Overview
- The Cava regulatory body completed elections for its 12-seat council and scheduled a June 11 plenary to choose a new president to succeed Javier Pagés, with nominations opening next week.
- The new lineup blends a unified slate of winery executives — Josep Palau (Freixenet), Pere Escolar (García Carrión), Bruno Colomer (Codorníu), Pere Ventura, Joaquim Tosas (Sumarroca) and Montserrat Nicolàs (Viña Torreblanca) — with cooperative voices Enric Ferré (Cellers Domenys) and Miquel Lleixa (Covides) and base-wine representative Adrià Rabadà (Cevipe).
- Independent grower seats went to David Sendra and Fernando Medina of the Viticultors del Cava coalition and to Joan Colomer of the Penedès growers’ association after a contested vote.
- Three figures have already said they will seek the presidency — Marta Vidal of Vallformosa, Pere Ventura and Marc Pagès — with the council set to decide at the June plenary.
- The next leader faces falling production after drought years, consumers shifting toward lower-alcohol drinks, exits to the alternative Corpinnat label such as Juvé & Camps, and rising foreign control at Codorníu (Carlyle) and Freixenet (Henkell).