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2018

THE EVOLUTION OF CAVA THROUGH THE GUÍA PEÑÍN

To speak of Cava is to speak about the most The fact is that Cava is, nowadays, largely ruled
peculiar Spanish Denomination of Origin. It by easy, proper, fresh and cheap products. The
T is produced all around the Iberian Peninsula: vast majority of them follow the basic commercial
Catalonia, Alava, Badajoz, La Rioja, Navarra, Valencia principal: good, nice and cheap. Unfortunately,
and Zaragoza. These regions comprise the scattered only a small number of producer families opt
geographical universe safeguarded by the D.O., although for distinctiveness through singular and unique
nearly 97% of its production concentrates in Catalonia. products. By acting this way, they experience
difficulties explaining to less wine-educated
Cava’s D.O. currently undertakes major innovations consumers that their wines do not follow the
that will mark the future of these wines. The general standard of Cava. They are elaborations,
most significant of them will be the approval and above all, in pursuit of excellence and therefore
development of the preliminary wines of Paraje, a unusually expensive.
new category of cavas which will be labelled, for the
CAVAS & OTRAS BURBUJAS reached the conservative D.O. to address the need to There is a characteristic style of cava. We do not
first time, this year. This new category originates as Even if they do not form a majority, these wines
a way of satisfying those producers of quality and exist and are the living proof that Cava might be
higher priced cavas. The trigger for change finally much more than production (volume) and price.
avoid the drain of premier producers started by none refer to a global sparkling type but to a unique,
distinguishing brand, as peculiar as champagne and
other than the Raventos family in 2012.
with a power of expression and a potential which is
The split-up reasons were publicly broadcasted. yet to be developed.
Cava needed a solution to enable coexistence
between large and small producers, between low The future of sparkling wines with Cava hallmark
prices and large volumes with higher priced wines and, consequently, their average scores within
and small productions. This is how the classification Guía Peñín, will, undoubtedly, be marked by
of Paraje’s Cavas was created. Over the coming the controller’s success in applying adequate
years, this category shall have to prove it meets the policies to protect the trademark and those small
needs of these singular and unique cavas. producers.

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