Cava DO reaches ‘historic’ agreement over prestige wines

The Cava DO has unanimously approved a “momentous and unprecedented” plan to strengthen the position of the Spanish sparkling wine in its export markets.

The final stage of agreement will be detailed once the specifications have been approved, which will include better differentiation between the Cava styles and a territorial classification system.

Javier Pagés, president of the Cava DO

There is “a consensus and unity in the sector” towards promoting a series of measures that defend vineyards, sustainability, and optimal production times.

The agreement has the full support of representatives from both viticultural and wine production sectors within the northern Spanish region of Penedès, where the vast majority of Cava is produced.

Javier Pagés, president of the Cava DO, declared the agreement to be “a great achievement” that shows “a clear commitment to quality across the whole industry”.

Damià Deàs, president of the Institut del Cava, said that “the sector’s unity has made it possible to take a new great step, which will be historic and gives the sector confidence”.

The agreement seeks to establish a newfound appreciation of the Cava region’s grape-growing territories, reinforcing the quality of Cava with stringent new regulations.

It also seeks to offer the consumer clearer criteria to inform their decision-making. A geographic zoning system has been created to help the consumer navigate the Cava category more easily.

With over 60% its sales coming from overseas, Cava exports more of its wine than any other Spanish DO, including Rioja. The category is home to over 6,800 wine growers and 38,000 hectares of vineyards.