Wine of the Week!     

Cristalino NV Brut Cava   $8     

We have a wine of the week selection guaranteed to bring a sparkle to you.  It’s a perky and fun bubbly from Spain, Cristalino Brut Cava.

Cava is the Spanish traditional method champagne styled wine from the Penedes Region near Barcelona and it is the perfect lighthearted companion to simple and refreshing meals.

It’s crispy, lively, and for eight dollars a bottle, that’s right, eight dollars a bottle, it deserves a place in the fridge for whenever you’d like to add a little sparkle to a day. - or a spot in the cooler as you head for the beach.

Cristalino is great with fresh oysters or a tangy shrimp cocktail.  It’s ideal for sushi, with apple-like flavors and tingly bubbles that won’t overwhelm the delicate flavors, or just plain perfect for a sip with some Spanish almonds.

And what better aperitif is there than some bubbly? 

Cristalino Brut Cava is widely available so pick out a bottle of our wine of the week.

Straw color, smooth and fresh aromas; fine and fruity palate with a dry aftertaste. Clean, dry and crisp with citrus and apple flavors.

Wine Enthusiast 86 points - No it's not hugely complex, but it's fresh and lively, with lime and herb aromas, tart green apple flavors and a zippy finish. Simple, but bouncy and clean.  The ultimate celebration wine, it is excellent on its own or with a wide array of foods including fried foods, seafood, Asian dishes, caviar and sushi.

Winery Background:
The winery behind Cristalino, Jaume Serra, was founded in 1943 by distinguished enologist Jaume Serra Guell. It is located in the Garraf subdivision of the Denominacion de Origen Penedés, the largest wine growing area in Catalonia. Jaume Serra lies within the “El Padruel” estate in the Mediterranean Coastal town of Vilanova y la Geltru, some 50 kilometers south of Barcelona, Wine making began on this property in 1947. The winery underwent renovations in 1984 and then again in 1997, after the J. García Carrión family purchased the property.

The Vineyards: The white varietals of Parellada, Chardonnay, Macabeo and Xarel-lo are grown in Jaume Serra’s vineyards situated in the Alt Penedés, a sub region of the Penedés, and are used to produce the area’s famous sparkling wines, called CAVA. The winery is located on the 300 acre El Padruel estate and shares the landscape with the famous 17th century fortress of the same name. During the 1980’s, experimentation was undertaken to determine which varietals would thrive in the area and exhausted vines were removed and replaced with the white varietals above as well as Merlot, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition to their own estate grown grapes, the winery has established unique, long-term contracts with 15 growers in the Penedés region.

Under these agreements, control and maintenance of the vineyards is undertaken by Jaume Serra to ensure their quality standards are met. From these growers the winery purchase the white varietals of Macabeo, Parellada, Xarello and Chardonnay which are used in the famous Cristalino Brut, Extra Dry and Brut Nature Cavas.

Vinification:  By law, Cava must be made in the Methode Champenois or Champagne Method. Due to European regulations prohibiting use of that term.

Past Recommendations, Picks, and Wines of the Week

Notes on our Wines of the Week, Recommendations, and Picks:

When you read our thoughts, please remember that you may think differently.  A particular wine may be your favorite and not on our list.  Well, don't stop buying it because of that.  In fact, you may want to email us and let us know about it. These are our opinions but our FIRST recommendation is to go by your own palate.

A couple of other thoughts . . . first, prices are approximate.  They'll vary.  Second, different vintages mean different grapes and different tastes so our recommendation for a 2000 Merlot may not hold for 2001.

And lastly, we remind you to drink responsibly!  Now, all that said, here is a summary of links to our suggestions.  Find one (or more) and pop the cork!

Read the fine print . . .

Wine consumption can have positive physical benefits or cause possible physical harm . . . the medical community is divided in some areas.  If you have any doubt, check with your doctor before consuming wine or any other alcoholic drink. 

Our information is well researched.  Recommendations are based on our opinions at the time of publication.  At the same time, recommendations change.  Also, there may be significant variance in taste depending on storage, shipping, and other factors.

The Wine Experience is not liable or responsible for any consequences arising from the use of the information obtained from winexperience.com, wineexp.com or The Wine Experience radio show.

The Wine Experience is intended for adults (over 21 years old).  Drink responsibly and don't drink and drive!