Visiting Cava Berdie in the Penedes, Spain

After spending 6 weeks in the premiere Spanish wine region of the Penedès in Catalonia I can honestly say that I will never look at the Spanish sparkling wine – Cava – the same ever again. My complete outlook on this bursting bubbly has done a 360-degree swirl; from only knowing a certain blacked out bottle to sipping on elixirs that should only be paired with fine Spanish tapas and Manolo Blahniks. Yes that’s right, Cava is sexy, sleek, fresh and oh so trendy.

I guess you could say having tried over 70 different Cavas is one way to change a girls view however I also owe it to a couple of bodegas I visited whilst I was staying in the Penedès that really stood out and seduced me into the wonderful world of Cava.

The first of these was Cava Berdié. If the view from the rustic bodega overlooking the lush green valley is not enough to take your breath away then your first sip of their Extra Brut will surely draw you into it’s whimsical whirlwind. You have not lived until you have done a sensory tour at Cava Berdié – it is the ultimate Cava experience.

The tour begins on the terrace with a glass of the Extra Brut matched with a pinchito (tapa on a toothpick – functional!) of grapes and cheese. It truly is a moment where you see light bulbs illuminating above people’s heads as the guide explains the intricacies of flavours marrying on the palate from salty to sour to bitter and sweet.

The next step on the tour leads you through the winery down to the 500 square meter underground cellar. I am a sucker for romance, underground cellar + long hanging dimly lit lights + endless bottles of Cava as far as the eye can see = me acting like a teenage Bieber fan (a.k.a stupefying and sickly). It was here we matched the Gran Reserva 2006 with pinchito’s of bread, butter and smoked salmon. By this stage my taste buds were dancing for joy – both the pinchito and Cava were complimenting each other with their toasty and creamy characteristics with a ping of smoky excitement to finish off. Finger licking good!

The final stage on the Berdié sensory tour is the cream on the cake. You are guided back through the winery to their funky wine bar where you are introduced to their sexy redhead – otherwise known as a Rosé (blend of Monastrell and Granacha). Not only is the bottle bound to break hearts (hot pink label) but it truly is a redhead. It is brave, bold and stands out from the pack – it is a Rosé to accompany a main meal or act as a digestive. It breaks rules by complimenting a pinchito of freshly halved strawberries sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper. It truly was that perfect happy ending to the most fantastic winery tour I have ever been on.

It was also great to find out about Cava Berdié donating proceeds to local charities – not only are they dedicated to making superb Cavas and offering excellent tours but also they care for the community. This Cava Bodega is one of a kind and should be seen as showing consumers that Cava truly is a unique and exciting product. For more information on tours and Cava Berdié please click here.