilution with liqueur.

• Kava does not immediately fall into the bottle. Before the drink is fermented in containers made of steel, after which it is mixed with grapes of different varieties and wine last year. Only after blending kava is bottled, in which a liquor made of yeast and sugar is added.
• After such preparations, the neck is tightly sealed with stoppers, and the bottles are sent for storage from 9 months to 4 years in a dark cellar. The wine will grow old. Fortress drink comes through carbon dioxide, which is formed in bottles. The main indicator of quality for kava are bubbles. Than they are smaller and thinner, so the quality is higher.
• But that is not all. The drink passes the next test - the process of remembrance. The result of this procedure is the precipitation of yeast in the sediment visible by the eye, which is formed on the neck. Later, the bottle is frozen, and a cork with a sediment is pulled out of it. This is already disgorge.
• The volume of the drink should correspond to the norm. Therefore, the same wine of the last year and liquor is added to the bottle. The last stage is the clogging of the container with a stopper and its reinforcement with a wire net. The wine is ready.

What is kava?

This drink of different brands is made according to the traditional method of champagne. Sparkling Spanish wines have a noble aroma and taste of ripe grapes. The production of Kava is carried out using the original method, which fully mechanizes the process of remembrance. The bottles were replaced with a large metal construction, called chiracol ("sunflower"). This capacity holds five hundred bottles. It is not necessary to subject each individual to the remedy procedure, this problem is removed.

Officially, kava is divided into pink and white. The first has a rich fruit and floral fragrance and a dense dry taste. The following are the types of cava, classified according to the concentration of sugars:

• Natural kava, or Brut Natur (super-dry).
• Brut (dry).
• Seko (quite dry).
• Seven Seko (semi-dry).
• Seven Dolce (semisweet).
• Dolce (sweet).

If there is a question "how to choose sparkling Spanish wines", pay attention to the producer of the drink. The most famous companies are:

• Castellblanc. It produces such famous Spanish wines (the best sparkling wines), like Brut-Zero and Crystal Seco.
• "Castillo de Perelada" - is famous for such drinks as "Gran Claustra" and "Perelada".
• "Kodorniu" - famous for its excellent wines "Kodorniu", "Ana de Codorniu", "Non Plus Ultra", "Gran Codorniou".
• "Gonzales and Dubox" - produces an excellent product "Juan Perico".
• "Hill" - is the manufacturer of the drink "Reserve Oro Brut Kava".

How to enjoy kava?

This drink should not just drink, but also get pleasure. First, choose the perfect company in which you feel comfortable. An important thing is the snack. Fruit, seafood, caviar and various cheeses are ideally suited to this wine.

The drink is served in a refrigerated state. It is poured into tall transparent glasses, shaped like a tulip or flute. So the wine aroma will last longer. Through the transparent glass, the color is visible and the bubble sizes are well defined, according to which the quality of the drink is determined. Pour kava into the glasses should be carefully, so that the liquid flows down the walls. Do not pour to the very top.

What dishes are used with different wines?

Undoubtedly, the best are Spanish wines. Discussion of their taste qualities can be continued indefinitely. It depends on the preferences of each person. But in Spain, traditions are respected with the use of wine, each kind of which is combined with one or another dish. So, for example, the best aperitifs are called kava and sherry. Stewed vegetables are suitable for drinks made from grapes of pink color. Cava is washed down with dried fruits and meat dishes, and sherry is a paella, a traditional dish of the country of winemaking.

When choosing a drink, you should follow the basic rule: wine and dishes should not differ greatly in color. Therefore, with red wine it is better to eat cheese and meat, and with white - seafood.

Types of drinks in Spain

Classification of Spanish wines is a detailed system, which at first glance may seem complicated. Constructed on a legislative basis, it inspires respect for oneself. Thus, the quality of the drink and its place of origin influences the type of drink that is established by the law on vineyards and wines. So, the fault of Spain is:

1. Dining rooms. Several varieties of grapes are used for the production of these drinks. However, this category may include aperitifs, not belonging to the number of vintage. This is the lowest level of classification, therefore, the requirements imposed on them are minimal. As a result, the range of products is very wide. Table wine in Spain can be bought for bottling, packaged in paper bags or expensive bottles.

2. Vintage (qualitative), which are subdivided, depending on the place of origin, on:

• Wines with special names that are not a brand;
• Drinks with brand names;
• Wines of unique importance in view of the limited territory on which they are produced.

How to distinguish good Spanish wine from bad

Wines containing bubbles are sparkling and effervescent. They are distinguished depending on the pressure. In a bottle with real champagne, the pressure should be 5-6 atmospheres. The best Spanish sparkling wines are naturally saturated with bubbles that are the result of fermentation. Effervescent wines, as a rule, are sweetened and carbon dioxide is injected artificially into them. In cheap effervescent drinks contains a large number of various undesirable ingredients. This wine should not be bought.

The best sparkling drink in Spain is cava - white or rosé wine. It is produced in six regions of the country. What kind of Spanish wine is, depends on the type of grapes used to make the drink. A good cava should be pale with a nutty taste and a pleasant lemon scent.

Wine list (Spain): list of wine brands

Spain is famous for its winemaking, and the most prestigious area is Rioja. Here, the local microclimate influences the vineyards, formed under the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Ebro River, in the valley of which the most delicious grapes are grown. The most successful variety is Tempranillo.

The advanced region of Catalonia for the production of sparkling wines is Penedes. Its climate allows you to grow excellent grapes, which loves heat and humidity. It is here that Spanish sparkling wines are produced Kawa.

The largest wine growing region in Europe is La Mancha. Growing grapes here is quite difficult. Of the twelve months of the year, nine fall on the winter season. Therefore, not every variety of culture will survive in such severe climatic conditions. But Irene grapes this medium is suitable, here it is grown on huge areas.

The region of Ribera del Duero is famous for the production of the most expensive elite wines of Spain. Here the climate itself created all the conditions for the growth of high quality raw materials.

Drinks in Spain

The best in the world is Spanish wine. The wines of Spain, whose types are represented in the widest range, have thousands of names. Below are some of them:

1. Rioja - the most recognizable wine in Spain. Usually men, having gathered together threesome, offer to drink riohi. In fact, in this title, the very concept of a wine-growing region is generalized, where wine of all kinds and names is produced. The region itself includes:

• The northwestern part, which is subject to the greatest influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which makes the climate cool;
• The south-eastern zone occupying the territory in the valley of the Ebro river (the climate here is hot and dry);
• The so-called piece territory, which was once the Basque country - the climate here is Mediterranean, but it is subordinated to the influence of the Atlantic.

2. Sherry - fortified Spanish wine. The wines of Spain can not be imagined without this drink. When it is produced, a special technology is used that provides for the addition of alcohol. This drink is made from grape harvested in September, which is placed in huge oak barrels (600 liters in volume) for up to several months (for fermentation). During the winter, the wine is clarified, and it is poured into other similar containers, which are placed in a cellar for aging for three years. They put tiers of four in each. As the drink ages, the barrels are rearranged from the upper tier to the lower tier. Wine is consumed only from the bottom barrels. The most common variety of sherry is Fino. This is the whiteest and always dry wine.

3. Sangria is made with the addition of citrus essence and carbonated water in white or red wine, which in volume occupies 50%. In the drink, the content of pulp or peel is allowed.

4. Malaga is made using three types of wort, which is juice:

• Flowing from a mature grapes;
• Carefully squeezed out;
• Obtained during normal spinning.

Each type of wort is fermented and aged separately. In addition, malaga is produced using simple wines. Such a sweet dessert drink based on white grapes is characterized by a large number of varieties, depending on the sugar content, color, strength. Currently, this wine is a vanishing species. The fact that it is made from native varieties of grapes, and he, in the majority, died in the last century as a result of the epidemic of phylloxera.

Pink wine

It is considered an unloved stepchild. The population of Spain is ambiguous about the product of this color. Many consider it "unfinished." Although pink wines produce the same technology as the red ones. The only difference is that the grape berries are cleared from the shells before. This is done so that they do not intensively color the wine.

If you discard Spanish prejudice, you can fully enjoy and pink wine, such as Rosado, using it chilled. This drink perfectly complements dishes from poultry, cold meats and various salads.

Grapes used for the production of Spanish wine

In each region of Spain, those varieties of grapes are grown that yield the greatest yields on its land. More often than not, the production of Spanish wines uses raw materials of the following varieties:

• Viura - the place of its growth is Rioja and Navarre. The fruit contains a large amount of acid and alcohol. From this grapes are produced white fragrant wines.
• Airen - a variety of the most common white grapes.
• Tempranillo is the main wine berry in Rioja. The fruit has a very rich black-violet color. Cultivated not only in this region. But there this grapes has a different name.
• Mairasia - is considered one of the main varieties of white grapes. Catalonia and Rioja are the best places to grow it. From this cultivar, wines with a soft, delicate taste are produced.
• Moscatel - belongs to the oldest varieties. This grapes are indispensable for making dessert wines.

What is the difference between pink and white wine?

It's impossible to know everything about Spanish wines. But some knowledge is simply necessary, especially for those who are planning to travel to Spain. So, wines of pink color possess pleasant aroma of a strawberry and petals of roses, in them the shade of spices is obviously felt. The best ones are those for the production of which the amber grapes from Rioja and the brand Tempranillo, which has the taste of mature sweet cherry, are used.

White wine is produced in Catalonia and has the aroma of alpine grasses and exotic fruits. Feels slightly citrus flavor.