"We Catalans find it hard to pay certain prices for cava, but we do pay that price for champagne."

BarcelonaNot one, not two. Three cavas, named after Núria Claverol and from the Sumarroca winery, have entered the pantheon of the Cava Designation of Origin. From now on, all three, made with different grape varieties, will be designated as Cavas de Guarda Superior Paraje Calificado (Superior Qualified Vineyard Cava). This prestigious designation will be described on the bottle itself, guaranteeing that the grapes come from a specific, identified vineyard, that the vines are over ten years old, that the harvest is done by hand, and that the minimum aging is thirty-six months, among other parameters. In the Cava DO, only fifteen sparkling wines can be sold on the market with this classification, and the novelty is that, in addition to the three Sumarroca bottles, two bottles from two different wineries have also been added: La Era del Celdoni from Carlos Andreu de Pira (Conca de Barberà). and the Blanco de Negros de Vinos El CepIt so happens that the fifteen prestigious cavas come from Catalan wineries, and therefore there are none that are made in the other cava-producing areas, such as Requena, La Rioja and Extremadura.

"We are very happy," say Joaquim Tosas, general manager of Sumarroca, and Òscar Llombart, technical director. We interviewed them the afternoon they learned that all three cavas had achieved the highest rating. "The three cavas are a tribute from the father and sons to their mother, Núria Claverol, because Sumarroca is a family winery," they explain, adding that they began producing them in 1983. The cavas share the same name, but they are different.Núria Claverol Allier Finca Cols, Núria Claverol Homenaje Finca Peretes and Núria Claverol Blanco de Noirs Finca Rosendo. Each of the three cavas is made with a different grape variety. The first, Claverol Allier, is made with 100% Chardonnay. The second, Finca Paretes, is made with 100% Xarel·lo, and the third with 100% Pinot Noir. The number of bottles produced for each of the three cavas also varies, as do their prices: the Núria Claverol Pinot Noir and Chardonnay cavas are produced in approximately 4,000 to 3,000 bottles and are priced at €43 to €45, while the Núria Claverol Xarel·lo costs €7,000.

As winegrowers, they believe that the certification they have just received makes their work visible to consumers: working the land, seeking their unique characteristics, and ultimately, the responsibility they feel towards the Penedès region. "Cultivating vineyards as the farmers we are means caring for the land, because we know the social and environmental impact of our work," explains Joaquim Tosas, who is also president of the Cava producers' association.

A terroir-driven cava

A single-vineyard cava, a terroir-driven cava, "is a source of pride for the technical team," explains Òscar Llombart, who adds that it's also a way of simulating the uniqueness of each vineyard. Even more so when it comes from a specific location. "The vineyards for all three cavas come from limestone soil, with gravel, which gives the grapes a particular profile," they say, noting that the vines are old, planted in the 1970s. They have then been aged for ten years, "and during this time we have been tasting the wines and deciding how much longer we want to age them."

The CEO assures that achieving the highest rating will not mean raising prices. "We won't raise them; we'll continue selling them at the same prices," he says. Regarding the price difference between Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Xarel·lo, Tosas states that Xarel·lo is "the spearhead of these three Cavas." Speaking about these prices, Tosas acknowledges: "Catalans find it hard to pay certain prices for Cava, but we do pay them for Champagne." It's that idea that "everything from abroad is better than what's made close to home." Conversely, when they go abroad, they're told they're doing very well. Sumarroca exports 70% of its total production. as is the case with other wineries in the Penedès region, such as Pere Ventura

Following this line of thought, Joaquim Tosas adds: "We have little pride in Cava, little historical pride, but it's also true that this is slowly changing." We've also changed its consumption habits, "now it's drunk like in the Anglo-Saxon world, that is, occasionally and on weekends." There's yet another change in consumption, which is that "people consume less, but when they do, they look for the highest quality."

Finally, the CEO assures that "the Cava DO is recognized worldwide; historically, it has had the presence and budget to project itself, and the international market recognizes us quickly; in fact, this happens with the Cava DO and also with the Rioja DOQ," says Tosas, who adds that belonging to the DO worldwide is a benefit. "On our own, we couldn't go to Tokyo to promote our Cavas, whereas the Cava DO has the strength to do it, and we go together," he explains. Sumarroca cultivates 270 hectares of vineyards in the Penedès region. It produces a total of nine cava varieties, in addition to wine. The 15 cavas that hold the category

• Mirgin Exeo Vallcirera – Alta Alella
• Mirgin Opus Vallcirera – Alta Alella
• The Celdonium Era – Carlos Andreu
• Ars Colecta La Fideuera – Codorníu
• Ars Colecta La Pleta – Codorníu
• Ars Colecta El Tros Nou – Codorníu
• Can Sala – Ferrer Wines
• Can Sala Vineyards – Ferrer Wines
• The Chapel – Juvé & Camps
• Gran Vintage Can Bas – Pere Ventura
• Núria Claverol Allier Finca Cols – Sumarroca
• Núria Claverol Tribute Finca Peretes – Sumarroca
• Núria Claverol Blanco from Noirs Finca Rosendo – Sumarroca
• Claror Can Prats – El Cep Wines
• Blanco de Negros Can Prats – El Cep Wines