Differences between Cava and Corpinnat

Things are moving at "knot speed" in the world of sparkling wines, and within Spain there has been "a growing wave", especially in the Cava region. All this, in an incredibly short time.

And it is that the world of the sparkling wines Spanish It has its own codes. Traditionally, the term "Cava" It applies to any Spanish wine with bubbles, but in recent decades different classifications have been developed to better distinguish wines, according to their geographical origin as well as the particularities of their production method.

In fact, frustrations grew over the past decade as high-quality producers felt that the DO Cava (Denomination of Origin) was chasing more affordable prices on store shelves, resulting in lower quality wines. Consequently, a new category of sparkling wine emerged in Spain, its name is Corpinnat, and is headed by a number of small producers who have severed ties with Cava.

Since Cosme Vins, therefore, we will turn to specify the differences between Cava and Corpinnat, in order to avoid the confusion that has been generated in recent years.

We tell you the differences between Cava and Corpinnat

The DO Cava, generally, focuses on the winemaking process, while Corpinnat It highlights the best producers. There are, however, many more intricate details that underline the variations between the two labels and we will unravel them below:

Sparkling wine

The Sparkling wine is a Denomination of Origin that encompasses all those wines made with the traditional champenoise method, which basically consists of the second fermentation, the aging process and the release to the market. All this in the same bottle, in which the bubbles form naturally.

In geographical terms, the DO Cava It is very large, comprising about 160 municipalities, spread over seven autonomous communities. The core of production is concentrated in Catalonia, with 63 municipalities in Barcelona, 52 in Tarragona, 12 in Lleida and 5 in Gerona, in the Ebro basin includes 2 municipalities of Aragon, 2 of Navarra, 18 of La Rioja and 3 of the Basque Country.

– History

Cava received royal approval in 1904. But it was in 1911 that it surpassed imports of sparkling wine. The DO Cava It became official in 1972, and the zones were officially demarcated in 1986. Until today it is considered the best known Spanish sparkling wine worldwide.

The annual report of the region states that 205 winegrowers of sparkling wines and 144 of base wines, make up the Denomination of Origin recognized worldwide. Together, they produce 252.9 million bottles, a 17% increase over 2020.

– Production

The key difference is the focus on indigenous grape varieties. That is, the powerful trio of Maccabee, Parellada and Xarel-lo. When produced with low yields, often derived from Spain's famous concentration of old vines, these grapes show their unique nature, combining to form the classic profile of the Sparkling wine.

Xarel-lo is the superstar grape in the production of Sparkling wine, with its strong, acidic spine and aromas of fennel and wild herbs. That's why it's so evocatively Mediterranean, and so unlike any other sparkling wine grape. Maccabee, meanwhile, adds a touch of florality and ripe stone fruit flavors, while Parellada It adds a subtle freshness and delicacy.

Increasingly, these wines are also produced as expressions. monovarietalsparticularly Xarel-lo, although they are arguably at their peak when working as a team. The maturity of the fruit is such that rarely, dosage is needed and many Cavas are bottled as Brut Nature. The sunny fruity profile and the creamy but refreshing acidity give a special touch to the wine.

– Changes

The DO Cava It has been governed and represented by some of the biggest economic monsters of the Spanish wine industry. And after betting on quantity and cheap product, they have conquered most supermarket shelves around the world. Fans of this drink usually know those golden labels and black or frosted bottles.

Some of the producers of the DO Cava, especially those who focused on the production of good quality sparkling wines, were not very happy with the reputation associated with Cava. But, in several meetings of the DO Cava, their opinions were not considerate and were never heard.

And so, the situation remained for many years. Gradually, some of the big producers began to realize that it was necessary to increase the level of quality to improve the reputation of Spanish sparkling wines. However, nothing happened. Finally, in 2017, a group of wineries that included makers of iconic sparkling wines, such as Gramona and Llopart, began to break with the DO Cava to create your own rules and standards. Thus was born Corpinnat.

Corpinnat

Corpinnat It is a label of excellence that, as we already mentioned, was registered in 2017. Its name is composed of the word "cor" (heart in Catalan), and "Pinnat", which comes from the etymological root Pinnae, which refers to the origin of the place name Penedès. This collective brand includes wineries in the heart of the Penedès, which make their wines from 100% organic grapes harvested by hand and vinified entirely on the property.

In territorial terms delimitation, they are found in areas of 997 km2 and, including the part of the regions: Alt Penedès, Alt Camp, Baix Penedès, Tarragonès, Garraf, Baix Llobregat and Anoia.

The brand Corpinnat It is a more distinguished label, reduced to a very small number of partners, and raises the bar a bit in terms of requirements. For example, instead of 15 months of parenting, it should be 18; The winemaking method is traditional and you cannot buy bulk wine for winemaking.

– History

On behalf of Spanish producers of premium sparkling wines, EU approval in 2017 granted Corpinnat, the use of a visual trademark for its 11 members.

Corpinnat It appears on the front label and is a guarantee of the entire elaboration process, from the viticulture Certified organic until on-farm winemaking, aging and bottling.

– Production

The rules of the game in Corpinnat are clear: Quality above all! Therefore, only 100% organic grapes are allowed in the production process. All grapes must be picked by hand, they must come from the producer's own crops, and all processing and vinification must take place in the producer's own cellar.

The minimum ageing time for any sparkling wine has also been increased, and sometimes doubles (from a minimum of 9 months to 18 months only for base wines).

Taking a step back and observing what makes a great wine (in addition to respecting its land and traditions), the producers of Corpinnat They have been very intelligent in their approach, even many experts in the wine sector, argue that they have done the right thing. Especially since they bet on several important changes, such as not using the term "Cava" again, but focused on the future of what they believe is a great wine region, and in this way, leave a great legacy for the next generation.

– Labeling

The first thing consumers noticed with the appearance of Corpinnat are the changes in labeling. In addition to changing the term Cava by Corpinnat, producers who, at the time, obtained the Cava de Paraje Calificada badge in a single vineyard can no longer use it. Definitely lose Turó d'en Mota, Celler Batlle or Gramona It was a blow to the category.

The denomination Gran Reserva which was present on the labels of the Premium wines, which was, for example, one of the pillars of Cava's communication strategy, is also out of reach.

The producers of Corpinnat, on the other hand, they can use the term Reserva and add the age of the wine on the back label.

Current panorama

In an effort to raise quality standards, DO Cava has also developed a new set of standards, in relation to creation of higher quality Cava. The denomination of Penedés Classic recognizes standards similar to those of Corpinnat, for example, organic, longer aging time and using only grapes from the Penedés region.

For many, this is a decision that came too late. Cava's international reputation, however, remains relatively intact and the Corpinnat group has now been well accepted in most countries.

The rest of Spain has also seen a Increase in sparkling wine production, helped by the popularity of Ancestral or Pet-Net. Most DO in Spain do not recognize these wines, as it is a fairly new trend and its rules do not change fast enough, but gradually, their production is being accepted in many regions. This means that you can now enjoy a delicious and crunchy Albariño, Verdejo or Garnacha, or even a local Prensal or Callet.

Now there are many more options to uncork those corks and drink a fresh sparkling wine during the summer and other seasons.

Conclusions

As you will see, there are some differentiating elements that distinguish both sparkling wines. On the one hand, the philosophy of the brand Corpinnat It demands wines 100% from organic farming, manual harvesting, vinified entirely in the winery's own facilities, with special attention to native varieties and a minimum aging of 18 months in bottle.

The Sparkling wine, on the other, focuses on indigenous grape varieties with low yields, to sell the overall image of "cheap and cheerful" in international markets. For this reason, many producers completely abandoned the DO Cava, frustrated by the lack of progress, joining other producers looking to establish themselves at the top of sparkling wine production in Spain. In this way, he was born Corpinnat.