How to choose and serve cava for New Year's Eve

To choose cava for a New Year's Eve toast, pick a brut, check the ageing on the label, chill the bottle for several hours and plan about one bottle for every five or six guests. We are The Wild Duck, a liquor store at 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston, and this guide covers how to choose, chill, open and pour, plus the mixers and ice a host needs.

What is cava, and how does it differ from champagne at a New Year's Eve toast?

Cava is Spanish sparkling wine made by the traditional method, the same way champagne is made: the second fermentation happens in the bottle, which is what creates the fine bubbles. Most cava comes from the Penedès region of Catalonia and is usually made from the grapes Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada.

The taste is the main difference. Cava tends to be dry, crisp and lightly citrus or orchard-fruit in character, with a slightly earthy finish. Champagne usually shows more brioche and toast, which comes from its grapes, its climate and its longer ageing rules.

For a toast, either works. If you want to look at the French style as well, our guide to choosing and serving champagne covers it. If you are searching for cava as a shopper nearby, our cava near me page is the place to start.

How do I read a cava label to choose a dry or sweet bottle?

Read the sweetness word on the label first. Brut Nature, Extra Brut and Brut are dry, Seco is dry to off-dry, Semi Seco is noticeably sweet and Dulce is sweet. Brut is the usual choice for a midnight toast because it suits most tastes and goes with salty snacks and rich food.

Next, look at the ageing. Cava labelled Reserva has spent at least 15 months ageing on its lees, Gran Reserva at least 30 months, and Cava de Paraje Calificado at least 36 months. Longer ageing generally gives a rounder, more bready flavour. A younger, fresher cava is often better for mixing or for a large group.

If you prefer a rosé style, cava also comes in pink versions, and our rosé wines are on the same part of the shelf for browsing. Both styles are served the same way.

How many bottles of cava do I need for a New Year's Eve party?

For a midnight toast alone, plan one bottle of cava for every five or six guests, because a standard 750 ml bottle pours about six small glasses. A toast glass is roughly four ounces, which is smaller than a full flute.

If you are serving cava through the evening or in cocktails, think about how many hours your party runs and how many guests will want something else, such as beer or a spirit. It is easier to plan the toast first and add the rest around it.

Always keep a few bottles of water on the table and offer food. Our sparkling wine category lets you browse the bottles before you decide on a count, and our team can help you work out a sensible amount for your guest list.

How cold should cava be, and how do I chill it quickly?

Serve cava at about 6 to 8 degrees Celsius, or 43 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Colder than that and the flavour is muted. Warmer and the bubbles become foamy and harder to pour.

The fastest reliable method is an ice bucket filled with both ice and cold water. Water touches the whole bottle, so it chills in about 30 minutes, while ice alone leaves warm patches. Add a handful of salt if you are short on time. Otherwise, leave the bottle lying down in the refrigerator for at least four hours before the party.

Do not put cava in the freezer to speed things up. It is easy to forget, and a frozen bottle can burst. Plan on more ice than you think you need, because the bucket will melt through the evening and you will want some for cocktails as well.

How do I open and pour cava safely for a midnight toast?

Cava should be opened slowly, with the cork held firmly and the bottle turned, so that it releases with a soft sigh rather than a pop. The pressure in a bottle of sparkling wine is similar to the pressure in a car tyre, so a loose cork can fly across the room.

Remove the foil and loosen the wire cage, keeping your thumb over the cork. Point the bottle away from people and from anything breakable, and hold it at about 45 degrees. Turn the bottle, not the cork, and ease the cork out until you hear a gentle hiss.

Pour a small amount into each glass first, wait for the foam to settle, then top up to about two-thirds. Tulip-shaped glasses and white wine glasses show the aroma better than wide, shallow coupes. Have everyone's glass filled a few minutes before midnight so the toast is calm and no one is rushing.

Which mixers and cocktails go well with cava?

Cava mixes well with citrus, soda and elderflower, and a dry brut is the best base. The simplest cocktail is cava topped over a splash of orange juice. For a spritz style, combine cava with a bitter orange liqueur and a splash of soda water over ice.

A good mixer makes a difference when there are only two or three ingredients. We carry Fever-Tree, and you can browse the full mixers range for soda water, tonic and ginger beer. For a gentle liqueur twist, our liqueur shelf has options to add a small measure to a glass of cava.

Keep the cocktail pours modest and save the best bottle for the plain toast. Use plenty of ice in mixed drinks, and keep a separate bucket for the bottles so the two do not run out at the same time.

How do I get the bottles and mixers I need from The Wild Duck?

The Wild Duck offers in-store pickup, delivery and shipping, so you can collect or receive your New Year's Eve order in the way that suits your plans. We are at 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston, and our shop hours are 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday and 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Sunday.

For in-store pickup in Boston, our pickup hours are 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday and 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Sunday. Our delivery hours run from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM Monday to Saturday and 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM on Sunday. See our delivery areas for Boston, Cambridge and Brookline, and our wine delivery page for ordering wine.

We have more than 4,500 products and more than 700 brands in stock, so sparkling wine, mixers and other drinks for your guests can be gathered in one order. Our Google rating is above 4.5 from more than 60 reviews. If you are unsure what to buy for your guest list, ask our team in the shop.

What can I offer guests who do not drink alcohol at midnight?

Offer a non-alcoholic sparkling drink in a matching glass, so every adult at the party can join the toast in the same way. Our non-alcoholic range has options to browse, and a simple soda water with a slice of citrus also works.

Chill these drinks the same way as the cava, in a bucket of ice and water, and pour them at the same time. It keeps the toast together and nobody has to explain what they are drinking.

If you are also planning a gift for the host of a party you are attending, our gift guide lists wine, spirits and beer ideas.