Why We're Slightly Obsessed with Vichy Catalan Mineral Water

At first glance, Vichy Catalan Mineral Water looks like just another fancy bottle of sparkling water. But one sip and you'll realise it's something completely different. Salty. Mineral-rich. Intensely refreshing AND a little unexpected.

Once you get it, you really get it.

It's more than sparkling water

Unlike most sparkling waters you'll find on supermarket shelves, Vichy Catalan is a naturally occuring sparkling mineral water. The bubbles aren't added later, they rise naturally from an underground thermal spring in Caldes de Malavella, in Catalonia, Spain.

The water emerges from the spring at around 60°C, already naturally carbonated and rich in minerals, before being bottled at the source. The spring has been celebrated since the late 1800s and is still considered one of Spain's most iconic mineral waters.

That distinctive mineral profile is exactly what gives Vichy Catalan its unmistakable character.

It's probably not what you're expecting...

If you're expecting the soft, neutral taste of everyday sparkling water, Vichy Catalan will likely surprise you. It has delicate bubbles and a savoury, saline finish due to its naturally high mineral content.

Some people fall in love with it immediately. Others take a few sips before they get it. But once people become Vichy drinkers, they tend to come back for it time and time again - some customers even ordering it by cases! 

Why we love it at Vera

There are products we stock because they're popular, and there are many others that we stock because we love introducing people to something a little unexpected. Vichy Catalan sits firmly in the second category.

It's the bottle we drink after a long lunch, or the one we'll open alongside rich cheeses, salty snacks and charcuterie. 

It has that wonderful ability to reset your palate between bites and bottles.

What should you drink it with?

One of the reasons chefs and sommeliers love Vichy Catalan is because its mineral profile stands up so incredibly with food.

We particularly love it with:

• Jamón, prosciutto and cured meats
• Manchego or aged cheeses
• Olives and tinned seafood
• Roast chicken or grilled fish
• Long lunches that turn into dinner

It can also be a brilliant non-alcoholic option when tap water feels a little boring. 

Vichy Catalan has been a staple in Spain for generations, but it's still surprisingly difficult to find in Australia, which makes discovering it feel like finding a great little gem before everyone else knows about it.

If you're curious to see what all the fuss is about, pick up a bottle next time you're in-store or add one to your next order. We have a feeling it won't be your last.

 

Explore Vichy Catalan Sparkling Mineral Water at Vera and discover why this iconic Spanish mineral water has been winning over restaurant tables, and discerning drinkers for more than a century.