What is Cava?
Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine, mostly from Catalonia, made the same way as Champagne but from local grapes, and it tastes dry and crisp with lemon, apple and a light toasty edge for about $10–15.
Cava is the best-kept secret on the sparkling shelf. It's Spanish bubbly made with the same in-the-bottle method as Champagne, and it usually costs less than Prosecco.
- Tastes like
- Lemon, green apple, almond, a little toast
- Sweetness
- Mostly 'Brut', which is dry
- Where it's from
- Mainly Penedès, near Barcelona, Spain
- Price range
- About $9–18
- Serve at
- Cold, 40–45°F
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
What Cava tastes like
Drier and more savory than Prosecco, lighter and less bready than Champagne. Expect lemon, tart apple and a nutty, almond-ish aftertaste. Some have a faint earthy quality that makes them great with food.
Where it comes from and what it is made of
Most Cava comes from the Penedès area outside Barcelona. The classic grapes are Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada, three Spanish whites you'll rarely see on their own. Like Champagne, each bottle gets its bubbles inside the bottle, so you get fine bubbles and a little toastiness for a fraction of the price.
How to pick a bottle
'Brut' is the go-to: dry and crisp. 'Brut Nature' is bone dry, and 'Semi Seco' is sweet. 'Reserva' means it aged longer, so it's a bit richer and toastier, often for only a couple of dollars more.
Because it's so cheap and dry, Cava is the smart pick for mimosas and punch. The orange juice brings the sweetness, and the wine keeps it from tasting like soda.
What to eat with it
Go Spanish: patatas bravas, ham, Manchego, olives, fried anything. It's also lovely with shrimp, paella and salty snacks on a weeknight.
Cava to try
Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut
about $11Macabeo, Xarel-lo and ParelladaGood buy
The black bottle. Crisp, dry and in nearly every store in America.
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva
about $10Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo
A little richer than Freixenet with a toasty edge. One of the best $10 bubbles going.
Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut
about $9Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo
Cheap, clean and made for mimosas by the pitcher.
Anna de Codorníu Blanc de Blancs
about $15Chardonnay, Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo
Softer and creamier thanks to some Chardonnay. Feels fancier than the price.
Keep reading
- What is sparkling wine?
- What is Champagne?
- Cava vs Prosecco: what's the difference?
- Prosecco vs Champagne: what's the difference?
- What's the best cheap champagne?
- What is the best champagne for mimosas?
Last checked 2026-10-11.