Cava 101: What is Cava?

Maybe you’re familiar with the term “Cava”, or maybe you’re not. But y’know that iconic black and gold bottle of bubbly that you’ve seen at every New Years Party? Surely you’ve had a glass of it at some point right? Well, that’s Cava. So what is Cava exactly? And what makes it different from Champagne or Prosecco?

A Look at the Sparkling Wines of Canada… Eh!

Close your eyes and think of Canada. What comes to mind? Unspoiled landscapes? Maple syrup? Polar bears and ice hockey? Or, if you’ve explored the world of wine, perhaps the quintessentially Canadian Icewine? Now, before we get too far in, it goes without saying that Icewine really is great. Made from grapes naturally frozen on the vine and yielding luscious, concentrated flavour, this dessert wine has put Canada’s wine industry on the map. And while amazing in its own right, there’s so much more wine to discover in Canada, including plenty of amazing sparkling wine! Canada is huge. Really huge. …

The Sparkling Wines of Italy

Like Champagne in France, Italian sparkling wine has become synonymous with Prosecco – but that’s not all that the country has to offer when it comes to bubbly! From the “Metodo Classico” Champagne-like wines of Franciacorta, to the perfect pizza pairing sparkling reds of Lambrusco, to wines cellared in the sea in Ligura (not kidding! 😳), Italy’s sparkling wines are as unique and diverse as the country’s cuisine.

What do you mean “Champagne” isn’t a type of grape?

That’s right! Despite what some may think, Champagne is not a grape variety! In fact, the world’s most famous sparkling wine is made from a complex blend of various grape varieties, grown in certain vineyards within the Champagne region of northern France. So, which grapes go into Champagne and what are their roles in the blend (or “cuvée”)? Let us take you through in this quick 101, and hopefully the learning cuvée, errrrr curve, won’t be too high!

Prosecco 101: What is Prosecco?

Whether you enjoy the occasional glass of sparkling wine (or are a self-professed sparkling wino like us) we can pretty much guarantee that you’ve had a glass of Prosecco at some point. Prosecco has become so popular that last year producers even sparked concerns of a global shortage! 😱 So what is Prosecco exactly? What makes it different from Champagne? And why do people love it so much?