The Spanish sparkling wine producers of DO Cava are being forced to limit sales. According to a statement issued by the DO on December 12, 2024, the ongoing drought in recent years has made it impossible to meet market demand for Cava, necessitating the rationing of product availability.
Already in the first nine months of 2024, drought-related shortages slowed both sales and revenue for the DO. Global sales dropped by over 12% compared to the same period in the previous year, with approximately 149m bottles of Cava sold worldwide by September 30, 2024, down from around 170m bottles a year earlier.
The decline was particularly pronounced in export markets, which saw a 15.8% decrease, while the domestic market was less affected, registering a 3.7% drop. Sales of the Cava de Guarda category (134.4m bottles) fell by 11.7%, and those of the premium Guarda Superior category (14.7m bottles, aged at least 18 months on lees) dropped by over 17%.
Collapse in the German market
The decline in Cava exports is primarily due to the German market, which saw a staggering 55.1% drop in sales. According to the DO, this accounted for around 60% of the total export decline. As a result, Germany has lost its position as the most important export market for Cava to Belgium. While sales in Belgium also fell by 3.6%, the 12-million-strong country still purchased 14.3m bottles.
"With demand outstripping supply, prices and margins have increased."
Among the top 10 markets for Cava, only Sweden, Japan, and the Netherlands posted growth in 2024. The sharp decline in Germany is largely attributed to Freixenet’s production shift.
However, DO Cava President Javier Pagés sees a silver lining in the region's limited product availability: “With demand outstripping supply, prices and margins have increased, creating value throughout the supply chain. Similarly, grape prices during the last harvest were significantly higher,” Pagés said.
Premium Cava to go fully organic?
The same statement announced that all premium-category Guarda Superior Cavas will be organically certified starting with the 2025 vintage. According to The Drinks Business, this goal may extend to all DO Cava sparkling wines, aligning with DO Penedès’ plan to become fully organic by 2025. While most Cava production takes place in Penedès (over 95%), Cava is also made in certified areas outside the region, such as Navarra (Mendavia and Viana) and Rioja (18 municipalities).
