Mas Fi Cava Brut

There is cheap sparkling wine, and then there is sparkling wine that just happens to be inexpensive. Mas Fi is undoubtedly in the second camp. The Masachs family had already been established growers in Penedès for generations when Josep and Joan Masachs decided to produce a Cava in 1977. Nearly 50 years later, they are still doing things the traditional way. They hand-harvest Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada, the classic grapes of Cava, and ferment them separately before blending. The bubbles come from a second fermentation in the bottle, the same traditional method used in Champagne. The wine then rests for ten months, developing fine bubbles, added texture, and a subtle creaminess.

White flowers and fresh citrus lead into peach and other stone fruit, all carried by crisp acidity and a lively, refreshing finish. Serve it well chilled and pair with fried foods, Manchego cheese, or even a bowl of salty potato chips. At under $20, this is exactly the kind of bottle that makes a convincing argument that bubbles don’t need a special occasion…or a special occasion budget.