Spanish Cava and Italian Prosecco don’t carry Champagne’s prestige, mostly because they’re cheap. But what if we bought a Cava for a little more?
Would it be comparable? Would it be as memorable as these more prestigious bottles?
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Cava, after all, is made in the traditional process of secondary fermentation in the individual bottle that Champagne invented and made its own. Although a few American wineries have ignored the rule, no world region – not even within France – is legally permitted to call its sparkling wine “Champagne.”
Taking it up another level, Champagne made with Pinot Noir in the mix – a pinkish or coppery blanc de noirs, “white from black” – can be surpassingly impressive because, well, it doesn’t get much better than Pinot Noir, the not-so-secret ingredient in this blend.
In the reputation sweepstakes, pink Cava doesn’t even come close. It almost invariably gets its rosy color not from Pinot Noir but from Grenache in the blend. Grenache (Garnatxa in the parlance of Catalunya, the center of much of Spain’s cava production), can make delicious red wines with its trademark red-berry flavors and light but not palate-biting acidity, but nobody ever accused it of being a serious competitor to Pinot Noir.
“The Penedès enjoys a unique heritage that has a great influence on our wines,” Parés Baltà writes on its Terroirs web pages. “Archaeological finds confirm that the first signs of wine-growing in the area date back to the 7th century BC, when Phoenician sailors began to share cultivation and winemaking techniques with the local Iberians.”
But the joy of wine often comes in the exceptions that prove the rule, and today’s featured wine, Parés Baltà Cava Pink Brut, is a standout pink Cava that’s not cheap but quite reasonable in the upper teens to lower $20s. A blend of Garnatxa and two Spanish grapes, it is impressive. And, of course, delicious.
The producer Parés Baltà has been a fixture in Catalunya’s Penedès wine region – the ancestral home of Cava – since 1790. In modern times, the winery is committed to organic, biodynamic production and sustainability and celebrates its awards as a world vineyard travel destination.
We’re talking about Cava in today’s Wine Advisor. Are you a fan of Spain’s bubbly answer to Champagne?
Today’s Tasting Report
Parés Baltà Cava Comtats de Barcelona Pink Brut ($19.99)
Pretty coppery-pink in color and pouring up with a thick blanket of pale-pink foam that falls back fast, Parés Baltà Cava Pink Brut is made with certified organically grown and biodynamic Garnatxa (Grenache, 38%), Parellada (32%), and Macabeo (30%) grapes. Tart red berries show first, adding subtle green-apple notes and a hint of white pepper. Fine carbonation wakes up the palate with fresh red-fruit flavors and mouth-watering acidity that lingers in a cleansing finish. Light 11.5% alcohol. U.S. importer: USA Wine Imports, Inc., NYC. (Aug. 1, 2026)
FOOD MATCH: Fine for sipping on its own on a summer evening, it’s a natural with salads, raw bar selections, and summery pastas. We served it with spaghetti topped with fresh diced tomatoes briefly sautéed in garlicky olive oil.
WHEN TO DRINK: Enjoy it this summer and fall while it remains young and fresh.
VALUE:
Wine-Searcher.com’s $23 average U.S. retail is a fair price for this complex, appealing Cava, which justifies a price through the mid-$20s.
WEB LINK:
Here’s a fact sheet in English.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Parés Baltà Cava Pink Brut on Wine-Searcher.com.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link to read more about Spain’s Cava sparkling wine.
Browse vendors and prices for Parés Baltà’s wine portfolio at this Wine-Searcher link.
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Good wines we’ve tried under $12!
Want tips to still more good, inexpensive wines? Here are Wine-Searcher links to vendors and prices for a bunch more wines for $12 or less that I’ve told you about in recent years. In some cases, the prices may have risen since I reviewed them, but they should still be excellent bargains. Please tell us about your favorites!
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When I reach for a Cava, I’m thinking of something fresh, crisp, “attractively priced”, and, well, neutral. Inoffensive. Potlucks. Something you can throw fruit juice into; mimosas come to mind. Because why, for pity’s sake, would you put fruit juice in actual champagne?
Robin, your review makes me realize I need to get off my high horse about this, and actually search for interesting Cavas. Something other than the “F…” brand, if you get my drift….