Cava ( Spanish pronunciation: kaβa, plural cavas ) is a sparkling wine of Denomination of Origin (DO) status from Spain . It may be white ( white ) or rosé ( pink ). The Macabeo , Parellada and Xarel·lo are the most popular and traditional grape varieties for producing cava. Only wines produced in the traditional method may be labeled “cava”; those produced by other processes may only be called “sparkling wines” (sparkling wines ). About 95% of all cava is produced in the Penedès area in Catalonia , Spain , with the village of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia being home to many of Catalan largest production houses. The two major producers are Codorníu and Freixenet . Cava is also produced in other villages in Aragon , Castile and León , Extremadura , La Rioja , Basque Country , Navarre and Valencia .

Marketing Cava as “Spanish champagne” is no longer permitted under European Union law , since Champagne has Protected Geographical Status (PGS) and Spain entered the EU in 1986. Colloquially it is still called champagne or champagne in Spanish or xampany in Catalan . Today it is defined by law as a “quality sparkling wine produced in a designated region” ( Quality sparkling wine produced in a specified region , psr).

The word champagne in Spanish is not to be confused with champagne , a colloquial term for the non- traditional method sparkling wines. These achampañados wines are generally cheaper, are served by the bottle at bars or restaurants specializing in them and hence these establishments are called by the same name, ie achampañado . This is not cava, but it is a somewhat popular drink as well.