The cava sector expects to close a good year despite the inflationary context and the strong competitiveness that exists in the international sparkling wine market. The producing companies are very satisfied with the growth in sales in the Spanish market and emphasize the double-digit increase experienced by superior reserve cavas, that is, those of the highest range, with a minimum aging of 18 months.
According to the president of the DO Cava, Javier Pagés, this Tuesday, between January and September 2022, cava sales have increased by 3.36% and the year is expected to close with an increase of 3%, which would mean reaching a figure of 245 million bottles. "The environment is complicated, but even so, cava demonstrates its resilience. We believe that there is a great desire to celebrate and experience moments of joy this Christmas and we are optimistic," Pagés highlighted.
This growth of 3.36% registered during the first nine months of the year represents a clear slowdown compared to the 16.45% increase experienced during the same period of 2021, a very positive year in which pre-pandemic sales were exceeded. So far this year, superior reserve cavas, that is, those with a higher price, have advanced especially, with a surge of 20.41%. "This data encourages us and indicates that we are on the right track. The great objective of the DO Cava and the new regulation we have approved is to generate value and bet on quality," stressed the president of the Regulatory Council. The highest-range cavas now represent 13% of total production, two points more than a year ago (11%).
Another outstanding figure for the first three quarters of the year is the 14.5% growth in cava sales in Spain. On the contrary, exports ---which absorb 72% of total production--- have stagnated. The rebound in the domestic market responds, according to Pagés, to the good performance of all sales channels (supermarkets, online, and restaurants), although it has been in this last segment where the most dynamism has been noted thanks to the boom in the tourism sector and domestic consumption in leisure and restaurant activities.
Cava, which is Spain's most exported wine with a designation of origin, is sold in around 150 countries, but 82% of sales are concentrated in ten markets. So far this year, the performance of this Top 10 has been very uneven, leading to a stagnation of exports. According to Pagés, up to September there have been five key markets that have grown and five that have declined.
Germany, which remains cava's top international customer, has consumed 7.26% more bottles. Sales have also grown in the Netherlands, Sweden and, curiously, Russia. Conversely, in the United States, which is the second main market, exports have declined. Falls are also recorded in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Japan and France.
In 2021, cava-producing companies sold 238.22 million bottles of cava, a 10.5% increase. The forecast is that sales will reach 245 million this year. This figure, however, should not be confused with the total number of bottles produced and subjected to the control of the Cava Regulatory Council. According to official statistics, in 2021 the sector produced 252.93 million bottles, a 17% increase, which marked a historical record, as it surpassed the 252.51 million bottles of 2017, according to the official historical series.
Pagés calls for the reunification of the sector
Once again, the president of the DO Cava has taken advantage of his annual meeting with the press to advocate for the reunification of the sparkling wine producing sector made under the traditional champenoise method. Without directly referring to the producers of Corpinnat or Clàssic Penedès, Pagés highlighted "the importance of sending a message of unity to the world" and stressed that cava regulations "are super demanding" and can satisfy all aspirations. "Strength lies in unity; it would be good to achieve this unity and I believe the conditions are right for this to happen. I am willing, as always, to work on a future project that brings us together," he reiterated.