sparkling wines have become very popular here; even so, fads fluctuate. A few years ago, Spanish Cava was all the rage, and the word “cava” became the slang for any wine with bubbles.

It often costs double the price of other sparkling wines, such as prosecco or cava. A decent-quality bottle of it can cost you anywhere from $50 to $300, and vintages can often sell for thousands.

Although under EU law it’s no longer permitted to call cava “Spanish Champagne”, the Spanish still call it “champán” or “champaña” colloquially, or “xampany” in Catalonia.

With so many different styles and sweetness levels, not to mention all the different grape varieties used, sparkling wine ...

Alternatively, cava is produced in the same meticulous way as champagne, and is just as reliable (although the local Spanish grapes tend to give a much more simple, neutral style of wine).

Champagne comes third (91 million liters), behind sparkling wine from fresh grapes (100 million liters). Spanish cava comes in fourth position, with 60 million liters produced. — AFP Relaxnews ...