The low mobilization of the Catalan coalition Viticultors del Cava has resulted in the first time a joint candidacy of non-Catalan winemakers (Almendralejo, in Extremadura, and Requena, in the Valencian Community) is made with one of the 12 members of the new Consell Cava regulator. The Catalan candidacy, formed by the agricultural unions Unió de Pagesos, Joves Agricultors i Ramaders de Catalunya and the Associació de Viticultors del Penedès, has expressed its disappointment, but maintains the will to “be able to continue defending the price of grapes and wine and enhance the value of cava ”. The other two votes cast – the rest were already assigned outside the elections – have been won by the Catalan candidacy.
Beyond the result, a large hot potato is on the table. It is about deciding, before the end of the month, if the sector that has already suffered the splits of Corpinnat and Clàssic Penedès should continue with the qualitative measures put in place by Javier Pagés in the last four years as president of the Consell, or relax and make the regulations more flexible in order to be able to produce more, as Henkel Freixenet defends. In statements to La Vanguardia, Pagés has stated that he would only continue in his position if he is allowed to continue with the segmentation and zoning of Cava, betting on greater value in a sector that is highly stressed by excessively low prices for grapes and base wine. “We debated between continuing and with which team or changing,” he says. According to Pagés, “the time has come to put the cards on the table and be clear and forceful”.
At the latest on July 29, it will be known who will be the new president. It is practically impossible for a president to be elected without the approval of Freixenet, a firm that has historically dominated the Consell. Now, for the first time another great group of massive production (Jaume Serra de J. García Carrión) enters. Juvé will not be in the new plenary either
The president of Aecava, Damià Deàs, recalls that both the executive committee and the board of directors of the sector employers have unanimously agreed (including Freixenet and the Segura Viudas winery) to continue the strategic plan promoted by the Consell chaired by Pagés.
