Barcelona Shopping: 17 Tips on Local Products, Barcelona, Spain

Spain, in general, and Barcelona, in particular, are a treasure trove of all things exciting. Set your foot in Barcelona and you'll be spoiled for the choice of things worth trying and taking home. Before your head starts spinning, check this guide out to put yourself in the right direction.

Cava got its name back in 1970 with the idea of distinguishing it from French champagne, the word meaning ‘Cave’ or ‘cellar’. Cava is rapidly gaining prominence in the world and rivaling champagne, 95% of all Catalan cava is made in Penedès in the vineyards surrounding the village of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, close to Barcelona. Cava is made up of three types of grape: Maccabee, which provides sweetness and fragrance; Parellada, which gives finesse, freshness and aroma; and Xarello, which gives the body and structure. Two well known producers of cava in the region are Freixient and Cordorniu. Both of these Bodegas offer a wide range of cavas, with the most distinct and best-known being Anna de Cordorniu and Cordὸn Negro Reserva by Freixient. Both of these can be found at La fuente Colmado Quilez on Rambla Cataluyna 69 Open Monday to Saturday 10am – 8pm. Another great Catalan cava – Sumaroca €12 - can be purchased at The Delishop in l’illa Avinguda Diagonal 575, Open 10am – 9.30pm, Monday to Saturday. The Bodegueta on Rambla Catalunya serves a vast array of local cavas, all of which can be tried before purchase. With a wide range of cavas from small local vineyards, Vinacoteca on Calle Valencia 595 is a warehouse dedicated to cava from all over Catalonia; it is quite literally a supermarket dedicated to the fermented fizzy grape. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).