Has Cava popped its cork?

What has happened to Cava? Only a couple of Christmass ago we were literally swallowing up all the Cava that Spain could produce. At one stage UK consumers accounted for the majority of Spanish Cava exports, and no surprise, the main gluggers and slirpers were women, aged 35 to 50. We just couldnt get enough of the stuff. Why? Well, for a start it was cheap (mostly sold on half-price deals in UK supermarkets), and we didnt really know of any viable alternatives at that time. So why arent we drinking Cava now? Like all things Cava had a natural shelf-life. The Cava industrys obsession with selling volume; meant that it became over-exposed in the wine shops and larger supermarkets, and we simply just got bored with it. Its like Antonio Banderos in Once upon a time in Mexico. Back then he was new and sexy and all the ladies wanted a piece of him. Then he started doing, every, and any movie that came out (Spy Kids, Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos). Now, we dont care about him. At the same time, a younger, cooler and hipper Italian came round the corner. He was new, Then Now exciting and the ladies went crazy for him. Suddenly Italian fizz was in voga. The key difference with this new kid on the block, is that it was just as affordable, but much more pleasing to the palate. An easy-drinking fizzy wine with simple flavours. Put plainly, cheap Prosecco is much easier to palate than cheap Cava. Prosecco tastes just like Pinot Grigio with bubbles, with a hint of sweetness. It doesn't have the, at times, acidic characters of Cava or Champagne. This is due to the different grapes that go into this fizzy Italian phenomenon. Recent changes in Italian wine production laws mean that Prosecco can now only be called 'Prosecco' if it follows certain guidelines.

Ricardo Scamarcio, Romanza Criminale

1. The wine has to contain 100% Prosecco grape (yes, there is actually a grape called Prosecco). It now means that all other Prosecco-type wines, including all rosato styles, can no longer use the word Prosecco on the label. They will now be called Vina Spumante Rosato for example or some other derivative, typically using the word Glera which is a synonym of Prosecco NB: The derivates can be just as good by the way, so dont worry if you dont see the word Prosecco on the label. It does not mean that the wine is inferior; it just means that it does not contain 100% of the Prosecco grape. 2. The wine has to be classified as D.O.C. or D.O.C.G (Deniminazione di Origine Controllata Garantita), the highest sparkling classification, and so has to contain the highest quality prosecco grapes. 3. Can only come from, and must be bottled, in and around a small, select number of areas in Italy (this was to stop Prosecco being commercially and poorly made and bottled in places like Germany. The same protected status has been granted to many foods such as Melton Mowbray pies, Jersey Royal potatoes and Armagh Bramley apples. There is another kid on the sparkling block however; and hes French! No its not Champagne. His name is Crmant, pronounced Kray-mon. This is a lesser-known French regional dry sparkling wine that is every bit as good as a standard Champagne, but at a fraction of the cost. (Hoorah! I hear you say). The wines are made from the typical grape blends of their region. For example a Crmant de Bordeaux Rose might be made using Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Grapes, while a Crmant de Bourgogne will typically be made using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes (just like Champagne). Personally, I would really love to see more Crmant wines selling in the Irish market, as they offer great value. So, look out for Crmant in your local stores, or better still ask your friendly, local store manager to order some in. You should expect to pay anywhere from 9.99 -17.99. Happy hunting!!