Cava Cava – Cordorníu winery, the world’s oldest producer of bottle-fermented sparkling wine

On a visit to Catalonia in Spain, Vikram Achanta takes a train to Cordorníu winery, the world’s oldest and second-largest producer of bottle-fermented sparkling wine.

As I roll through the Catalan countryside by train with the Pyrenees in the far distance, the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia announces itself via grape-laden vineyards. As the train slides into the station, I can’t help but notice Freixenet, a major cava producer’s facilities on one side of the platform. But it is to Codorníu that I am heading for my induction into the world of Cava, which is two kilometres from the station. I arrive a good 90 minutes before my 10 am tour. So I have enough time for a croissant and a coffee in a café in the sleepy city centre with a mournful-looking dog outside and a startlingly pretty waitress.