DO Cava continues to grow despite the economic and geopolitical turbulence, thanks to increased sales in a domestic market that has experienced notable stagnation for many years. In fact, in the first nine months of the year the total sales of cava have been a new historical record. They have increased by 2.35% compared to the same period in 2022 (170 million bottles have been reached) and in the domestic market the growth has been 7.65%, which is added to a another increase, of 13.15% at the end of last year.
A "very good Christmas campaign" is expected, according to the president of the Regulatory Council, Javier Pagés. During the last quarter of the year, 35% of total sales are concentrated.
The Regulatory Council estimates that, should the current pace continue, the year could close with 3% more global sales than last year and exceed 250 million bottles. Pagés attributes the growth in the Spanish market to tourism and "the strength of the hotel and restaurant channel". It also highlights Spain's good economic moment 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. The increase in aged cavas (with a minimum of 9 months of aging) has been remarkable: 5.06% overall and 14.78% in the domestic market. However, the superior guard cavas have registered a fall of 16.21% from January to September. This is attributed to the extension from 15 to 18 months of minimum aging in bottle for these top quality cavas. Javier Pagés expects that next year cava will continue to grow in volume, but above all in value.
Germany remains during the first three quarters of 2023 as the main international market for cava, after growing by 1.27%. It is followed in volume by Belgium (1.95%) and the United Kingdom (19.33%).
There have also been other notable sales increases among the top 15 global markets: Brazil (a spectacular 76.29%), Poland (33.29%), France (17.69%), the Netherlands (11, 38%) and Sweden (6.19%). And among the great reserve cavas (superior guard) 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 framework of the current good moment for quality sparkling wines and is convinced of the success of DO Cava's commitment to ecology, sustainability and the most valuable products with long upbringings.
The president of the Regulatory Council also highlights the commitment to the highest quality segments and the new integral producer seal, which identifies the wineries that make the products from start to finish (with 100% of the pressing and vinification on the property ). Likewise, he is open to making the regulations on guard caves more flexible in some cases to alleviate the drought as long as it does not affect their quality, but not in the superior guard caves. In his opinion, it would be a mistake to lower the required minimum age from nine to six months, as the Henkell Freixenet group recently proposed at the plenary session of the Cava Regulatory Council.
