The Ribera del Guadiana Wine and Cava Route is once again taking part in this cultural initiative that makes it possible to connect with young university students

The cava from Almendralejo will put the finishing touch this Thursday, May 7, on a new edition of the Cultural Wine Classroom at CEU San Pablo University in Madrid, a project framed within “Campus Life” directed by Jorge Solana, professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Information Sciences and director of “Enoturismo 360º” and “Tiempo de Vinos.”

The Cultural Wine Classroom combines theoretical-practical learning with guided tasting experiences. An experience that on this occasion will be led by Isabel García, technician for the Ribera del Guadiana Wine and Cava Route.

The objective of this cultural initiative is to spread wine culture among university students, as well as awareness of the economic impact of this sector and its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“It is about providing information to young people so they can appreciate wine,” emphasizes Solana, who points out that people rarely keep in mind that wine is one of the products that make up the well-known Mediterranean diet.

CONNECTING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

The Ribera del Guadiana Wine and Cava Route has participated since the origin of this initiative, which makes it possible to connect with young university students.

In this new edition, the twelfth, García will conduct a guided tasting of cava from Almendralejo. Five wineries located in this town in the province of Badajoz produce this sparkling wine, which is part of the Cava Designation of Origin (DO).

Located in the southernmost and westernmost area of the DO, in the vineyard area of Almendralejo, their practically flat terrain and climate provide unique conditions for producing Cava de Guarda, Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva, and Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva.

Almendralejo has been the only municipality in Extremadura with a Cava DO since 1983, a story that began at the start of that decade thanks to local entrepreneurs who recognized the suitability of creating this unique product. In fact, the capital of the Extremaduran region of Tierra de Barros is the only city that has a museum entirely dedicated to cava.

On this occasion, the thirty students participating in the guided tasting will sample Xarel.Lo de Romale Brut Nature, Rosado de Romale Brut Nature, Chardonnay Bodegas Vía de la Plata, and Brut Nature Reserva de Paiva.

FUTURE

A decade after the beginning of the Cultural Wine Classroom, Solana highlights the interest this activity sparks within the university community. Students from various degree programs such as Medicine, Computer Science, Biology, and Humanities take part in it.

Products from Extremadura, he points out, are always well-liked and surprising. “People are very surprised, for example, that cava is produced in Almendralejo,” he says, while also adding that students are impressed by the quality of these sparkling wines from Extremadura.

For the Route’s technician, Isabel García, the experience is always positive, since it allows young people to learn about the culture surrounding wine and cava. “Most people associate cava with Christmas. When, after the tasting, they discover all the types, grape varieties, production methods, and versatility with gastronomy, their reaction is very positive. They are delighted and willing to keep drinking cava,” she states.

The cava from Almendralejo will close this new edition of the Cultural Wine Classroom with a “toast,” looking ahead to the next edition in order to continue spreading wine and cava culture among university students.