Primary grape in Cava

Are Viura and Macabeo the same grape with different regional names, like Tempranillo and Tinto Fino?

yes, same thing.
USually blended with Xarello and another grape whose name escapes me in Cava.

Thank you, Dale. I'll never get all these names straight.

yes, same thing.
USually blended with Xarello and another grape whose name escapes me in Cava.

Maybe you are thinking of Parellada? I believe that Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo (which is Viura, IIRC) are the primary 'classic' Cava grapes, but on some of the fancier bottles one sometimes finds Chardonnay, etc. A few weeks age I tasted a really refreshing Xarel-lo still wine from Penedes, but can't recall the name.

That's it, thanks Joe.
I've only had 2 still Xarel-los - a forgettable cheapie and the "Terroja de Sabate i Coca " (from the cava producer Castellroig), which I like a lot.

I looked up the Xarel-lo wine that I tried and it was the '10 Bohigas Blanc de Blancs. This was from an in-store tasting at Amanti Vino in Montclair, NJ - a rather nice shop if anyone is in that area.

Many years ago, when I was just learning about wine, I would be reading a book on wine and come across statements like " X is a grape widely grown in the Y region. Prized for its high yield, it produces thin wines of no great distinction..... " where X might equal Xarel-lo, Trebbiano, Barbera, Carignan, Colombard, Sylvaner,..... And now we find some of these grapes can make very interesting bottles under the right regime. Witness Valentini Trebbiano @ $90/bottle; by most accounts, a stunning wine (anyone wanting to buy me a bottle to try is welcome). This might be a good theme for the wine focus: Wines made from grapes that get (or got) no respect.