Anna de Codorníu Blanc de Blancs, D.O. Cava

Sales of Spain’s bubbly Cava continue a healthy growth. The charge is led by Codorníu, a winery founded in 1551.

Historic Roots Of Cava

Codorníu is the most popular Cava in Spain. That shouldn’t be a surprise – they had a couple hundred year head start. The Codorníu family history dates back to 1551 when documents first refer to Jaume Codorníu’s vineyards and his winemaking activities.
In 1872 cava pioneer Josep Raventós (who married Anna Codorníu) produced the first bottles of Spanish sparkling wine using the traditional method. produced the first bottles of Spanish sparkling wine using the traditional method.

A Thirst For Innovation

In 1915, the Codorníu Cava cellars were completed. They were an example of modernistic architectural style and in 1976 were declared a National Historic Artistic Monument by King Don Juan Carlos.
Codorníu launched its first television advertisement in 1959, coinciding with the first broadcasts by Televisión Española.
Perhaps our favorite innovation came in 1984 with the introduction of Anna de Codorníu Cava.
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Anna Is A Lady With Good Taste

As part of an online tasting, we recently uncorked a bottle of Anna and participated in a discussion with a winery representative. We had some berries, Pecorino cheese and crackers to accompany our wine.
When introduced, Anna was the first Cava to include Chardonnay. It’s makeup is Chardonnay 70%, Parellada 15%, and Xarel·lo, Macabeo 15%.
Part of the joy of Cava is hearing the pop upon opening pulling the cork. After that joyous sound, we poured the frothing Cava into flutes. The froth was creamy and after topping off, we enjoyed watching the fine streams of bubbles ascend to the top. Unlike some other sparkling wines, the effervescence was sustained and kept going until we refilled.
This is a reserve Cava, spending 15 months in contact with the lees in the bottle. A brut (dry) Cava, the winemaking process is the same traditional method used for Champagne.
The body is creamy and soft, thanks to the Parellada grapes, with pleasantly tingling bubbles. There is a beautiful lime zest character on the palate with a crisp finish. This wine could accompany a wide variety of foods including fish, seafood, grilled meats, sautéed vegetables and even dessert.
The design of this bottle is tres elegant – an example of Barcelona chic in the form of an opaque white bottle with gold trim. It’s an outstanding bargain at only $14.99 SRP.
Spanish Cava is an incredible value in sparkling wine and Codorníu is a top producer. The pairing of Chardonnay and Parellada is magical and makes Anna a special lady indeed.

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