The sparkling wine market - Spain

1.1 Market definition

Champagne is a trade name for a well-known type of French sparkling wine made according to the European Union Méthode Champenoise standards from the region of the same name. Made from a blend of chardonnay, pinot meunier, pinot noir, pinot gris, arbanne and petit meslier, this white or rosé sparkling wine is protected by an appellation d'origine contrôlée SP " )

Although the name champagne is exclusive to the region of Champagne, the term champagne is commonly used to refer to sparkling wines produced in many regions of the world, including Cava in Spain. The champagne produced in Spain uses the same method as that used for the production of French "Champagne" but with different grape varieties. The most used grapes are Macabeo, Parellada and Xarello, which are native Penedés grapes

The Cava market is growing and well established in Spain and abroad. Spain, along with France and Italy, are the next countries to dominate the sparkling wine market (Champagne, Prosecco and Cava). Hence the high results of Spain in the export of sparkling wines

The Cava market has the potential to grow even more. There are new foreign markets that could be the object of an increase in exports and new marketing tools to be used to attract new consumers by communicating the delight of the quality of the wine and the high level methods used to produce it. This is also the reason why "wine tourism" represents a real market to develop for wine producers in order to increase their turnover

Nevertheless, the cava market has to face an increasing demand from the proud competition of France and Italy and a potential increase in international customs taxes. Exports are essential because the domestic market may show limits in its growth. A more important problem that could affect the wine market is that of the consequences of climate change on the grape harvest environment, but this is a more global problem that the Spanish vineyards cannot solve alone