Cava cavalcade
Spanish Cava is terrific, prices enticing, and 12 July is International Cava Day. Made in the same way as French Champagne but with Spanish grapes, it’s hard to find a better pairing with olives, shellfish – even fish and chips. Found mainly in Penedés near Barcelona, aged for nine months minimum, there are lots of good ones under a tenner. For complexity and richness, splash out on a Reserva (15 months’ ageing).
Kylie Minogue Organic Brut Reserva Cava (11.5%), £12, winedelivered.co.uk. Richly flavoursome, pristine and hits all the high notes. Bravo, Kylie.
Prestige Cava Rosado Brut NV (12%), £10, Marks & Spencer. Summer-fruit fun, this pink fizz has delicious depth with enticing texture too. Delicious!
Taste The Difference Reserva Vintage Brut Nature Cava 2017 (12%), £9, Sainsbury’s. An apple-y arrow: expect piercing bubbles and plenty of flavour.
The Best Marqués De Los Rios Cava Brut (11.5%), £9, Morrisons. Beautifully rich and intense. Serve chilled with a bowl of salted almonds and relax.
This article was originally published in YOU Magazine, Mail on Sunday, 10th July 2022 (Prices, stockists and vintages correct at time of publication).
This is Olly’s final column for YOU magazine, next week he’ll be taking the helm as wine critic for the Daily Mail with a brand new column in WEEKEND magazine.
