Happy February everyone! I can hardly belive it’s still “winter” here in San Francisco, given that it’s in the mid 70s, and the sun is shining. Time to get out and enjoy some crisp sparkling delicious Cava!
Cava is Spain’s version of sparkling wine, traditionally made from indigenous white varieties – Xarel·lo, Macabeo and Parellada. Most Cava is made in Catalonia, a region at the north east tip of Spain. Cava must also be made in the méthode champenoise, whereas sparkling wine made in other (shall we say, less than desirable in my opinion) methods may only be called vinos espumosos (sparkling wines).
I am so excited that in 3 short weeks, I will be spend a whirlwind week, learning all about this magical elixer, from the masters of Segura Viudas.
Some of the activities I will be participating in are:
- An Assemblage master class, where we learn about the traditional cava grapes, terroir, region and climate.
- A blending session, where we will learn to create our own special bubbly blend
- A cooking class to learn about the regional cuisine
- Meals paired with the wines of the region
- A side trip to Priorat, one of my favorite regions. Did someone say Garnacha? Monastrell? Garnacha Blanca? Pack me a straw!
And did I mention, they are rather fond of jamon in Spain?
And now, a bit more about my hosts, Segura Viudas:
Segura Viudas has developed a reputation as a premium cava producer, with the property dating back to the 11th century. The brand was born in 1959, and the wines were first released in 1969. The Ferrer family of Barcelona, who owns brands like Gloria Ferrer and Frexinet, purchased the estate in the 1980s making it a global competitor.
I’m looking forward to learning more about cava and the Catalonia region of Spain! As you might now, I was in Spain & Portugal last year, when I spoke at the International Wine Tourism Conference. At that time, I took some extra time and explored Madrid, Rioja, and the northern regions, so this will be a great way to round out my Spanish adventure. I wonder if I can accidentally miss my return flight and get lost in Barcelona?
Watch out for tweets and posts from the road! Can I do this all with just my iPad? I hope so!
