Cava is a sparkling white wine from the Spanish region of Catalonia.
True are the rumors that attitudes regarding youth and alcohol in Southern Europe tend to be much more lax than in the United States. While the legal drinking age in Spain is currently 18, it is not uncommon for children to taste wine with the family at dinner prior to that age. Conversely, American children are widely discouraged from drinking until early adulthood when they reach the beacon age of 21. While the American practice sends mixed messages that mature drinking depends on a number, the Spaniards instill a belief in their children that drinking is no rite of passage to be anticipated (or abused). A traditional Spanish table wine, in taste and in practice, represents a drink of the people. It should be enjoyed tastefully, be accessible, and be down to earth. Perhaps this is why good wines in Spain are so inexpensive and easy to find.
Catalunya (in Catalan spelling) or Catalonia (in English) is the Spanish province of which Barcelona is the capital. Aside from being home to many interesting political complexities, it is also the home of the best Spanish whites. The hot and arid climate is not unlike California – another important region in global wine production. As an honorary Catalana from 2004-2005, I grew fond of a particular varietal known as cava. Cava is a sparkling white wine which comes in many versions, including a sharp yet fruity brut similar to a brut champagne. At about 3,00€ a bottle in 2005 (about $5.00 USD), one could share a crisp bottle of delicious, high quality, cava -full of dry yet playful apple and apricot tones – for a price unheard of in the United States. And boy, did we enjoy it again and again.
The dinner party became a popular gathering among my Barna friends. Our core group included about 6 women from the University of California, San Diego who were studying on the year-long exchange program. We all lived with European exchange students, Spaniards, or Catalans; our common language in this company was usually Spanish. Dinners with friends and roommates were one of our greatest opportunities to learn from one another and enjoy each other’s company. I credit most of my kitchen knowledge and enjoyment to these dinners. To this day, cooking with friends is one of my favorite pastimes.
My friend’s roommate Isabel, a forty-something nurse who had long lived in Barcelona, was the first to teach me about cava. Early into our academic year, a few of us were sitting down to a home cooked meal and about to say, “Cheers!” over a 99 centavo liter of Xibeca beer. At the sight of this, Isabel jumped up, and ran to the kitchen shrieking, “NO!” Puzzled, and always lost in translation, our nervous stares flitted to one another fearing we had in some way offended her. Our panic soon turned to laughter as Isa finished her rant. “¡Hay que brindar con cava!” (“You must toast with cava!”). She returned with champagne flutes and a bottle of chilled cava, and we had a proper toast before dinner. Not so much a tradition as a corny joke, we still regarded Isa’s suggestion with favor at the wine aisle after that. After all, who just has a bottle of bubbly lying around for a rainy day if it ain’t for the average Josefina?
Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava is a popular type of sparkling white wine from northern Spain.
Much later in the year, I took a trip to Pinedés – deep into the wine country surrounding Tarragona. A friend of mine lived very close to the Freixenet vineyard (pronounced “fresh-in-et”), as I discovered on a sleepy train ride to see her on a gorgeous June day. Not only due to the breathtaking views of soil and grapes outside my window, Freixenet was always my go-to wine for dinners with friends and special occasions. This brand was and remains my favorite brand of cava due to its superior quality, crisp bite, and low price. With its added nostalgic value, I will always prefer it over a classic champagne. Fortunately, it is such a favored cava that it is even available for purchase in the States in retailers such as BevMo for around $12.00 USD. When the rare opportunity arises to enjoy the taste of my year in Spain, such as on New Year’s Eve 2011, I allow myself to add a nostalgic cava to the menu and continue the tradition of sharing with friends.
Photo credit: taken by the author on 12/31/2011
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