Cava Week in Catalunya
Catalunya's major Cava producing town is Sant
Sadurní d'Anoia (85% of national output) which has a Cava Week celebration dedicated to Catalan
champagne with a whole range of gastronomic events and
concerts, etc.
The week's activities get off to a flying start with the inaugural address and
ensuing crowning of the Cava Queen. She arrives accompanied by her ladies
in waiting and escorted by the mounted brigade of the Barcelona police. Once
crowned she receives a glass of the first-pressing from the year's harvest from
the Sant Sadurní Fellowship. The gathering then adjourns to the headquarters of
the Cava Fellowship at Torre-Ramona, where a dinner of honour is served.
The week continues with a host of dinners, a 300 person bicycle race, an art
exhibition dedicated to Cava and a Petanque evening. There are also Catalan folk
music concerts, more gourmet dinners, cava symposiums and, of course, the annual
Barcelona train ride. Every 12 October 1,000 people from Barcelona board the
Cava train bound for Sant Sadurní d'Anoia. Joined at the station by a hoard of
carnival characters, including the prerequisite big heads and cabezudos,
they are escorted with a glorious fanfare to the town hall and Cava Houses.
After a tour of the cellars, followed by lunch and entertainment, they return to
the Catalan capital.
The Wine
Cava must spend at least nine months in its bottle before dégorgement, or
recorking. The grape varieties used to develop the cava wines are Macabeu,
Xarel-lo and Chardonnay. Other variables that make Cava so special are moderate
rainfall, intense sunshine and soft winds, all features of the
Penedes region.
Such conditions help the grape to mature properly, creating its distinctive
aroma and cutting dry taste. Cava is distinct for its dryness and some say that
it's drier than Champagne.
The dates vary but are usually around October 7th - 15th. The
Cava Week Website is
slow to be updated but should at least give you the dates (in Spanish).
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