Cava

Cava is sparkling Spanish wine. According to Spanish law, cava may be produced in eight wine regions: Aragon, the Basque Country, Castile and León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Navarra, Rioja or the Valencian Community. The Penedès is located in Catalonia, and there is only one Castilian producer, in the town of Aranda de Duero.  The leading cava grapes are parellada, macabeo, and xarel-lo.

The Catalan word cava (masculine, plural caves) means "cave", or "cellar". Caves were used in the early days of cava production for the preservation or aging of wine.  Catalan winemakers officially adopted the term in 1970 to distinguish their product from French champagne. The best examples are dry and crisp, and tend to be more earthy than their French counterparts.