Cava? What's Cava?

The Spanish definition for cava is cave. Cava is similar to sparkling wine, and it is Spain’s answer to champagne! Besides being refreshing and delightful, it is also affordable, unlike a number of champagnes.

Prices range from $10 to $25 a bottle, as opposed to champagne which ranges from $20 to $200 and up. The three most common grape varietals in Cava are, for some folks, tricky to pronounce. So, always aiming to please, I came up with a game to help. Not that you’ll wind up sounding like a native Catalonian, but should you just happen to meet someone from Catalonia, Spain, and they should just happen to ask you if you know what the three most common grape varietals are in Cava, you’ll be ready for them...

Wine Pronunciation Game

Listed below are the three most common grape varietals found in Cava followed by clues that hopefully will amuse you and help you pronounce them. (The answers will be at the end of the blog - not that you’re going to need them!)

Instructions: Fill in the blank or answer a simple, sometimes silly, question. When you put the answers together, you’ll get the proper pronunciation! Note: the answer with the asterisk in each one is the syllable to stress!

1- Macabeo

What is the first syllable in the word Mama? ______
What is the first syllable in the word Kaka? _______
(Definition of kaka: another word for doo doo/ poopie)
Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the _______” ***
What letter in the alphabet comes after N? _______

Put them all together and you get? _______________


2- Parellada

In golf, it’s the number is of strokes recommended to complete a hole (or 18 holes). It is also a common expression one would say: “It’s _____________ for the course.”
Say the letter E aloud for two seconds. __________
You say this when you’re happy. It rhymes with hay and starts with the letter Y______***
What is the Russian word for yes? ____

Put them all together and you get? ___________________


3- Xarel-lo

It’s the name of a Latin dance - the dance where you count “one, two, three,” and then say aloud, “blank, blank, blank” ________
What rhymes with gel and begins with the letter R? _______***
What is the opposite of high? _______

Put them all together and you get? ___________________

Answer 1 – ma-ka-bay-o
Answer 2 – par-ee-yeah-da
Answer 3 – cha-rel-low

If you would like to experience a Cava for yourself, one that is sure to make you smile, I would be happy to hook you up. Contact me at grae@wine-ingwithgrae.com