What is the Spanish sparkling wine called?

The Spanish sparkling wine is called Cava.

Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine with protected denominación de origen status. It may be white or rosé and must be made using the traditional method, in which a second fermentation takes place inside the bottle—the same broad production method used for Champagne.

About 95% of Cava is produced in Catalonia, especially the Penedès area. Sant Sadurní d’Anoia is a major center of production, and leading producers include Codorníu and Freixenet. The traditional Spanish grape blend features Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel·lo, although Chardonnay and other permitted varieties may also be used.

Cava is not simply another name for Champagne. Champagne is protected for sparkling wine from France’s Champagne region, while Cava is Spanish and has its own designation. The word cava means “cave” or “cellar,” reflecting the underground spaces historically used to age the bottles.