What is Cava, and how do you drink it?

Traditionally crafted with native Catalan grapes, cava is a sparkling wine that combines vibrant freshness with elegant complexity. Whether you're new to fizz or a seasoned sparkling wine lover, this guide will walk you through how cava is made, what makes it special, and how to enjoy it at its best.

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Malou Herkes

What is Cava?

A delicious Spanish sparkling wine, Cava is predominantly made in Penedès in Catalonia, west of Barcelona. “Made in the same way as Champagne, Cava offers great value for money and is very expressive of the local region. It needs more people to discover it,” says Dror Nativ, M&S in-house wine expert. Cava follows the traditional method of making sparkling wine, with grapes carefully selected and blended. In the case of Cava, these grapes are typically the indigenous grapes of the region – Xarel·lo, Macabeo and Parellada. Discover how Cava is made and what makes it Spain's answer to French Champagne.

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How is Cava made?

Making Cava starts, of course, with the grapes. Typically, the three indigenous grapes, Xarel·lo, Macabeo and Parellada, are used. The grapes are fermented separately to create base still wines, which are then carefully blended. Each grape brings something different to the final wine – robust Xarel·lo brings structure and body, aromatic Macabeo softens the wine with floral, pear and green-apple aromas, while high-in-acidity, citrussy Parellada brightens it into an elegant drink.

The blended wine is then aged in bottles. This second fermentation is an important stage in making Cava (as it is when making Champagne). Not only does it give the wine its fizz, but bottle fermentation also allows it to develop beautiful baked-bread, brioche-like aromas. Wines like our Finca Miguel Prestige Cava Brut and Finca Miguel Vintage Cava are aged in the bottle for longer, resulting in a more savoury, complex wine, with more of these baked bread notes.

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Best Cava to try this year

From easy-drinking Cava, designed for a crowd, to our best vintage Cava for special occasions, our Finca Miguel Cava range offers excellent value and great quality.

Best Cava for a special gift: “Our vintage Cava is outstanding quality with longer ageing on the lees, which makes for a more complex, savoury wine”, says Dror Nativ. Our Finca Miguel Vintage Cava from 2021 has been aged for the longest, resulting in a beautifully dry wine with creamy richness and a fruity aftertaste.

Best Cava for a special occasion: Pop the cork on this bottle of vibrant, creamy sparkling Finca Miguel Prestige Cava Brut. It's made with the three traditional grapes (Xarel·lo, Macabeo and Parellada), as well as Chardonnay grapes for aromatic depth, crisp acidity and body. With flavours of green apples, limes and peaches, this is a lovely fizz to open when there’s something to celebrate.

Best cava for a party: Looking for an easy-drinking Cava for a crowd? “Our Finca Miguel Cava Brut is an accessible sparkling and great-value if you’re buying several bottles”, says Sue Daniels, M&S in-house winemaker. This refreshingly dry wine has lively bubbles, with fresh apple and toasty aromas. Pair with Spanish picky bits, like our Spanish 12 Month Matured Serrano Ham and Spanish Mild Manzanilla Olives.

Best Cava rosé – Made with the red grapes, Trepat and Pinot Noir, our Finca Miguel Rosado Brut is a fruity sparkling wine with a vibrant pink colour and mouth-filling bubbles. With notes of juicy red berries and a hint of green almond, it's the ultimate fun, fizzy pink drink.

How to serve cava

To taste Cava at its best, serve it well chilled, ideally between 6-8°C. Store the bottle in the fridge for a few hours before serving. To preserve its lively bubbles, serve in flute or tulip-shaped glasses.

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What to pair with Cava?

“When it comes to food pairing, wine is always best paired with the food of that region”, says Dror. With crisp acidity, fine bubbles and subtle nutty notes that cut through salty, fatty or creamy foods, Cava is a brilliant match for Spanish antipasti and tapas-style deli bites, from cured meats to croquetas to homemade meatballs and patatas bravas. Pop open a bottle at your next picnic alongside these homemade air-fryer tuna melt empanadas. Citrussy notes pair beautifully with seafood, so try serving your Cava as a pre-dinner nibble with garlic prawns on toast. For a vegetarian alternative, these pan con tomate with silky Ibérico layered on top will transport you straight to Spain.

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Published 7.19.2025