Tapas and wine night

If you like cava and feel like doing something different with friends or family, why not arrange a cava tasting session at home? It can be a unique, fun and very tasty experience. All you need are several different types of cava, some nibbles, the right glasses and being in the mood for having fun. Are you ready to learn how?

How to prepare a cava tasting session at home?

1. Choose at least three varieties of cava. The ideal choice is a brut cava, a brut nature and a rosé cava to compare styles and tastes. You can find some very interesting options in the cava section at your local Consum supermarket.
2. Use two different types of glasses to try the same cava, a flute or tulip glass and a wine glass: you will notice the difference between glasses.
3. Serve it at the right temperature: between 6ºC and 8ºC to get the most out of the cava and for it to retain its freshness.
4. Tasting order: start with the driest (brut nature), followed by the brut and end up with the rosé or the sweetest.
5. Get a notebook ready: encourage your guests to write down their impression of each cava: white flowers? citrus fruit? red berries? fine or intense bubbles?

If you want your cava tasting to be a success, bring out some tapas and create some pairings for a more complete experience.

Brut cava: versatile pairings for each meal

Brut Cava: is the most popular type because of its balance between acidity and freshness, with a slight sweetness. It is perfect for:

• Savoury hors d’oeuvres: olives, cured ham, nuts.
• White fish or boiled shellfish.
• Risotto or mild pasta dishes, such as spaghetti with vegetables.
• Semi-mature cheese.

This type of cava combines well with dishes where there is no dominant sweetness or excessively fatty.
 

Brut nature cava: what to serve its refined taste with

Brut nature cava: this is the driest type, with no added sugar. It is ideal for palates seeking the pure experience of cava and its elegance. It pairs wonderfully with:

• Oysters, sushi or ceviche.
• Light vegetarian dishes, such as rocket and goat's cheese salad.
• Tuna or salmon tartar.
• Dishes with a slight citrus touch.

It is perfect for people who are looking for a serious, fresh cava that does not overpower the flavour of the food.

Rosé cava: the perfect pairing for light meals

Rosé cava: made from red grapes such as Grenache, Monastrell or Pinot Noir. It is usually more fruity and expressive. Its bubbles go well with:

• Tomato based tapas, such as bread and cured ham or grilled vegetable escalivada.
• Spicy or slightly hot dishes, such as mild Asian cuisine.
• Salad with fruit or nuts.
• Desserts with red berries (the perfect finale)!

Its colour and flavour make it ideal for casual celebrations and summer lunches.
 

So now everything is ready for the tasting session, it’s time to look at the different stages:

1. Invite your friends to observe the cava: pay attention to the bubbles, the colour - cava undergoes a fermentation and bottle-ageing process giving it a straw-like or yellowish colour, whereas rosé cava can be a pale pink or even onion colour.
2. Nose stage: As in all tasting sessions it is important to make sure there are no unusual smells. Or any dirt or damp. Since it is aged on the lees (which usually consist of dead yeast cells or other substances in the wine during the second fermentation until it is disgorged), cava usually has some herby or roasted aromas, and is reminiscent of the grape variety it is made from. 
3. Finally, we move on to the tasting, in which one of the first features of cava is its creaminess in our mouth, with a pleasant volume and velvety to swallow. Another important feature is the amount of sugar in the cava, but the ideal thing in a dry cava, without residual sugar, is sweet tannin and pleasantly appetising without sugar in the drink.

Are you ready to get bubbly at home? Look for your favourite cava at the Consum Bodega, invite your friends around and... Cheers!