Gotta Have Some Cava, Spanish Sparkling Wine on New Year's Eve!

The Spanish start their New Year's Eve or Noche Vieja late in the evening and like the Energizer bunny, keep going until after sunrise. Some Spaniards celebrate with family or friends at home. However, many people ring in the new year at clubs or restaurants, buying tickets ahead of time. Once inside, they are provided with plenty of cava, Spanish sparkling wine and drinks. In preparation for twelve o'clock, everyone fills their glasses with cava and has a dozen grapes ready. When the bells ring out at midnight, everyone starts popping grapes in their mouths - one for each ring of the bell. Finish your grapes by the time the bells stop tolling and you'll have good luck in the new year!

Add some Spanish flare to your New Year's Eve! Give out grapes just before midnight, or add a bit of Rioja Wine Sorbet to your sparkling wine flutes. There's still time to buy grapes at the market. While you're there, why not buy some Spanish chorizo, Serrano ham, Spanish olives or ingredients to prepare Spanish tapas, too?

• Top Spanish Tapas
• Cava - Spanish Sparkling Wine
• Sorbete de Vino Rioja - Rioja Wine Sorbet
• Spanish Christmas Sweets

If you're not planning on a New Year's Eve celebration, how about a New Year's day brunch? We have lots of suggestions for Spanish brunch fare.

• Spanish New Year's Brunch Menu

We wish you all a Feliz y Prospero Año Nuevo!

_{Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

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