The “Consejo regulador del Cava” (Cava Regulatory Council) has approved a new regulation for the D.O. Cava with a more precise zoning distinction and new categories based on aging time and other quality standards. The new cava regulations, which will begin to be applied progressively during 2021, are accompanied by a different labeling of the D.O. Cava: they will have a quality seal that will include the production area and the product category. The latter will be determined by the aging time (Cava de Guarda and Cava de Guarda Superior), the age of the vineyards, maximum production, sustainability (ecological seal) and traceability.
One of the purposes of the new regulations is to offer people interested in acquiring a cava more elements to choose: they will be able to know the characteristics of making a product with high quality standards, such as those of the cavas of the D.O. Digging. We will still have to wait a few months to see it in all the bottles but in the meantime, we will detail you point by point. Thus, when they arrive, you will be ready to enjoy a good cava even more. Let’s go there!
1. The importance of parenting: Guarda and Guarda Superior
Aging is a very important process in production. The new cava regulations want to transmit this to consumers by simplifying the current denominations such as reserva, gran reserva or premium. Bear in mind that in the traditional method, it takes at least nine months of aging to consolidate the aromas, flavors or nuances.
According to the new cava regulations, cavas with an aging period of more than 9 months will receive the name “Cava de Guarda” and cavas with an aging period of more than 18 months will be “de Guarda Superior”. Quality is guaranteed, given that aging will not be the only condition to be considered Guarda or Guarda Superior. Here are more criteria:
GUARDA SUPERIOR CAVA:
More than 18 months of aging. It includes the current Reserva and Gran Reserva cavas but with the following requirements:
– Limited production: that is, performance is regulated. The new cava regulations require wineries not to exceed a maximum production of 10,000 kilos of grapes per hectare, in order to have the Guarda Superior.
– Long aging: The Cava Reserva, more than 18 months, and Gran Reserva, more than 30 months, will now be called “Cava Guarda Superior”.
– Ecological cavas: sustainability is also important, Guarda Superior cavas come from organic vineyards.
– The minimum age of the vineyard for the Guarda Superior cavas is 10 years.
– Harvest year: mention of the grape harvest year will be necessary.
In addition, all bottles of cava will include information on traceability: one way to prove all these quality standards is by monitoring the entire cava production process, from the harvesting of the grapes to the disgorgement. The labels of the Guarda and Guarda Superior cavas will include a code with which the traceability can be known from a digital application.
In Naveran, our productions are characterized by being low and with vineyards of up to 55 years old, where the hand of our farmers and organic farming make it possible to produce grapes of the highest quality.
2. 4 large areas, but with sub-areas to claim local production.
Thanks to these new cava regulations we will be able to know precisely the origin of each bottle. We will have three levels, from the general to the particular.
On the first level we find 4 well differentiated areas:
1. Comtats de Barcelona, which includes the production and elaboration of the D.O. Cava in Catalunya;
2. Valley of the Ebro.
3. Vineyards of Almendralejo.
4. Levante area.
In two of these (Comtats de Barcelona and Valle del Ebro) we find a second level, the subzones, which correspond to a rather regional area.
The Comtats area of Barcelona includes the sub-areas of:
1. Valls d’Anoia-Foix, where the Cavas Naveran belong.
2. Serra de Mar.
3. Conca del Gaià.
4. Serra de Prades.
5. Pla de Ponent.
Finally, the third level is called Qualified Site and will refer to plots and will be reserved for high quality cavas.
Cava D.O has been based on climatic, orographic, historical and human characteristics as zoning criteria. This new classification is the result of a consensus in the sector, after a long and intense debate. Perhaps, the Comtats area of Barcelona, which includes all the cava of the D.O. Cava produced in Catalonia, is the one that could generate more controversy. However, there are two compelling reasons why this denomination has been chosen: the first is that Barcelona is a “brand” known throughout the world and the second is that some of the subzones of Comtats de Barcelona had already grouped under this name historically.
The Finca Can Parellada de Naveran will be part of the Valls d’Anoia-Foix sub-area. With a Mediterranean climate, where moderate winters and hot, dry summers stand out. The mountains of Montserrat provide protection during the harshest winters and the proximity of the sea regulates the climate. Temperatures can reach 2 ° C in January and up to 30 ° C in August; the average will be over 24 ° C.
3. A digital platform and a comprehensive production seal
As we have already told you, on the one hand, one of the wills of the new Cava regulations is to provide information and guarantees to consumers. And, on the other hand, give value to local, sustainable production that guarantees quality. That is why a digital platform will be created to know the traceability of each of the bottles of the D.O. Digging.
Finally, as regards sustainability, a new Integral Producer seal will be created for wineries with their own production, where pressing and vinification is done on the same estate. In Naveran, the vineyards and the winery are part of the Can Parellada de Naveran estate, that is, all the grapes used to make the Naveran Cavas are produced on the same estate.
4. Local production, sustainability, tradition and quality
In summary, the new regulations will incorporate changes in the labels of the Cava D.O. We will continue to find the mention CAVA, the commercial brand; information on aging, according to sugar, nominal volume, alcoholic strength, company and municipality and country of production. But, in addition, the region of origin will be added with the zone and sub-zone, the seal of integral producer and the name Cava de Guarda or Guarda Superior.
When it is going to be? These changes will be implemented progressively: in mid-2021, the name Cava de Guarda or Guarda Superior will begin to be incorporated into the labels; and this process will last until the end of 2022.
At Cavas Naveran we really want the new cava regulations to become a reality, it will help us to communicate our way of doing things: quality, tradition and sustainability.