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The Society's Cava Reserva Brut NV

73 Reviews

For the second year in a row, some of the loftiest scores were bestowed upon one of our lowest-price sparklers at our annual Wine Champions blind tastings. Made in the same way as Champagne by the small family house of Sumarroca, this effervescent bargain’s fragrant appley flavour and brioche-like richness proved irresistible.

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Code: SG1661

Wine characteristics

Sparkling Wine
1 - Bone dry
75cl
Within two years of purchase
12% Alcohol
no oak influence
Champagne cork

Vegetarian
Vegan

Director of Wine and buyer for Spain, Pierre Mansour, on The Society's Cava Reserva Brut NV

100ml of this wine contains 77 kcal
The bottle contains 9.0 units of alcohol
A 125ml glass of this wine contains 96 kcal and 1.5 units of alcohol

The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend adults do not regularly drink more than 14 units per week. For information and support on responsible drinking please see www.drinkaware.co.uk. For more information about how calories in wine are measured, click here.

Bodegas Sumarroca

The Sumarroca family have been making wine for several generations. They began in the village of Llimiana in Jussa, before moving to the more premium wine-growing area of Penedès nearer Barcelona. Husband and wife Carlos and Nuria Sumarroca bought a 15th-century estate there in 1982 so they could begin producing white and sparkling wines. Since their inception, their philosophy has been to focus on making innovative, characterful, balanced wines rather than competing with larger wineries: their emphasis is always on quality rather than quantity.

To that aim, in 1999 they bought nearly 405ha of land, meaning that they can now use 100% of their own grapes and have ultimate control over the fruit that goes into their wine. This newer land means they are the largest cava producer to make their wines entirely from estate-grown fruit. Production is tightly managed: they use only free-run juice (the pressed juice is sold to other bodegas) and practise sustainable farming to preserve the vineyards for future generations. To further secure their estate for their heirs, they also maintain research projects into new production methods and practise sustainable farming in the vineyards.

They might own some of the prettiest vineyards in the area, but their pickers unfortunately don’t benefit from the views: all harvesting is done at night to ensure grapes are picked at optimum cool temperatures. Pinot noir is grown to make their rosado, whereas their regular cava is made from the...

The Sumarroca family have been making wine for several generations. They began in the village of Llimiana in Jussa, before moving to the more premium wine-growing area of Penedès nearer Barcelona. Husband and wife Carlos and Nuria Sumarroca bought a 15th-century estate there in 1982 so they could begin producing white and sparkling wines. Since their inception, their philosophy has been to focus on making innovative, characterful, balanced wines rather than competing with larger wineries: their emphasis is always on quality rather than quantity.

To that aim, in 1999 they bought nearly 405ha of land, meaning that they can now use 100% of their own grapes and have ultimate control over the fruit that goes into their wine. This newer land means they are the largest cava producer to make their wines entirely from estate-grown fruit. Production is tightly managed: they use only free-run juice (the pressed juice is sold to other bodegas) and practise sustainable farming to preserve the vineyards for future generations. To further secure their estate for their heirs, they also maintain research projects into new production methods and practise sustainable farming in the vineyards.

They might own some of the prettiest vineyards in the area, but their pickers unfortunately don’t benefit from the views: all harvesting is done at night to ensure grapes are picked at optimum cool temperatures. Pinot noir is grown to make their rosado, whereas their regular cava is made from the traditional macabeo, xarello, and parellada grapes. The addition of a small amount of chardonnay adds an extra dimension that sets this cava above its competitors, one of the reasons why we chose Sumarroca for The Society label.

An excellent Rioja vintage of very low yields, following a blazing summer that was refreshed by late rain. The dry conditions led to small berries with thick skins so tannins and concentration are the dominant factors. Acidity is a little lower than growers would have liked so the wines are not always in absolutely perfect harmony but this is nonetheless a very good vintage indeed.

Similar conditions prevailed in Ribera del Duero but there is more optimism among growers and winemakers there for better balanced wines.

Priorato, along with the rest of Catalonia, basked in a hot summer for the third vintage on the trot, but this time leavened with a little rain, and though the wines are certainly ripe they are also balanced and capable of ageing.

Navarra had a very pleasing vintage with all red varieties ripening well with yields down on the norm.

La Mancha suffered an exceptionally dry year even for this arid region, and yields were very low, making for concentrated wines with acidity a...

An excellent Rioja vintage of very low yields, following a blazing summer that was refreshed by late rain. The dry conditions led to small berries with thick skins so tannins and concentration are the dominant factors. Acidity is a little lower than growers would have liked so the wines are not always in absolutely perfect harmony but this is nonetheless a very good vintage indeed.

Similar conditions prevailed in Ribera del Duero but there is more optimism among growers and winemakers there for better balanced wines.

Priorato, along with the rest of Catalonia, basked in a hot summer for the third vintage on the trot, but this time leavened with a little rain, and though the wines are certainly ripe they are also balanced and capable of ageing.

Navarra had a very pleasing vintage with all red varieties ripening well with yields down on the norm.

La Mancha suffered an exceptionally dry year even for this arid region, and yields were very low, making for concentrated wines with acidity a little lower than is usual. In the Levant, quality is good, particularly in Jumilla where heavier rains at the end of harvesting were avoided and what there was freshened the vines at the right time.

Made in the same way as Champagne by the small family house of Sumarroca, this effervescent bargain’s fragrant appley flavour and brioche-like richness proved irresistible. Gloriously refreshing superbly...

Made in the same way as Champagne by the small family house of Sumarroca, this effervescent bargain’s fragrant appley flavour and brioche-like richness proved irresistible. Gloriously refreshing superbly structured and delightfully punchy. This is an excellent value; you really can’t ask for much more from a Cava and perfect for Christmas.

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Monday 21st Nov 2022

Lancashire Evening Post

I love this wine. It is one of the tastiest cavas I've had in a very long time. Apple flavours abound; green apples, fresh and crisply cut; rede apple skins; squidgy cooked apple, caramelised and then...

I love this wine. It is one of the tastiest cavas I've had in a very long time. Apple flavours abound; green apples, fresh and crisply cut; rede apple skins; squidgy cooked apple, caramelised and then partnered with a buttery , biscuity crumble.

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Jane Clare

Tuesday 27th Dec 2022

Rotherham and South Yorkshire Advertiser

Fragrannt and delicate appley fruit.

David Clay

Thursday 7th Oct 2021

Liverpool Echo

Made in Penedès, theheart of Cava country near Barcelona. It uses the traditional Cava grapes -paralleda, macabeo and xarello with a touch of chardonnay. Cava is fab. This onewas fragrant with...

Made in Penedès, theheart of Cava country near Barcelona. It uses the traditional Cava grapes -paralleda, macabeo and xarello with a touch of chardonnay. Cava is fab. This onewas fragrant with blossom and apples and on the palate was a soft fizz ofapples and a tickly lemon finish. Perfect for summer.

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- Jane Clare

Saturday 17th May 2014

Belfast Newsletter

Gloriouslyrefreshing, superbly structured and delightfully punchy. Floral fragrancesyield to a lemony, biscuity palate with pleasant nutty backnotes before a verybrief, discreetly acidic finish.

- Jane Clare

Saturday 31st May 2014

Belfast Sunday Life

A really refreshingfizz with lots of apple flavours, delicate fruit and a mouth-watering finish.

- Paula Gracey

Sunday 8th Jun 2014

Sheffield Profile

Elegant sparkle andfreshness … flavours of pear and citrus and lots of bubbles.

Tuesday 1st Jul 2014

The Times

Good, ordinary, fizzfor under a tenner is almost extinct, so grab this lengthily aged, yetrefreshing, bold, appley, tutti-frutti sparkler from Sumarroca, a small,family-run estate.

- Jane MacQuitty

Saturday 11th Oct 2014

thewinegang.com

One of the best valuecavas on the market (so much so that it won the Best Value Cava award at thisyear's Wines from Spain Awards 2014), this is a refreshingly crisp, lemonyfresh sparkler with just a...

One of the best valuecavas on the market (so much so that it won the Best Value Cava award at thisyear's Wines from Spain Awards 2014), this is a refreshingly crisp, lemonyfresh sparkler with just a touch of sweetness that dissolves on the tongue intoa mouth-wateringly sherbet lemony finish.

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87/100 - The Wine Gang

Friday 31st Oct 2014

JancisRobinson.com

Light, frothy, cleanand refreshing. Decent nutty character on the finish. Good Value – you can’task for much more from Cava at the price.

- Richard Hemming

Tuesday 25th Nov 2014

Tamworth Journal

Fragrant, appley anddelicate - superb at only £8.50

- Rob Price

Tuesday 25th Nov 2014

The Mail on Sunday

A fantastic elegantlyround peachy aperitif that’s made in the same method as Champagne but for afraction of the price. A Spanish jewel that gleams in the glass and summons youto its heady fiesta.

- Olly Smith

Sunday 30th Nov 2014

Kent & Sussex Courier

This is a first classappley cava… It has "drink me" written all over it and gets my medalfor the best sub-tenner sparkling wine for Christmas 2014… a savoury cavathat brims with...

This is a first classappley cava… It has "drink me" written all over it and gets my medalfor the best sub-tenner sparkling wine for Christmas 2014… a savoury cavathat brims with crisp citrus and apple purity and faint pastry shop aromas.

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- James Viner

Thursday 4th Dec 2014

Birmingham Living

...fragrant, appleyand delicate, superb…

Rob Price

Tuesday 2nd Dec 2014

The Times

Top 20 Fizzes forChristmas: Sparkling wine duty is exorbitant, so spend an extra £2.50 on yourbottle of cava and you’ll really notice this one’s extra elegance and ripe,bracing, floral...

Top 20 Fizzes forChristmas: Sparkling wine duty is exorbitant, so spend an extra £2.50 on yourbottle of cava and you’ll really notice this one’s extra elegance and ripe,bracing, floral oomph, enhanced with a dollop of chardonnay.

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- Jane MacQuitty

Saturday 13th Dec 2014

The Independent

…quality fizz at anattractive price…

Anthony Rose

Saturday 13th Dec 2014

howtodrink.co.uk

As a fully paid upprosecco fan and former cava-hater I loathe saying this but sub-£10 proseccohas got so dilute and so rubbish, cava now looks way better. Tastes like redapples and white paper....

As a fully paid upprosecco fan and former cava-hater I loathe saying this but sub-£10 proseccohas got so dilute and so rubbish, cava now looks way better. Tastes like redapples and white paper. Vinous.

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- Victoria Moore

Friday 3rd Jul 2015

Telegraph Luxury

Move over prosecco,hello again cava. There has been a lot in the news lately about the danger of aChristmas prosecco shortage. In my view, the prosecco crisis has happenedalready. The price of prosecco...

Move over prosecco,hello again cava. There has been a lot in the news lately about the danger of aChristmas prosecco shortage. In my view, the prosecco crisis has happenedalready. The price of prosecco has gone up while the quality has gone down,and, boy, it shows when you taste similarly priced versions of cava andprosecco side by side. I speak as a dyed-in-the-wool prosecco drinker andItalophile so it’s hard for me to admit this but - if you’re looking for acheap fizz I’d far rather drink this cava than any similarly-priced proseccoyou could find me. “It’s made by Sumarroca, the only producer in Penedes whomake cava entirely from their own fruit, as opposed to buying it in,” saysPierre Mansour. It’s lovely. Proper wine that tastes of red apple with sharpedges and a hint of patisserie.

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- Victoria Moore

Thursday 30th Jul 2015

The Wine Gang

With more than 30months ageing on the lees to give it an extra dimension of sourdough breadsavouriness, but with a light and easy herb-and-apple crisp raciness, this issuperb value for a distinctive...

With more than 30months ageing on the lees to give it an extra dimension of sourdough breadsavouriness, but with a light and easy herb-and-apple crisp raciness, this issuperb value for a distinctive Catalan fizz made from the traditional Cava trioof parellada, macabeo and xarel.lo by the superior family firm of Sumarroca.

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- The Wine Gang

Tuesday 1st Nov 2016

Liverpool Echo

One of my friendssaid this wine was her "new fave". You can't beat cava. I love it.This crisp appley number is made from the traditional cava grapes parellada,macabeo and xarel-lo with a...

One of my friendssaid this wine was her "new fave". You can't beat cava. I love it.This crisp appley number is made from the traditional cava grapes parellada,macabeo and xarel-lo with a touch of chardonnay. It's rounded, squidgy andscrumptious - and at the same time remains elegant.

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- Jane Clare

Saturday 3rd Dec 2016

Newcastle Journal

This dry nectar comesfrom quite a small, family-owned house called Sumarocca. They age it in thebottle for 30 months, roughly 18 months longer than the cheap stuff. This,combined with a genuine attention...

This dry nectar comesfrom quite a small, family-owned house called Sumarocca. They age it in thebottle for 30 months, roughly 18 months longer than the cheap stuff. This,combined with a genuine attention to detail, makes for a lovely lemon andlavender-scented fizz, dry, zippy and lingering and amazing value.

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- Helen Savage

Tuesday 29th Nov 2016

The Daily Telegraph

This is characterisedby longer ageing than the competition at the same price, so it is toasty,creamy and complex: far more than just everyday fizz.

- Hamish Anderson

Saturday 24th Dec 2016

The Times

Consistently classycava, from the Sumarocca family estate, enlivened by a dab of chardonnay; allzippy, floral, apple-blossom pizzazz.

- Jane MacQuitty

Saturday 22nd Apr 2017

Norwich Evening News

In my opinion one ofthe best value Cava’s on the market. Aged for 30 months on its lees giving thefizz a yeasty richness and complexity rarely found in wines at this price.Simply delicious.

- Jeremy Dunn

Tuesday 18th Jul 2017

Times of Tunbridge Wells

If you are lookingfor a satisfying dry sparkling wine made by the traditional method, withextended lees ageing (30 months), then try this. At the price, few sparklersexhibit as much aptitude or bite and...

If you are lookingfor a satisfying dry sparkling wine made by the traditional method, withextended lees ageing (30 months), then try this. At the price, few sparklersexhibit as much aptitude or bite and this clever bottle has both. Sophisticatedand finessed, with petite, persistent creamy bubbles, appley notes and atoasted brioche depth, this is a cultured wine for a very competitive amount.

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- James Viner

Wednesday 27th Dec 2017

bbcgoodfood.com

This has achampagne-like nose with very fine bubbles.

Thursday 31st Jan 2019

Sunday Telegraph

With its classic note of green apple peel, this taste distinctively cava-ish. Lively bubbles and crisp finish but it’s less lean and bone-dry than a lot of cava. Bottle-aged for 30 months –...

With its classic note of green apple peel, this taste distinctively cava-ish. Lively bubbles and crisp finish but it’s less lean and bone-dry than a lot of cava. Bottle-aged for 30 months – superb quality for the price. Made by the Sumarroca bodega. -

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Susy Atkins

Sunday 27th Sep 2020

The Mail on Sunday

Sumptuous Cava withimpressive richness and depth: serve with cheese straws.

- Olly Smith

Sunday 25th Oct 2020

ollysmith.com

With apply purity andrichness with a deep savoury twist – all for under a tenner – these bubbles arean ambassador of excellence.

- Olly Smith

Monday 26th Oct 2020

The Sunday Times

I’m a long-time fanof good-quality cava and this example from Bodegas Sumarroca is terrific valuefor money. Aged for more than two years in the bottle.

- Will Lyons

Sunday 15th Nov 2020

Hampstead & Highgate Express

Remember, too, cava’sremarkable value. [This] is citrussy yet rounded.

- Liz Sagues

Thursday 12th Nov 2020

The Daily Telegraph

The best sparklingwines for Christmas 2020: For some time now cava has been much better valuethan prosecco and this one is pitch-perfect. No one will be needing party winesthis year but it’s a good...

The best sparklingwines for Christmas 2020: For some time now cava has been much better valuethan prosecco and this one is pitch-perfect. No one will be needing party winesthis year but it’s a good pick for a cheaper fizz.

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- Victoria Moore

Saturday 21st Nov 2020

Sunday Express

Cava has struggled abit with an image of cheapness, but this is an excellent one that need make noapologies. It's lively, grapey and appley, with gorgeous fruit, some softnessand a great sense of fun.

Cava has struggled abit with an image of cheapness, but this is an excellent one that need make noapologies. It's lively, grapey and appley, with gorgeous fruit, some softnessand a great sense of fun.

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- Jamie Goode

Sunday 6th Dec 2020

Olive

For bargain bubbles …The Society's Cava Reserva Brut is a fine choice.

- Kate Hawkings

Tuesday 8th Dec 2020

Daily Mail

This is one of the most successful, inexpensive sparklers of the year and it is perfect for New Year celebrations. I wrote down ‘superb class’, ‘great length’ and...

This is one of the most successful, inexpensive sparklers of the year and it is perfect for New Year celebrations. I wrote down ‘superb class’, ‘great length’ and ‘wonderfully complex’ in my tasting notes and those expressions are usually deployed for expensive Champagnes!

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- Matthew Jukes

Saturday 26th Dec 2020

Decanter

Excellent-value Cava, this spends 30 months in bottle. It's crisp, with good purity of appley fruit and more depth than many Cavas at this price due to extended lees ageing. Voted a Wine...

Excellent-value Cava, this spends 30 months in bottle. It's crisp, with good purity of appley fruit and more depth than many Cavas at this price due to extended lees ageing. Voted a Wine Champion in 2020 by The Society's buyers.

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- Amy Wislocki

Wednesday 6th Jan 2021