Cava is one of the most typically Christmas drinks, but choosing the right one is not always an easy task. For this reason, the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has analyzed the options available in Spanish supermarkets and assessed which are the best bottles for less than five euros.
For his study he has selected 18 white and rosé sparkling wines, 17 of them with the Cava designation of origin and 1 with the Rioja designation. The organization has assessed the alcohol content, sugar content, volatile acidity, total acidity and the presence of preservatives, such as sulfites, and a panel of expert tasters, "the most important criterion of the analysis and in which the best stand out cavas", has tasted the cavas.
After comparing the results, the organization has concluded that the best supermarket alternative is the Bach Extrísimo Brut Nature, with 85 points, which costs 4.75 euros, has an average alcohol of 11.6% and is made with Chardonnay grapes. .
They describe it as a sparkling wine of "straw yellow color with golden tones; medium-sized bubble, continuous rosary and light crown; medium intensity, aromas of ripe fruit, raisins and dried sons, with nuances of dried fruits and stone fruits." The Brut Nature Rosado version, they add, also stands out for its good value for money.
The second best cava in the study, with a score of 84 points, a price of 4.28 euros and an average alcohol content of 11.5%, is the Jaume Serra Brut Nature Reserva. It is made with Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada and Chardonnay grapes, and is "straw yellow in color with golden tones; It is balanced, with hints of bitter almond.
The organization's study reveals a wide range of prices, ranging from 4.28 to 10.52 euros per bottle, with an average cost of 7.49 euros.
Finally, the OCU provides some advice on the conservation of these drinks, which should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. It also recommends cooling them ahead of time to a temperature of 8 °C, which is reached by storing the bottle 4 hours before consumption. Then, once on the table, it should be kept cool in an ice bucket with ice and water.
As for how to pair them, they advise accompanying brut nature, extra brut and brut with main dishes, especially those that contain fish, seafood, cheese and pickled sauce. "While semi-dry cavas, due to their higher sugar content (up to 50 g/liter), are more suitable to accompany desserts," they conclude.
