The old question of Cava or Champagne had a boost this year as Spanish sparkling wines definitely made the grade at the 2019  Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships. Billed as the “most respected, comprehensive and rigorous international sparkling wine competition in the world,” competing wines were sampled in a blind tasting by a panel of just three judges. The goal is to find those stellar, standout wines in the overcrowded world of champagne and sparkling wine.

In total, 16 wines from Spain took home distinctions. The following received gold medals:

Gramona 2012 Iii Lustros,

Gramona 2009 Celler Batlle,

Gramona 2014 Imperial,

Mascaró NV Brut Rubor Aurorae Rosé,

Vilarnau NV Brut Reserva Organic.

My favourite Maset 2014 L’Avi Pau Gran Reserva Brut Nature,

Oriol Rossell 2017 Brut Cuvée Especial,

Rovellats 2016 Rovellats Imperial Reserva Brut,

Maset 2014 L’Avi Pau Gran Reserva Brut Nature,

(some content courtesy of food and wines from Spain)