The good progress of the domestic market has catapulted cava sales during 2023 towards a new record figure in its historical record, reaching close to 252 million bottles (2.7 million more than in 2022). Globally it has grown by 1.09%. Sales in the domestic market have increased by 4.02%, and have fallen very slightly in foreign markets (-0.25%), weighed down by inflation in the main European markets and also by the drop in sales in USA. The figure contrasts with the significant decline in champagne sales last year, which stood at -8.2%. The positive dynamics for DO Cava slowed down during the last quarter of the year. In the first nine months of 2023, total shipments increased by 2.35%. The aggregate turnover of DO Cava wineries grew by 8% in 2023, to 2,371,318,161 euros. This figure had already grown by 15% in 2022. The average price of a bottle of cava is, according to the Regulatory Council, 9.42 euros (7.5% more than the previous year).
The president of the DO Cava, Javier Pagés, highlights the strength of cava despite being a difficult year, “with global tensions and a Europe that is worse than Spain.” And he does not hide his concern about the “enormous” drought and the lack of product. Pagés, who highlights that Spain receives 85 million visitors, adds that “our main global competitors have experienced a noticeable decline.” Germany, with a growth of 4.14% (31.1 million bottles were imported into this market) solidly led the export fiefdoms. And despite sales falling by -13.48%, the United States remains in second position with 21.6 million bottles. Belgium is the third best market, where sales have grown by 5.44% and have reached 22 million bottles. In a post-Brexit United Kingdom, 16.8 million bottles of cava were sold last year, after growing by 5.38%. And the figures in the Brazilian market during 2023 have been spectacular (75.82%), although only 1.9 million bottles are still sold in this emerging market.
Guarda cavas have experienced the best dynamics last year, especially in the domestic market (with a growth of 10.28%). Rosé cavas also managed to advance positions in 2023, growing by 3.31% and reaching 23.5 million bottles sold. But if there is one category that has stood out especially, it is that of organic cavas. While products obtained from conventional agriculture saw sales decrease by -1.65%, organic products grew by 24.59%. 32.3 million bottles with organic certification are already sold. The president of the DO Cava also highlights that cava is the sparkling wine that grew the most in Spain in 2023 both in volume (occupying 87.7% of the total market) and in value (78.8%).