Bertha Cardús 2018: the time behind the bubbles

8 November 2026 · sommelier.vi.cat

Some sparkling wines take care of the toast; others deserve to stay at the table. This Bertha Cardús 2018 interests me for the latter reason: ripe fruit, delicate bubbles and freshness that makes its point quietly. Time has left its mark without making a speech about it.

Bertha Cardús Brut Nature Gran Reserva 2018 · D.O. Cava. This is the vintage of the bottle tasted by sommelier.vi.cat. The 2023 Premis Vinari results document the 2018 and its gold medal in the white Gran Reserva sparkling category.

What I find in the glass

Bright gold, with very fine, slowly rising bubbles. On the nose I find baked apple, ripe pear and candied citrus, followed by brioche, yeast, toast and nuts. Dried flowers, herbs and a mineral impression sit in the background.

The opening feels warm and creamy, with a lactic nuance. The carbonation is velvety and the acidity remains lively and well integrated. The finish is long and dry, with smoky and mineral impressions. These are my observations of this bottle, not a promise about every other bottle of the same vintage.

Subirats, before returning to the glass

Bertha’s address is in Can Batista, within Subirats, according to the municipal tourism office. It provides a useful introduction to Penedès: nearby villages, vineyards and wineries help us place the wine, though they do not identify the plots supplying this 2018.

Here, Penedès is the geographical context and Cava is the bottle’s designation. The labels are not interchangeable. Establishing the exact origin of the grapes requires vintage-specific documentation; the producer’s address is not enough.

The winery’s account and the limits of the evidence

In its D.O. Cava profile, Bertha describes an approach combining tradition and technology, limited production and attention to local varieties. This is a statement of its approach, not a tasting note for 2018.

The technical sheet located covers 2019. I therefore do not assign its grape percentages, alcohol level or exact ageing period to the 2018. Nor do I transfer its organic certification to this bottle without specific evidence.

Sommelier note: I would suggest baked fish, mushroom rice or roast poultry with a restrained sauce. These are pairing suggestions based on this tasting: I would aim to complement the creaminess and toast without masking the freshness. A white-wine glass would give its aromas room to open.

Instagram: @cava.bertha · sommelier.vi.cat

Sources checked on 8 November 2026.