• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Truly Experiences Blog

For People Who Collect Memories, Not Things

  • Food & Drink
  • Gifts
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Things To Do
Blog » Wine, Beer & Spirits » Wine » Sparkling Wines » Champagne » Know Your Bubbles: Champagne, Prosecco and Cava

Know Your Bubbles: Champagne, Prosecco and Cava

There’s nothing like a light and bubbly glass of sparkling wine to liven up a party. But do you really know about the difference between champagne, prosecco and cava? These drinks look and taste similar, but there are quite a few important differences between them.

What are the Differences Between Champagne, Cava and Prosecco?

The name Champagne can only be applied to sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France, and these wines are made with Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes.

Prosecco is made in Italy in the Veneto region and produced from Glera grapes. The name “Prosecco” comes from the grape that is used to make this bubbly wine.

And Cava is a sparkling wine from Catalonia in Spain, and it is made from Parellada, Xarello and Macabeu grapes.

The reason Champagne is so much more expensive than Prosecco is because it is produced using a very costly method known as the “Traditional Method.” The key to this is a second fermentation that occurs in a sealed bottle which creates carbonation. After the fermentation process, the Champagne continues to age in the cool cellar for years, which results in a very yeasty, toasty flavour.

Prosecco is more affordable because it is produced using a method known as “The Tank Method,” and the secondary fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks.

The production of Cava is modelled after the production of Champagne in France, although it cannot be called Champagne because it is not produced in the Champagne region. Cava is one of the most similar wines to Champagne outside of France.

  Four Champagnes You Ought to Try

shutterstock_202986100

Which is the best choice?

The best choice from among these sparkling wines really depends on the style of the occasion. Most people prefer a slightly dry style of wine, so a Prosecco or a demi-sec Champagne will do the trick.

However, if you are having the drink without food you might want to choose a sweeter style. Try a few different varieties and you’ll start to get an idea of the flavour that you prefer.

shutterstock_146650742

Serving These Sparkling Wines

While Champagne is a great choice for all occasions, Cava is usually served after dinner and pairs very well with Spanish sweets such as turron. Prosecco is ideal for enjoying as an aperitif and it is also nice to drink during meals or with dessert. Both Cava and Prosecco are best enjoyed when they are less than three years old.

They should all be served chilled in an ice bucket that is filled with water and ice and left to cool for about half an hour. Serve in a tall Champagne flute and toast to the occasion!

Become a master in the bubbly world while enjoying a variety of sparkling wine glasses with that special someone.

Rae Oliver June 29, 2022

Footer

  • Truly Experiences
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Affiliate Disclosure

We believe in being as transparent as possible when it comes to this site. With this in mind, please be aware that we may receive remuneration for some of the products we review on this site.

Truly Experiences is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk (and other Amazon programs).

We will also list ads from time to time. You should be able to see these as text links or blocks of ads which have a small notation indicating “Ads by Google” or “AdChoices”.

Our mission is to help our visitors, but this is also very clearly a for-profit site and you should realize as much. We include only those products that we believe could benefit you, some of which we may get a commission if you purchase them. However, we also provide links on the site to information resources for which we receive no compensation.

If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact us using the "contact" option on the site menu and we will be happy to answer any questions.

Trademark Dislosure

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

In addition, any other trademarks and logos we mention on this site are also the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2023 Truly Experiences