New stringent classification for Cava officially unveiled
A new classification for sparkling wine has been officially launched, and is considered the most rigorous in the world.
Called Cava de Paraje Calificado, it is open to all Cava producers, but only nine producers have to date reached the necessary standards to qualify for the seal, which has no equal in the world of sparkling wine. Although the official launch took place in London this week, recognition for the classificiation from the EU was achieved last July.
Pedro Bonet, president of the DO Cava told Drinks Business that the criteria for Cava de Paraje Calificado were stricter than any he has come across in any other sparkling wine reigon in the world. Only 300,000 bottles currently carry the seal from a region that produces 245 million a year. In addition, only 12 producers were eligible for the new classification, which has many criteria including the age of the vines, maximum yields, where the grapes are grown and minimum ageing periods.
However, of the 12 eligible, only nine have so far qualified, with the final test entailing two blind tastings by local and international specialists in Cava. Despite this Bonet said that his aim is not to have an increasing number of producers qualifying for the quality seal, but to provide the Cava DO with a guaranteed “beacon of excellence” and to improve the image of Cava overall.
“With Cava de Paraje you can taste and see the excellence of Cava, it gives the region a better image, and, thanks to Cava de Paraje, may small but qualitative producers are investing to come up to the standard, they want to be part of it,” he said.
He also stressed the need for Cava to move upmarket in terms of both wine and image. “Like society in general, there is a polarization between premium and low cost, and Cava needs to go after the premium [end of the spectrum], because the low cost is dead,” he stated.
The process to achieve approval for the category from Brussels has been “very complicated” according to Bonet, taking three and a half years to complete, as it was necessary to gain the thumbs up from not only Spain’s agricultural ministry but also all members of the EC.
Further complicating the approval process is the nature of the Cava DO itself, which covers 157 municipalities, 32 of which are outside Catalunya – although 99% of Cava comes from this part of Spain.
And the advent of Cava de Paraje Calificado has also taken on greater importance since Catalonia’s parliament declared independence from Spain last month - the majority of “premium Cava” – which encompasses the Reserva category and above, representing around 30m bottles – is sold in Spain, and there’s a concern that sales may be affected by a boycott of the fizz, which is regarded as an emblematic product of Catalunya.