Owing its name to Plato’s theory of the Soul of the Earth, Anima Mundi is winemaker Agustí Torello Roca’s side project to reveal the soul of the Penedes region of Spain in a bottle. In this case, it's manifested by this delicious sparkling blend of Macabeu and Xarel-lo from certified organic vineyards of predominantly calcareous soil that are about 275m above sea level with a strong influence from both the Garraf Massif and the Mediterranean. Xops is made via the Ancestral or PetNat method in which the primary, native yeast fermentation starts out in clay amfora, stainless steel, concrete and neutral oak but is completed in the bottle. However, it drinks more like a premium Cava with fine, persistent bubbles, crisp acidity, notes of green apple, meyer lemon, and a very subtle hint of brioche. At a modest 11%abv, it pairs perfectly with octopus and calamari, really good sashimi or even strawberry shortcake.