It is holiday season and while I recommend sparkling wine any time of the year it’s a must during the holiday season.
You might think that sparkling wine is a splurge, but if you know how to shop for it you can actually get some pretty darn good bubbly at prices comparable to any other wine. Champagne is great, but your unlikely to find any for under $20. But there are many other regions that produce good bubbly at much more reasonable prices.
I’m not gonna lie, there is a difference when you compare the cheap bottles to the pricey stuff. Regions like Champagne and Franciacorta make some spectacular sparkling wines! If you taste a cheap bottle of bubbly next to a good bottle of Franciacorta there’s no comparison. But a good bargain bubbly is still be pretty enjoyable.
One of my favorite regions for steals on sparkling wines is the Cava region. The one I’m tasting today is from Segura Viudas, who produce a number of different Cavas, from ultra-cheap to moderately pricey. The Brut Reserva is their “entry level” wine in terms of price, but it’s still pretty darn delicious!
This wine sells for under ten bucks, and I’d be glad to have a glass of it any day. It’s made from a blend of 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada and 15% Xarel-lo.
The aromas are mostly lemon, but it also reveals some nuttiness, yeast and wet stones. The palate is delicious with plenty of lemon, mango and white peach flavors held up on salty minerality. The acidity is just right, giving a nice vibrancy to the wine. And the mouthfeel is perfectly bubbly. It’s a tasty cava and an exceptional bargain!
Wine: Segura Viudas Brut Reserva
Variety: Cava – 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada and 15% Xarel-lo
Vintage: Non-vintage
Alcohol: 12%
Rating: 88
Price: $8.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.
