Carta Nevada Seco
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2023
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Spicy Asian dishes, classic Spanish tapas, and light fruit-based desserts.
✨ Technical Specifications
Introduced in 1941, Freixenet's Carta Nevada is a cornerstone of Spanish sparkling wine history, instantly recognizable by its pioneering frosted gold bottle designed to protect the delicate liquid from light damage. Crafted in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia within the Cava DO, this 'Seco' (off-dry) sparkling wine is produced using the traditional method. It relies on the classic Catalan grape trio: Macabeo, which contributes acidity and freshness; Xarel·lo, providing body and structure; and Parellada, lending delicate floral aromas. The Ferrer family, who founded Freixenet, successfully bridged the gap between ancient Mediterranean winemaking traditions and modern sparkling production, creating an approachable, globally beloved expression of the Penedès terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Freixenet trace its origins to 1914 in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia through the union of two established winegrowing dynasties—the Sala and Ferrer families—following roots traced back to Casa Sala in 1861. Anchored in the Penedès depression within Catalonia, the estate harnesses a Mediterranean microclimate marked by warm, sun-drenched days, cooling maritime sea breezes, and diverse alluvial, limestone, and clay soils. Freixenet built its reputation pioneering modern temperature-controlled stainless-steel fermentation and traditional method sparkling winemaking at scale, championing the classic Catalan triumvirate of Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada alongside select international cultivars. While best known internationally for ubiquitous benchmark cuvées like the matte-black Cordon Negro and semi-seco Carta Nevada, the house also crafts refined, terroir-focused expressions such as the artisanal Casa Sala Gran Reserva Brut Nature, Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut, and Cuvée D.S., reflecting both monumental production prowess and deep cellar aging traditions.
🍇 Grapes
Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir