Salud! Prost! Santé! Skål! Saúde! Cin Cin! Kampai! Cheers!

No matter what language we say it in, toasting to one another’s health is a universal expression of goodwill. The hoisting of glasses or clinking of goblets, as age-old perhaps as the dawn of civilization, cements friendships and celebrates new ones.    

What we choose to fill our cup of cheer with is of course, an individualistic matter. Should you feel inclined to celebrate the holidays with a short tumbler of fine bourbon, by all means, enjoy!  (Jim Beam’s grandson and master distiller Booker Noe often recommended a splash or two of branch water to bring out the flavors in his single-batch bourbons). 

And yet, there seems to be a lasting connection with humanity marking the mileposts and triumphs in life with bubbly.  After all, how many sports champions over the years signified their accomplishment by showering themselves with whiskey? And since the holidays are a time for reflection as well as celebration (and bubbles always make me happy), I’ll be lifting my glass to friends and family with a flute of fine fizz.

And to those of like mind, I’ll offer a traditional Catalan toast: salut!

The Catalans certainly know a thing or two about bubbles and bubbly. Penedès, after all, is the epicenter of cava, the definitive sparkling wine of Spain.

For your consideration, allow me to recommend the newest cava in our ABCFWS repertoire: Barcino Mas Vida Cava Brut ($10.99 at your local store).  Like all cava, this one is made in the labor-intensive classic method, with secondary fermentation in the bottle and aging on the lees for added flavor and complexity.

What strikes me as exceptional about this cava is the high percentage of the grape Xarel-lo in the blend (comprised of 55% Xarel-lo, along with 20% Parellada and 25% Macabeo). The standard cava usually has higher proportions of the two other varieties.

Once the most widely planted of grapes grown in the region, Xarel-lo is distinctive for its bright acidity and fine structure. It often displays a good cut of minerality in the finished wine. 

The Barcino Mas Vida Cuvee presents these hallmarks in a lovely linear style, with a mouth filling mousse and a caressing bead of tiny bubbles. This is a terrific sparkling wine value.

And of course, Mas Vida translates to “more life.”  What more could anyone wish for everyone over the holidays!

Jim Greeley, SW Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @ABCWineJimG