A DO Cava in low hours prepares to elect a new president

BarcelonaThe Denomination of Origin (DO) Cava faces decisive hours for its future after eight years of Javier Pagés' presidency. This Thursday, June 11, the twelve members who form the plenary of the Regulatory Council, the body representing the different agents in the sector, will meet at the Vilafranca del Penedès headquarters to elect who will be the maximum leader – as well as the vice-president – of the DO that exports the most from Spain, but which at the same time is not going through its best moment.

With the official candidacy submission period closed – the deadline was this Wednesday – the number of aspirants will finally be five, more than on any other occasion. The first to announce their intention to occupy the presidency of the DO were the CEO of Vallformosa, Marta Vidal; the founder of the Pere Ventura Family Wine Estates group, Pere Ventura, and the owner of the Pagès Entrena winery, Marc Pagès. They were joined by the president of the Alt Penedès Regional Council, Xavier Lluch, and the president of the Cevipe cooperative group, Joan Pons. The only one who has backed down has been the wine broker Josep Raventós, who during this week had expressed his intention to run in the election. Despite his intentions, Raventós has ruled out making his candidacy official at the last minute, as confirmed by the DO Cava.

which have been incorporated into other brands, such as Corpinnat and Clàssic Penedès or have decided to go their own way. The most significant loss has been that of Despite being a DO of Catalan origin – 95% of production is concentrated in Catalonia – it also covers territories in areas such as the Ebro Valley in Zaragoza, La Rioja, Extremadura, and the Valencian Community. For all these reasons – and others also linked to the cava production process – the designation of origin has suffered, in recent years, a trickle of wineries leaving that have joined other brands, such as Corpinnat and Clàssic Penedès, or have decided to go it alone. The most significant loss has been that of Juvé & Camps in 2026, as it is a winery that produced two and a half million bottles a year.

All this, in a context where the two major groups within the DO, Freixenet and Codorníu, are under foreign control. German company Henkell increased its stake in Freixenet in March to take 100% control of the cava company, and the majority shareholder of Codorníu – the American fund Carlyle, which controls 60% of the company – is working to sell its stake in the near future.