SEVERE DROUGHT IMPACTS CAVA PRODUCTION

It’s very, very dry in Catalonia and that’s a big problem for Cava producers as Penedès grapples with extreme water shortage. According to a study published in Nature Geoscience, the Spanish Mediterranean coast is in the midst of the most severe dry spell the Iberian Peninsula has experienced in the last 1,200 years. The lack of rainfall is causing a never-before-seen crisis in the Penedès region, home to around 95% of DO Cava production. Last year, some growers lost nearly 70% of their harvests; this year more vines than ever risk dying of thirst.

In February, Catalonia declared a state of emergency affecting six million people in Barcelona and 201 surrounding towns. Everything from watering lawns to using beach showers has been severely restricted, with hefty fines for those who don’t comply. Even street cleaning in the Catalonian capital has been reduced to a minimum. The Catalonian government also announced plans to send desalinated water from Valencia to Barcelona as an interim solution. The restrictions also mandate that water for crop irrigation be reduced by 80%, threatening winegrowers already struggling with the lack of rain. According to Jaume Domènech of the agricultural union Joves Agricultors i Ramaders de Catalunya (JARC), there is a danger that a third of the vines in Alt and Baix Penedès will not bud this year. In total, it’s estimated that the drought will reduce production by 60 million bottles.
One of Cava’s biggest brands is especially feeling the effects of the drought. Freixenet says it has been forced to produce a declassified sparkling wine for markets in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, as there are not enough DO Cava grapes to meet demand. ‘Freixenet Premium Sparkling Wine – Cuvée de España’ will be produced using the Charmat instead of the Traditional Method of sparkling production and will debut in August 2024.