The DO Cava continues to grow despite the economic and geopolitical turbulence, thanks to the boost in sales in a domestic market that has experienced notable stagnation for many years. In fact, in the first nine months of the year, total cava sales have set a new historical record. They have increased by 2.35% compared to the same period in 2022 (reaching 170 million bottles) and in the domestic market the growth has been 7.65%, which is added to another increase, from 13.15% to closing of last year.
A “very good Christmas campaign” is expected, according to the president of the Regulatory Council, Javier Pagés. In the last quarter of the year, around 35% of total sales are concentrated. The Regulatory Council estimates that, if the current pace continues, the year could close with 3% more global sales than last year, exceeding 250 million bottles. Pagés attributes the growth in the Spanish market to tourism and “the strength of the hotel and restaurant channel.” He also highlights the good economic moment of Spain in the European context.
The increase during the first three quarters has been more moderate in export markets (0.33%). 70% of the total product is exported. Remarkable has been the increase in Guarda cavas (with a minimum of 9 months of aging): 5.06% overall and 14.78% in the domestic market. However, Guarda Superior cavas have registered a drop from January to September of 16.21%. This is attributed to the extension from 15 to 18 months of minimum aging in bottle for these higher-end cavas. Javier Pagés hopes that next year cava will continue to grow in volume, but above all in value.
Germany remains the main international market for cava during the first three quarters of 2023, after growing by 1.27%. Belgium (1.95%) and the United Kingdom (19.33%) follow in volume. Other notable sales increases have also been recorded among the top 15 global markets: Brazil (a spectacular 76.29%), Poland (33.29%), France (17.69%), Netherlands (11.38%) and Sweden (6.19%). And among the Gran Reserva (Guarda Superior) cavas, the results obtained in Japan (increase of 417.48%), South Korea (95.12%), Switzerland (71.11%), Belgium (39. 34%) and Portugal (31.3%).
Pagés highlights the success of cava in the context of the good times that quality sparkling wines are going through and has been convinced of the success of the DO Cava's commitment to ecology, sustainability and higher value products with long aging. .
The president of the Regulatory Council also highlights the commitment to the most qualitative segments, as well as the new Elaborador Integral seal, which identifies the wineries that produce the products from start to finish (with 100% of the pressing and vinification in the property). Likewise, he is open to making the regulations more flexible in some cases in the Guarda cavas to alleviate the drought as long as it does not affect the quality, but not in the Guarda Superior ones. In his opinion, it would be a mistake to lower the minimum aging required from nine to six months, as recently proposed by the Henkell Freixenet group within the plenary session of the Cava Regulatory Council.
