Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad, Nv

Heredad Segura Viudas is an emblematic winery located on the outskirts of Barcelona, in the quiet and sunny vineyards of the Penedès wine region. The origins of the Heredad date back to the twelfth century. In the 1950s the Segura brothers bought the estate and built cellars and a state-of-the-art winery to produce cava.

Over the years, Segura Viudas has earned a reputation as one of the top Cava producers. The winery has been noted for its high production standards, its labor-intensive approach to winemaking, and its penchant for releasing some of Europe’s finest artisan sparkling wines.

Spain adopted the word, cava, which technically means “cellar” in Catalan, to describe their sparkling wines made using the traditional method. The Cava DOC isn’t restricted to one geographical area but spans eight total wine regions. However, about 90% of Spain’s total production of Cava happens within Catalonia, and about 75% is produced within the borders of San Sadurní d’Anoia, inside the smaller Catalan region of Penedès.

Cava, like many other sparkling wines of the world is made using the traditional method, or "Champagne method," or método tradicional in Spanish, in which the second fermentation (the one that makes the bubbles) takes place inside the bottle. With this method, spent yeast cells remain in contact with the wine during bottle aging, giving it a creamy mouthful, a toasted bread or brioche quality, and in many cases, the capacity to age.

The mainstay Cava grape varieties include Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo. Macabeo, also known as Viura, lends pleasant aromatics to the blend, while Parellada adds acidity and finesse. Xarel-lo is the grape that gives body, earth and greengage characteristics to Cava. Occasionally Chardonnay is used as a blending grape or the sole variety in making Cava wine. Governmental inclusion approval was awarded in 1986 but still, Chardonnay makes up only a fraction of the total vineyard area.

Segura Reserva Heredad is made with the objective of offering an elegant, versatile Cava. To do this, the very best wines from each vintage are selected, blended then aged in bottle, in contact with the lees, for more than 24 months. This aging ends when the winery expert gives every bottle the magic touch with the last “poignettage” or shake of the wrist, which intensifies the contact of the lees with the wine, and creates a more complex bouquet.

The Segura Reserva Heredad Cava is a blend of 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay. Winemaker’s notes describe this cava as: “Straw yellow in color, with a small, fine, plentiful mousse. The opening aromas are of the aging on lees, lightly smokey, with touches of biscuit or bread, which are followed by hints of honey, fruit and flower petals. The palate is excellent, fruity and full of flavor, with dried fruits from the lees ageing, but very elegant, giving the drinker a delightful sense of abundance.”

Cava can be enjoyed on its own or paired with seafood, roasted poultry and spicy cuisines.