We are excited to share that Alta Alella 10 2012, the signature cava from the Pujol-Busquets family, has been included in the exclusive World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection 2025. This prestigious international recognition highlights the most exceptional wines from around the world, chosen by some of the most influential sommeliers in the global culinary scene. As described by the organization, the list is more than just a selection of wines; it is “a carefully curated collection of wines that go beyond their exquisite flavours and aromas, delving into the rich narratives behind each bottle”.

Alta Alella 10 2012 is the only cava on the list, sitting alongside wines from world-renowned wineries like Ferrari Riserva Lunelli Trentodoc (Trentino-Alti Adige, Italy), el Jacquesson Cuvéé nº 747 (Champagne, France) o el Graham’s Vintage Port Library Release (Douro, Portugal).

The tasting panel is made up of 34 internationally renowned experts who work at some of the world’s finest restaurants, many of which are featured in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Among the panel members are Jhonel Faelnar, Committee President and Wine Director at Atomix (New York, 2 Michelin stars), Kistell Monot, Head Sommelier at Mugaritz (Gipuzkoa, 2 Michelin stars), Rodrigo Briseño, Head Sommelier at Disfrutar (Barcelona, 3 Michelin stars), André Bekker, Head Smmeliert at Frantzén (Stockholm, 3 Michelin stars), and many other respected professionals.

A decade of evolution

Alta Alella 10 2012 is a long-aged cava, with over 12 years of maturation, representing the epitome of patience and time in crafting high-quality sparkling wines. Organic, like all the wines and cavas from the winery, it’s made using the traditional method with a deep respect for the terroir. With the soul of a “Grand Vin,” this cava stands out for its structure, elegance, and complexity, qualities that have been praised by the sommeliers of the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection.

According to Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets, founder of Alta Alella, the cava’s unique character and ageing potential are the result of a combination of factors: the granitic Sauló soil, the mild Mediterranean climate near the vineyards (1,5km), and the intrinsic qualities of the grape variety.

A cava for fine gastronomy

Tasting notes describe Alta Alella 10 2012 as a vibrant, elegant cava with an expressive nose of citrus and yellow fruits, dried apricot, raisins, brioche and marzipan. On the palate, it is structured, generous, and tasty, with hints of nuts, toasted bread, and baking spices. Its fresh acidity and rounded creaminess create perfect balance, while a hint of saltiness at the finish makes it ideal to serve with food, according to the experts.

Sommeliers recommend it with dishes like “pan fried scallops, brown butter, cauliflower purée and toasted hazelnuts, or turbot with vin-Jaune sauce, or simply a selection of hard cheeses along with great homemade bread and salted butter”.

This recognition follows last year’s honor for Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004, which was also selected for the 2024 World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection, further reinforcing the excellence of Alta Alella long-aged cavas on the global stage.

We are proud to announce that our Alta Alella Laietà Gran Reserva 2019 cava has been awarded the Medal of Excellence in the prestigious Catalan Sparkling Special Report 2025, authored by wine writer Tom Hewson and published by renowned Master of Wine Tim Atkin.

Specifically, Alta Alella Laietà has been named “Premium Catalan Sparkling Wine of the Year”. “There’s a zesty, citrus-bitter palate cut with sea-salt savour, never heavy yet energetic and harmonious. This doesn’t tire, but keeps offering complexity and charm. Brilliant“, describes Hewson. This is major achievement for the winery, taking it a step further after last year’s success, when Alta Alella Mirgin Reserva was recognized as “Entry-Level Catalan Sparkling Wine of the Year”.

Additionally, Alta Alella Mirgin Opus Paraje Calificado Vallcirera 2019 has received the highest score among all Paraje Calificado cavas in the report (Premium+), with 95 points. As Hewson states: “This is currently the most complete and complex of Cava’s Paraje Calificado wines. (…) genuine vivacity and lift that sets it in the very top echelon of the region’s wines”.

The Catalan Sparkling Special Report 2025 explores the evolution of Catalonia’s sparkling wines, highlighting their diversity and the changes in the sector. Through tastings, analysis, and interviews with winemakers, the report recognizes the best wines of the year and examines how the region is tackling the challenges of climate change.

Great news for Alta Alella lovers! We are proud to share that various of our cavas have been featured in the ‘Catalan sparkling wines special report’, written by the sparkling wine expert Tom Hewson and published by renowned Master of Wine and journalist Tim Atkin.

In the report, a total of seven cavas of the Pujol-Busquets Family have been distinguished with a score of more than 90 points, all of them organic and with the quality and traceability stamp Integral Producer (Elaborador Integral).

Alta Alella Mirgin, “everything you could hope for”

Special mention has received Alta Alella Mirgin 2019, which has been chosen “Entry Level Catalan Sparkling Of The Year” (wines up to 15 €). This cava is, according to Hewson, “everything you could hope for”. “A delicious, perfectly-tuned wine of terrific value with its vivid, juicy lime fruit and marine aromatics” he adds.

Alta Alella Laietà Rosé 2019 also stands out in its category, which has obtained the best score for a sparkling rosé. “One of the region’s [Catalonia] most impressive rose sparkling wines, this is invitingly fragrant with cherry, strawberry and lightly creamy notes”, describes the expert.

All the ratings for Alta Alella

• Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2005 – Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva 94 points
• Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo 2017 – Paratge Qualificat Vallcirera 94 points
• Alta Alella Mirgin Opus 2019 – Paratge Qualificat Vallcirera 94 points
• Alta Alella Laietà 2019 – Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva 93 points
• Alta Alella Laietà Rosé 2018 – Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva 93 points (Top score for a rosé sparkling wine)
• Alta Alella Mirgin 2019 – Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva 93 points (Best Catalan entry-level sparkling wine)
• Alta Alella Mirgin Rosé 2019 – Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva 93 points

Hewson also highlights the uniqueness of the Alella territory, the Sauló (sandy granitic soil), the Mediterranean climate and the proximity to the sea. These are characteristics that the author considers unique and that produce “open wines”.

You can read the full report by purchasing it on the website https://timatkin.com

We are delighted to reveal that Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004 is part of the exclusive World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection

On January 16th, thirty of the world’s most distinguished sommeliers traveled from all corners of the globe to the United Kingdom to participate in the premiere of the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection, an exclusive tasting by William Reed (The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and World’s Best Vineyards). Sommeliers from 50 best restaurants such as  Diego Vásquez Luque (Central y Kjolle), Rodrigo Briseño (Disfrutar), Miguel Ángel Millán (DiverXO), Mohamed Benabdallah (Asador Etxebarri), Nina Hojgaard Jensen (Alchemist), Jhonel Faelnar (Atomix), Rubén Elias Velazquez (Quintonil), Agnese Morandi (Table by Bruno Verjus), Milan Rukavina (Gaggan Anand) and Kristell Monot (Mugaritz), amongst others.

From Alta Alella, we had the great opportunity to present the collectible cava from the Pujol-Busquets Family ‘Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004’, which has been included in the final selection. “Delicate aromatic nose dominated by ripe lemon zest, dried orange, dried apple and cinnamon spice. Toasted bread and almonds are found in the background. The palate is dynamic with fine, persistent bubbles and a salty touch, with mild acidity. Ripe yellow peaches, candied lemon, dried fruits and a finish with a quality bitter touch”, highlighted the sommeliers.

Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ is an organic and vintage cava, with 18 years of patient ageing on lees, made with a selection of the best grapes from Paraje Vallcirera: Pansa Blanca and Chardonnay. This is the first vineyard planted by the family when they settled in Can Genís in 1991. The vines grow in Sauló (sandy granitic soil) and less than 2km from the Mediterranean sea, conditions that give the grapes a natural acidity that is essential to make age-worthy cavas.

Food pairing recommendations

The professionals that tasted Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Evolució+ 2004 find it wonderful to be paired with “creamy foods and also pickled flavours that would reflect the secondary fermentation notes”. They suggest, for example, “fresh kumamoto oysters with a mignonette or a fried mushroom pastry with truffle cream”, or enjoying it “as a refreshing beverage after the first course”.

Being part of this privileged list is a reward to many years of work aiming to produce great wines, and confirms the aging potential of Pansa Blanca and its ability to captivate the most exquisite palates.

· Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets has received the distinction during the celebration of the Guía Vivir el Vino Awards in Madrid.

· “It is elegant, direct and with a fresh and long acidity, which makes this ageworthy wine great” – Raúl Serrano

We are thrilled to share some exciting news: Alta Alella 10 2012, the collectible cava made by the Pujol-Busquets Family, has received the “Magnificent Best Sparkling Wine” award from Vivir el Vino 2024 Wine Guide. A recognition that demonstrates Alta Alella’s commitment to producing high-quality cavas.

Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets, owner and founder of Alta Alella, has received the award during the celebration of Vivir el Vino Guide event, held on January 29th at the Cofidís Alcázar Theater in Madrid.

Alta Alella 10 is the result of many years producing high-quality cavas that aim to represent their origin landscape, influenced by the Mediterranean (vineyards located less than 2 km from the sea) and vines that are grown on Sauló (sandy soil of decomposing granite). These are distinctive characteristics of the Serra de Mar territory (Barcelona), which give the grapes an extraordinary natural acidity suitable to produce age-worthy cavas. This one in particular is patiently aged on the lees for at least 10 years.

“(…) A sparkling wine that maintains the expression of its fruit, from the first hit the freshness invades you and maintains the great complexity all along. It is elegant, direct and with a fresh and long acidity, which makes this ageworthy wine great”, describes Raúl Serrano, director of the media and sommelier with more than 30 years of experience in the wine industry. With a score of 99 points out of 100, Alta Alella 10 is the best cava listed by the guide.

Three more cavas from the winery have obtained great ratings from Guía Vivir el Vino 2024: Alta Alella Mirgin Opus Paraje Calificado Vallcirera 2019 with 96 points, Alta Alella Laietà 2019 with 94 points, and Alta Alella Mirgin 2019with 92 points.

Vivir el vino is one of the most popular wine magazines in Spain and it publishes the annual Vivir el Vino Guide, which brings together the best wines that can be found on the market that year. Raúl Serrano selects the 365 wines that conform the list, a different wine for each day of the year. Among all of them, they also highlight the “11 Magnificent” awards, which determine the best wine in each category. A blind tasting in which Serrano and the tasting panel choose “the best of the best”, in which Alta Alella 10 2012 has been designated Best Sparkling Wine.