We are very happy to announce that at Naveran we have obtained the V-Label certificate for all our products! A worldwide recognized certification for labeling products as vegan and vegetarian.

As you know, wine and cava are products of plant origin, but in their preparation it was common to use products of animal origin (to clarify, for example). At Naveran we have always opted for sustainable and natural agriculture and production of wine and cava, without added products; but until the last harvest, our production was not yet 100% vegan. Since the harvest of 2020, we can already confirm that all our production is vegan and this is confirmed by the V-Label certification.

Veganism, a growing lifestyle

More and more people are opting for a vegan lifestyle, which reaffirms that veganism is not a fad. According to the Lantern consultancy report, “The green revolution”, vegan diets have grown in Spain by 27% between 2017 and 2019 (the year of the last publication of this report), and 1 in 8 people is veggie. The reasons for following a vegan lifestyle are 57% for ethics and defense of animals, 21% for sustainability and 17% for health.

Young people make up the highest percentage of veggies, but we find people of all ages and from rural as well as urban populations. Another relevant data is that 7.9% of the adult population is flexitarian, that is, they eat meat and fish sporadically, for example, when they go out to dinner or with friends.

The V-Label seal, a reliable reference

For us, having this seal is of great importance, because it helps vegan people to unequivocally identify cavas and wines as vegan. It is a way of being transparent, since V-Laben standards ensure that our cavas and wines are fully suitable for a vegan diet. Today, there is no other seal that can guarantee as a V-Label that a product is vegan and vegetarian.

Are cava and wine suitable for vegans?

As we have already said, from the outset it may seem that all wines and cavas are suitable for vegans, because they are made from a fruit: the grape. However, it is not so simple: the wine and cava production processes are long and involve numerous operations, in which, sometimes, products are added to modify the wine or cava, and can be of animal origin. Examples of this are refined sugars, which can be added to cava, or clarifiers, to wine.

At Naveran our philosophy has always been to make natural products, without added products. We achieve the desired aromas and flavors being respectful of the environment, with good blends and with aging, whether in barrels, rhymes, steel … However, during the winemaking process we used egg albumin to precipitate and remove astringency and, also, fishtail to polish and facilitate filtration. On the other hand, we use sugar for the second fermentation in the bottle (tirage liquor) and to make the expedition liquor, but it is organic cane sugar.

In filtering wine, then, is when we need added products and we explain why: particles such as yeast intervene in the wine-making process, which cause sediments. Often, with the aging process, we already get most of these sediments to precipitate to the bottom of the boots, therefore, a good part of the work is done. However, it is necessary to clarify the wine because, in addition to obtaining a clearer final product, the wine is thus more stable and ages better. They are traditional procedures, but then the wine, despite being of plant origin, is not suitable for a vegan diet, because products of animal origin are usually used.

However, today there are vegetable alternatives: at Cavas Naveran, since the 2020 harvest we have used bentonite and pea albumin to clarify the wine and thus guarantee 100% vegan production.

Sustainability in our DNA

As we have told you, both in the vineyard and in the production of wine and cava, the objective is to intervene as little as possible. If the grapes are healthy, the winemakers do not have to intervene, and this is the goal at Naveran. However, for the grape to be healthy we must carry out a series of actions, and then we will tell you about them.

Plow

It may seem simple, but plowing when it hits and well is a guarantee of a healthy vineyard. We plow several times a year. For example, in spring we do it to eliminate weeds, which begin to grow with increasing temperatures and are a breeding ground for insects. It is also important that the soil is clean and fluffy so that it can absorb and retain water from the spring rains well. Also, we do rve to direct the roots downwards so they will find freshness in the summer and dry months.

Pheromones: a sexual confusion technique

One of the most common pests in the Penedès region is the cluster moth: a butterfly that lays its larvae in clusters, causing them to spoil. To control this pest, we use a totally ecological and respectful sexual confusion technique with the environment, insects and the consumer. The insect is asleep during the winter and in the spring the male wakes up to look for the female. So, we installed in the vineyards some pheromone diffusers that make the moths confused and cannot mate, so they do not generate the worms that attack the grape.

We are what we eat

At Naveran we want our products to be suitable for a vegan diet, as well as sustainable, natural and respectful with the environment. Hence our commitment to making vegan wines and cavas. Obtaining the V-Label certificate has been a challenge and a great satisfaction: we want to contribute to the supply of vegetable products on the market. We are what we eat, it is important to take care of every detail of wine and cava production in order to offer consumers healthy and quality products.