Decanter World Wine AwardsNew breakaway sparkling wine appellation to rival Cava
- Friday 15 March 2013
Raventos I Blanc: Cava DO has 'low vititcultural standards'
The proposed designation, named Conca Del Riu Anoia, will significantly deviate from the existent Cava DO.
‘After 150 years, Cava has become a solely volume-oriented DO with no geographical distinction in terms of climate and soils, with low viticultural standards. For this reason, we decided to start from the beginning and create a quality orientated designation for our wines,’ owner Pepe Raventos told Decanter.com.
Raventos is not alone in criticising the Cava DO: by November last year around nine producers had left.
Conca Del Riu Anoia is intended to form a very small geographical area surrounding the Anoia River valley between the Anoia and Foix Rivers in eastern Penedes.
A key aspect of the appellation is a severe tightening of the current rules of production, Raventos explained.
‘Under our rules, producers must pay growers a minimum of 1€/Kg - the current price averages €0.20/Kg - the vineyards must be organically certified, at least ten years old and yields will be set at a maximum of 10,000kg/ha,' Raventos said.
‘We are also increasing the minimum period on the lees from 9 to 18 months and only indigenous varieties can be used,' he added.
The Cava DO stipulates that companies can include domestic and international varieties, including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with no rules as to the composition of the blend.
However, some wineries have criticised Raventos' plans and remain committed to working inside the DO framework.
'It seems quite cowardly to us, as it's clearly easier to abandon the DO than to fight for change,' Eva Plazas, senior winemaker at Vilarnua said.
Josep Albet, current president of the Penedes consejo regulador, has recommended making significant changes to the appellation rules in response to this move by Raventos and others.
In order to combat the growing crisis, Albet has advised making significant changes to the appellation rules, including increasing the minimal time the wine is in contact with the lees from 12 to 15 months.
'We need to emphasise that Cava is a high quality, unique product,' Albet said.
Have your say!
Hendy
March 27 14:42
"'It seems quite cowardly to us, as it's clearly easier to abandon the DO than to fight for change,' Eva Plazas, senior winemaker at Vilarnua said"
it's really funny to read that from Mrs. Eva Plazas from Vilarnau part of one of the biggest wine group company - Gonzalez Byass..
Cowardly is not fighting for the authenticity and take the easy way producing millions and millions of bottles – and damage the image of the Spanish sparkling because your business is have better margins.
Hudin
March 25 18:41
I can somewhat understand using "Consejo Regulador" for DO Cava as it is a Spain-wide DO, but for Penedès and this potential future DO, why do you not use, "Consell Regulador" which is how they're always referred to in Catalonia? You're not calling, "Conca Del Riu Anoia", "Cuenca del Rio Anoia" which would be the name in Spanish instead of Catalan.
Otherwise, this is quite good news given the over rancidness of the Cava brand these days.
Kurt Burris
March 18 17:43
I used to sell the Raventos wines and they re delicous. They should not be confused by any measns with horrid things like Frieniet or Cristalino.
Richard Mark James
March 18 12:56
Catchy name that one! The idea of creating a new high quality sparkling wine zone in Catalonia is commendable perhaps, but will have no resonance beyond the region with a name like that. Maybe that's the idea though, sell it all at high prices to trendy restaurants in Barcelona.