I love Catalonia – a wild, passionate, beautiful part of Spain. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been there; once this year and two trips planned next year. They want to devolve from ‘Spain’, but as the wealthiest part of the country, this won’t be easy…

I met with the winemakers at Michelin starred Ametsa with Arzak Instruction at Como The Halkin Hotel in Belgravia. This fizz was the ‘livener’. It was unavailable in the U.K. but about to be launched. I really enjoyed it – it’s premium cava; more delivacate and refined (with a finer mousse) than regular, cheaper cavas. That said, I suspect it won’t sell here. Freixenet have diversified into the prosecco business (with an attractive, flashy bottle) because UK drinkers have moved away from cava. To enter the market with a premium cava which costs double regular cavas, packaged in a bottle that doesn’t look ‘premium’ is either brave or foolish… Like a dodgy wedding I once attended – I give it a year….

Tasting notes: Pale colour. Fine persistent mousse. Initially some citrus notes. Bone dry, yeasty. 

Region of Origin – Rioja, Northern Spain
Wine Colour – White
Price – £12
Where do I get it from? Tesco
Current Vintage – 2016
Producer –  Campo Viejo (Pernod Ricard)
Grape – Parellada, Xa-rello, Macabeo
Country – Spain
Points – 90
Food Pairing: Served with ‘ham test tubes’. Weird, but good.