Changes in Cava D.O.

Appearing in Barcelona's La Vanguardia newspaper on Sunday July 24 was an article on the Regulatory Council of Cava, which is the agency that oversees the Denominacion de Origen Cava, which produces Spain's traditional method sparkling wine.

Last year the region produced 221 million bottles of Cava and in the last 8 years exports have increased by 142%. Consumption in Spain continues to expand, last year growing by over 2%.

The Council has applied for conversion of the region from a D.O. to a Denominación de Origen Calificada (D.O.C.) which would further estabilish the high standards of quality among the various grape growers and Cava producers.

There are no plans to expand the areas in the Cava D.O. but there are moves afoot to permit the use of Pinot Noir in "white", that is so say, not rosé, cavas. The present rule against Pinot had caused the industry leading Codorniu Group to remove their Raimat sparkling wines from the Cava D.O. The Raimat sparkling wines are sold as V.E.C.P.R.D. (or Vinos Espumosos de Calidad Procedentes de un Region Determinado, which means Quality Sparkling Wine from a Designated Region).

Additionally, the conditions for designating a Cava as a "Reserva" will require 15 months of aging. For "Gran Reservas", 30 months of aging will be required.