Sparkling Wine: A Rising Bubbly Tide Lifts All Boats?

Prosecco has never been more popular. The Italian sparkling wine is becoming more and more ubiquitous when it comes to what bubbly is in the glass of wine drinkers in the United States and beyond.

But would you be surprised to hear a Cava producer applaud this popularity? Freixenet and Segura Viudas Winemaker Gloria Collell tells The Drinks Business, “The Prosecco boom is helping to open minds and show that you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to open a bottle of sparkling wine – Prosecco and Cava can be Monday night wines.” (And, I might add, Monday afternoon wines as well. A glass is great with lunch!)

Though praising Prosecco, Collell does make a distinction between the two. She elaborates, "Prosecco is great, but it’s a simple wine that’s easy to understand. Cava offers a wide range of styles, from simple to incredibly complex. There is definitely room for both within the sparkling wine category."

Do you agree with Collell's assertion about Prosecco? And what Cavas do you reach for when looking for something more complex?