Anna de Codorníu is Spain’s best-selling sparkling wine brand. It is named after the 17th century head of the Codorníu wine estate, Anna, who was the last direct member of the Codorníu family. Codorníu has been making wine since 1551 and is still a family owned business to this day. In 1872, Codorníu was the first Spanish winery to produce sparkling wine using the ‘traditional’ method, used in Champagne. This later became known as Cava. Codorníu has always been at the forefront of innovation in the Cava category and lobbied DO Cava to allow the use of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It promotes viticultural research and development programmes relating to all stages of Cava winemaking.
The grapes used for Anna de Codorníu Brut Reserva are sourced from two very different growing areas. The Chardonnay comes from its own vineyards in Lleida. This region’s continental climate gives the grapes optimum flavour concentration, lower acidity and greater body and intensity. The Parellada variety comes from vineyards in the Penedés area. The region’s hot Mediterranean climate allows for earlier fruit ripening and guarantees a good level of acidity and freshness. The must for the base wine is fermented at 15º to 17ºC. Once the fermentation process is complete and the wines are stabilised, blending takes place and the resulting wine is bottled together with the licor de tiraje (a mix of sugar, yeast and still wine). The bottles are stored in underground cellars (at a constant temperature of 17ºC), where a second fermentation occurs followed by a period of ageing in contact with yeast lees. In all, the wine spends at least 15 months on the lees.
On offer this week is the N/V Anna de Codorniu Brut Reserva. This was the first Spanish cava to make use of the Chardonnay grape in the blend. We only have 30 cases of this delicious fizz available so please order promptly!
The N/V Anna de Codorniu Brut Reserva is available for immediate delivery. To order please e-mail or telephone our office at 416-463-4677.