BEST CHEAP SPARKLING WINE | CAVA 101 | IS SPARKLING WINE ONLY FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS?
Channel: ZIGGING by Mark Sigg
Date: 2021-09-28

While sparkling wine may bring up images of sparklers, luxury, and extravagance, I've found the best cheap sparkling wine out there which should not even cost you more than P300 or $6! The best cheap sparkling wine that I found comes in the form of Cava from Vilanova i La Geltru, a province of Barcelona, Spain.  

Buy wine from S&R even if you're not a member:

Get P250 off at PICKAROO, use promo code: MARK7188. Download the app via http://bit.ly/zigpqaroo
or
Get P200 off via MetroMart through the link below:
http://bit.ly/zigmm

What is Cava? Is Cava a derivative and lesser form of Champagne? Arguably, Cava can go head-to-head in terms of quality with Champagne. IMHO, Cava and Champagne are the best sparkling wines when comparing to other sparkling wines such as Proseccco, Spumanti,and Lambrusco from Italy and Blanc de Blanc from France. The process of making Cava and Champagne are also identical to one another. They both undergo a 2nd fermentation process where the yeast magically enhances the wine with bubbles. The 2nd fermentation process is a tedious one where the bottles are tilted and turned in small degrees daily as the yeast is slowly extracted out of the bottle over a long period. 

This painful and tedious process is actually why I've chosen Cava as my featured wine for Virgo season in my "Wine and Zodiac Sign" series where I try to match qualities of wine with each zodiac sign and their peculiarities.  As the Virgo is marked by keen attention to detail, routine, and hardwork, the impeccable output of this process as Cava, is personally a great representation of the Virgo. If you want to check out my Wine and Zodiac Sign series, check these links out below:

Leo Season - https://youtu.be/nFSy88F3UY8
Cancer Season -  https://youtu.be/ZB44j7hzAqQ
Gemini Season - https://youtu.be/Qsr9l1OknVM

Get an astrology reading here: https://www.instagram.com/jossatarot/

Is sparkling wine only for special occasions? Sparkling wine is usually tied into big and small celebrations. From marking the New Year, celebrating a business or personal milestone, or winning a championship, nothing marks a celebration like sparkling wine. The way that the French have built and positioned the Champagne brand turning it into a produce of prestige have solidified the synonymity between sparkling wine and triumph.  As much as that's benefited the French wine industry (and rightfully so), sparkling wine has often been thought to be elusive and only for special occasions. I blame Champagne's expensive price for this! But in reality, sparkling wine is consumed as a daily/any time of day drink for the countries that make them. Just as still wine is consumed and paired with daily meals, the same goes for sparkling wine. While sparkling wine might have been elevated to this positioning of being a special occasion drink, sparkling wine can be a daily drink if you can find it in reasonable price points. Other sparkling wines are thankfully reasonable priced such as Prosecco, Spumanti, Lambrusco, and Blanc de Blanc. But personally, no one produces better value than the Spanish do for their prized (but inexpensive) Cava!

Sparkling wine is personally a great catch-all drink for me fitting for any occasion. While we typically go through lengths trying to find the right wine and food pairing, sparkling wine has the special quality to transcend the different food groups and work with an extensive variety of food. While sparkling wine may work best with shellfish and soft cheeses, its extensive flavor profile doesn't limit it to being just another white wine. Even as it's inherently white wine, it can work with red meat, stews, and meat-laden charcuterie plates typically reserved for red wine. Because of its carbonated texture, it can take on rich flavors of red meat in the way that still white wine typically cannot. Aside from traversing your main dishes, sparkling wine even works well with dessert as its texture and taste profile can even take on sweets. In fact, sparkling wine is known to mix well even with breakfast and brunches! Mixing sparkling wine with juices are heralded, better known as Mimosas and Bellinis.

Aside from working with well with any meal any time of day, sparkling wine is also a great bottle to bring to any occasion! Whether it's a intimate brunch, a lunch in the garden with extended family, a fancy dinner party, or a big social event, sparkling wine fits well and applauded in any of these occasions.

Want to learn some basics about buying wine? Watch these videos below:
Beginner's Guide to Buying Wine https://youtu.be/_02HB2l5jjs
Beginner's Guide to Buying Wine 2 https://youtu.be/qntJvkQCkS8

Curious if Filipino food can pair with wine? Watch Jonessa and I take on Andok's new litson baka and find the perfect pairing:
https://youtu.be/HRBanGAMEto

More wine videos? click here for the entire playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOHBMsBtgvjksyXCQ6Zj8VXUVu7DYQh4e

#pickaroo
#winephilippines
#cava