The accused and persistent drought, which has particularly affected areas like Penedès over the last three years, has significantly slowed down the growth of cava during the first nine months of the year
Global expeditions during the first three quarters of 2024 have decreased by 12.28% compared to the same period last year due to the lack of available product as a result of significant drops in grape production. In 2021, 304 million kilograms of grapes were harvested, in 2022, 276 million were harvested, in 2023, 213.8 million, and this year 219.5 million.
Expeditions have surpassed 149 million bottles as of September 30, with 68% being exported. In the same period of 2023, sales exceeded 170 million. Year-on-year, the figure is 8.73% lower. In the domestic market, the decrease has only been 3.67%, while in international markets the retraction has been 15.81%. Year-on-year until September, the decline in expeditions has also been significantly lower: 2.69% in the domestic market and 11.59% in exports.
By categories, Guarda cavas have experienced a decrease of 11.72%, while Guarda Superior cavas (aged over 18 months) have seen a 17.15% decline. The Guarda cavas have surpassed shipments totaling 134.4 million bottles during the first three quarters, whereas the Guarda Superior cavas have reached 14.7 million bottles. The total revenue of the DO Cava wineries grew by 8% in 2023, reaching €2.371 billion. This figure had already increased by 15% in 2022.
The impact of the German market
The decline in expeditions this year is also closely related to the drastic fall in the German market until the end of 2024. The German collapse, which has been the main foreign market so far, has been 55.1%, with 9.9 million bottles sold.
To mitigate the reduced harvests, the leader of the sector, Freixenet, has launched this year its Premium Sparkling Wine-Cuvée of Spain, sparkling wines made with Spanish grapes outside the Cava designation of origin for the DACH markets (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). They will produce these “as long as there is not enough grape production in the Cava DO”. Freixenet has chosen not to disclose how many millions of these bottles they produce “due to internal company policy”.
The drop in sales in Germany has led Belgium to lead international cava sales. Despite a decrease of -3.61%, shipments in Belgium have reached nearly 14.3 million bottles in a country with close to 12 million inhabitants. The United States has become the second largest export market with 12 million bottles. Also noteworthy is the decline in the United Kingdom (15.44%) and in Russia (20.82%). Among the main global markets, cava shipments have only increased in Sweden, Japan, and the Netherlands.
The president of the Cava Regulatory Board, Javier Pagés, has revealed that the shortage of cava comes at a time when quality sparkling wine “has a magnificent acceptance among consumers worldwide.” However, he adds that “fortunately, the lack of product also has positive aspects” such as the fact that “prices and margins have shown an upward trend.” In Spain, prices have increased by 10% in the retail channel, and in international markets by 20% across all channels. Pagés has also reiterated the sector's strong commitment to fighting climate change and promoting organic production. In fact, by 2025, all Superior Reserve cavas will be 100% organic.
