When Ramon Nadal Giró returned from the Spanish Civil War to find his family's vineyards had been turned into an airfield by fascists, he didn't just rebuild—he reimagined. Twenty meters underground, he carved out cellars that would become the foundation of his family domaine.

Fast forward to 2018: Caves Nadal joins eight other estates in walking away from the Cava D.O. They weren't leaving because they couldn't meet the standards—they were leaving because the standards weren't high enough. The Corpinnat trade group was born from this exodus, with rules so strict they make most quality designations look lenient: 100% organic grapes, hand-harvesting only, estate fruit only, and aging minimums that start where others end.

The Brut Reserva Original represents everything the Corpinnat movement stands for. Using the same multi-vintage philosophy Ramon pioneered in 1943, this wine blends 47% Parellada, 27% Xarel·lo, and 26% Macabeu—all estate-grown on vineyards the family has tended for over 500 years. But here's what sets it apart: while Champagne requires 15 months on the lees, and Cava Reserva requires 18, Nadal gives this wine 36 months—because when you're one of Corpinnat's founding members, you lead by example.

Why You'll Love It

• Ridiculous overdelivery: At $30, you're getting a wine that soars with icons like Recaredo and Gramona—the kind of perfection you would see in a Michelin 3-star in Barcelona like Lasarte or Disfrutar. This wine BLASTED through the expectations of our tasting team.
  

• Corpinnat premium: The overwhelming majority of Champagne producers wouldn't qualify for Corpinnat membership. When you see that word on the label, you're getting the pinnacle of sparkling wine standards in not just Spain, but in the EU. Period.
  

• History in a glass: From a family that's been making wine since 1510, on land they reclaimed from one of Franco’s airfields, in cellars carved 20 meters deep. True ingenuity and perseverance like this can’t bear a label like Cava.

How to Serve It

• Serve at 42-46°F in white wine glasses.
  

• Drink now through 2030—though with 36 months already on the lees, this has the structure to evolve beautifully.
  

• Incredible with jamón ibérico, fresh sheep’s cheese, marcona almonds, or grilled octopus with olive tapenade.