Hey Y'all,
This past April, I had the distinct honor of serving as a judge at the 2025 FineWaters Summit Taste & Design Awardsin Atlanta, Georgia — an event that brings together certified water sommeliers from around the world to blind taste and evaluate more than 100 of the finest waters on the planet. One of the absolute standouts in the competition was a familiar favorite: Vichy Catalan, which took home Gold in the Super High Minerality, Naturally Carbonated category.
And if you’ve ever tasted this water, you’ll know exactly why it deserves the title.
At Salacious Drinks, we don’t just carry bottled water — we carry stories in glass. And Vichy Catalan has one of the most fascinating legacies in the world of natural hydration.
💧 A Source Steeped in Healing
Vichy Catalan is sourced from Caldes de Malavella, a thermal spring located in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain. This spring, long revered for its supposed therapeutic benefits, lies in a geologically rich area — where natural underground pressure carbonates the water and infuses it with a potent blend of minerals, particularly bicarbonates, sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
The water rises to the surface at a steamy 140°F (60°C) — a rare and powerful indicator of its volcanic underground journey. Historically, it was used in balneotherapy treatments and has been bottled since the late 19th century, when Dr. Modest Furest i Roca acquired the land and began championing its benefits.
✨ A Bold Taste That Stands Alone
If you’ve never tried Vichy Catalan, let me warn you: this is not a subtle water. This is a confident, mineral-rich powerhouse with a distinct, salty finish — and it’s that boldness that earned it the top prize in its category at the Summit.
In the world of water sommeliers, we often look for a water’s “texture” — and Vichy Catalan’s effervescence, coupled with its rich minerality, gives it a creamy mouthfeel that pairs well with fatty foods, cheeses, and rich desserts. I personally love it alongside dark chocolate or a soft cheese plate. It doesn’t whisper — it sings.
🌍 Why This Water Matters
In a time where many sparkling waters are artificially carbonated and stripped of natural personality, Vichy Catalan remains a beacon of authenticity. It is naturally carbonated and bottled directly at the source with its full mineral composition intact. That’s something we value deeply at Salacious Drinks — and why we’re proud to carry this award-winning classic in both individual bottles and curated tasting boxes.
To me, Vichy Catalan isn’t just water. It’s a reminder that nature knows what she’s doing — and that we don’t need to engineer perfection when it’s already bubbling up from the earth.
🛒 Ready to Taste the Champion?
Try the Gold-winning Vichy Catalan for yourself — now available on www.salaciousdrinks.com.
Whether you're looking to experience what the FineWaters jury loved or to add something bold and beneficial to your hydration routine, this is one bottle that always delivers.
Until next time,
Stay hydrated, stay curious.
— The Waterlady 💧