Consider a Cava for the Holidays

Looking for a good, affordable bottle of bubbly for the holidays? Consider Cava.

Cava is a sparkling wine from Spain with a lot of similarity to French Champagne. In fact, the Spanish bubbly was called Champaña in Spain until the 1970s when French regulations were put into place to limit the use of the word Champagne to only those wines produced in the Champagne region of France.  So, the Spanish re-named their sparkling wine for the caves or cellars where the sparkling wine was kept for aging. Thus, came the name Cava.

Like Champagne, Cava is produced in the 'Traditional Method' where secondary fermentation is done in the bottle. This is how the bubbles are naturally formed since this second fermentation also converts sugar to alcohol using yeast, but the resulting CO2 is trapped in the bottle, producing the carbonation.

Unlike French Champagne, Cava is produced with the Macabeu, Xarello and Paralleda grapes.  But Cava surprisingly has a very similar taste to Champagne, much more so than the highly popular Prosecco.  But the best thing about Cava is its price. You can find a nice bottle for under $20.

Like Champagne, Cava is produced in various levels of sweetness:

  • Brut Nature -- Up to 3 grams of sugar/liter

  • Extra Brut -- Up to 6 grams/liter

  • Brut -- Up to 15 grams/liter

  • Extra Seco -- Between 12 - 20 grams/liter

  • Seco -- Between 17-35 grams/liter

  • Semi-Seco -- Between 33-50 grams/liter

  • Dulce -- More than 50 grams/liter

You can also find Cava Reserva which is aged an additional 6 months (for a total of 15 months) over the standard Cava (9 months of aging) and Cava Gran Reserva which is aged a total of 30 months.

Cava is a great alternative to Champagne and a wonderful sparkling wine to enjoy during the holidays (and year-round!).  Chill a bottle and enjoy. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Elouan Chardonnay by Copper Cane

2021 Elouan Chardonnay ($20)

In January 2014, Joseph Wagner formed Copper Cane Wine & Provisions. Elouan is the result of Wagner heading North to Oregon to create wines with depth of flavor, vibrancy and suppleness.

The grapes for this Chardonnay come from three regions - North Western Oregon, West-Central Hills and South Western Oregon.

Elouan means “Good Light” which is reflective of the abundant summer sunshine and cool temperatures in Oregon.

Elouan Chardonnay is barrel fermented in French oak (50% new) for 14 months with full Malolactic Conversion, the natural process of converting sharper malic acid into softer, smoother, creamy lactic acid.

This Elouan Chardonnay is medium gold in color with fruit aromas of baked apple and pear along with notes from the oak aging. On the palate it is soft, rich and creamy with the noted baked apple and pear flavors, medium acidity and a long, rich finish.

Elouan Chardonnay, from Copper Cane, is perfect for celebrating the holidays, or any time! A tasty Chardonnay like this one, at a great price, make this Elouan Chardonnay a perfect fit as a Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Copper Cane Wines via CURICH | WEISS

Behind the Cork™ - Wines of Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard

The “Trilogy Pack” from Flat Creek

Great wines from Texas? Indeed! Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard is located roughly 45 minutes from downtown Austin Texas on 80 acres. Their beautiful vineyards combine with an elegant tasting room, full-service restaurant, a covered pavilion and even a one-of-a-kind 18-hole disc golf course!

Located in Marble Falls Texas, the Flat Creek Estate was established in 1996 in the Texas Hill Country AVA. It is dedicated to creating artisanal, handcrafted wines drawing on Old World winemaking practices that accentuate their unique terroir.

Their winery has earned more than 400 awards and accolades, including multiple Double Gold Medals at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

At the recent Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition, this “Trilogy Pack” won big with the following awards:

  • 2017 Super Texan ($48) - Double Gold Medal /Reserve Class Champion / Reserve Texas Class Champion

    Elevate your senses with their iconic red blend of Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Petite Sirah and Primitivo has been the flagship of their estate for decades. Cloaked in a deep ruby robe, its complex bouquet entwines luscious black currants, succulent raspberries, and a whisper of exotic Sichuan pepper. With a balanced medium body, it’s your weeknight companion, offering black cherry and fresh plum flavors that dance effortlessly on the palate. A hint of vanilla bids adieu, leaving a soft, lingering impression.

  • 2018 Buttero - Silver Medal

    This Buttero (Italian Cowboy) Italian red blend (Sangiovese, Primitivo and Montepulciano)

    (Coming Soon as part of the Trilogy Pack)

  • 2018 Four Horsemen Red Blend ($45) - Silver Medal

    This Estate Red Blend (Montepulciano, Primitivo and Syrah) is designed to showcase the results when exceptional Texas fruit is crafted with exceptional winemaking skill. This wine showcases their unique terroir and reflects the strength each of the four varieties contributes. The blend was created by choosing only the best barrels for each variety which were painstakingly combined to achieve a wine of supreme depth and balance. This wine was unfined and unfiltered to preserve every subtlety possible. Each limited installment will only be produced when the fruit demands.

This exclusive “Trilogy Pack” is available on their website at a discounted price for the 3-bottle pack.

Flat Creek Estate has been named one of Food & Wine’s top 50 Most Amazing Wine Experiences in America, stating “arguably Texas’s best wines [are] at this Hill Country estate.”

If you are in the Austin area, you need to check out Flat Creek Estate. With all they have to offer, you might even make it a full-day outing. Otherwise, check out Flat Creek Estate on-line. Texas is indeed making great wines! Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Flat Creek Estate Winery via CURICH | WEISS

Behind the Cork™ - Three Great Wines to Enjoy with Traditional Italian Christmas Meals

Riva Leone Gavi GOCG ($14.99) - From the Gavi area of Piedmont in Italy, this wine is produced from 100% Cortese grapes. Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tanks and aged in steel for 2-3 months before bottling.

This Riva Leone Gavi is a very pale yellow-green in color with very delicate aromas of citrus, lime and green apple. On the palate, this light-bodied wine has flavors of light citrus and melon, bright acidity and a soft, light finish.

Gavi is a classic starter that is crisp and immensely fresh. The mineral and citrus notes allow it to pair well with seafood dishes, as it complement and accentuate the salty-mineral flavors of shellfish and seafood.


Riva Leone Barbera DOC ($11.99) - From Piedmont Italy comes another of the classic Italian wines - Barbera.

This Riva Leone Barbera is a medium ruby in color with classic aromas of cherry and dried herbs. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has flavors of tart cherry, a hint of black pepper and good acidity that finishes with fruity zip.

Barbera pairs well with meat-filled pasta, the medium tannins and bright acidity will match with the richness of fresh pasta.


Acquesi Asti Spumante ($17.99) - This Italian sparkling wine is produced from 100% Moscato. It is a sweet sparkling wine at just 7% alcohol by volume and 95 g/L residual sugar making it a sweet sparkling wine.

Its pale gold color and greenish hue leads to complex floral aromas of fresh tree fruits, honeycomb and exotic spices. On the palate it is fresh, sweet and persistent with a lingering, sweet fruity finish.

While this can be enjoyed with cheese and spicy Asian foods, it is most classically paired with desserts such as pastries, fruit tarts, cakes and butter creams. A perfect way to end a wonderful meal!

Each of these wonderful wines is imported by Mack & Schuhle and widely available and, at these prices, are a great fit as Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Mack & Schuhle

Some Italian Christmas Traditional Meals and Great Wine Pairings

Italians really feel the holiday atmosphere starting in late November, but the Christmas season officially starts on December 8th, the Day of Immaculate Conception. On this day many Italian families decorate their home and trees, bake cookies, wrap their presents, and schools and offices are formally closed.  Christmas day and Christmas Eve are observed in different ways all over the country, but here’s a sample of Christmas meal traditions and some great wine pairings to go with them:

Riva Leone Gavi

Christmas Eve - The meal for Christmas Eve, La Vigilia, doesn’t have any red meat; it’s all fish and vegetables. That’s in keeping with most meals served on the eve before a religious festival in Italy, you’re supposed to be eating lean to help purify your body for the holiday.  A wonderful pairing is one of the many classic Italian white wines, Gavi (aka Cortese). It is named for the town of its origin and has reached the prestigious DOCG ranking. It is a classic wine that is crisp, racy and immensely fresh. The mineral and citrus notes are often why Gavi is paired with seafood dishes, as these notes complement and accentuate the salty-mineral flavors of shellfish and seafood.

Riva Leone Barbera


Christmas Day Lunch - After you’ve refrained from indulging on Christmas Eve, you’re allowed to really eat-up on Christmas Day. Lunch is the main meal. Pasta is a common kickoff to the meal across Italy. In Bologna, it’s all about meat-filled tortellini.  A great wine to pair with this meal is Barbera. The medium tannins and bright acidity will match with the richness of fresh pasta. Barbera traditionally has bright red fruit flavors, including cherry and spice, which complements the flavor of the meat.


Acquesi Asti

Dessert - Italians aren’t generally big on desserts, but when it comes to sweets and the Christmas season, all bets are off. Of course, sweet breads, like panettone and pandoro, are popular across Italy. Other desserts include cavallucci, cookies with the image of a horse; dita degli apostoli (“fingers of the apostles”), chocolate- or coffee-flavored ricotta-filled omelets; and mostaccioli, spiced nut pastries.  Asti is an excellent dessert wine, and pairs particularly well with fruit-based desserts. Its sweetness and fruitiness complement the flavors of the dessert, while its effervescence cuts through the richness and provides a refreshing contrast.

So, if you’re planning an Italian meal, or any meal, this holiday season, give these wines a try! And, check out the next installment of Behind the Cork™ that will feature more details on each the three wines shown: Riva Leone Gavi, Riva Leone Barbera and Acquesi Asti. Happy Holidays and Cheers!