Drought leads to furlough for Freixenet workers

Continuing drought in Catalonia means Freixebet is to furlough 80% of workers there.

With 615 of 778 employees laid off due to drought that has gripped the region since 2021, grape yields are expected to be down from a typical 290-320 million kg to 213 million kg or roughly a third.

Henkell Freixenet, the world's largest sparkling wine producer, with Freixenet production in Spain, claimed force majeure for the reasons for the job losses, while on the 16th April, announcing a 5% increase in net revenues to €1.23 billion in 2023.

Many smaller growers who are often ignored in the DO in favour of the big companies such as Freixenet and Codorniu are up in arms about changes to the DO.

Special dispensation has been made to produce Cava from alternative red grapes such as Merlot, Tempranillo and Bobal.

Damià Deàs, director at Cava producer Vilarnau, owned by Gonzalez Byass, and former chairman of the Cava producer's association, Aecava said I think it is completely extraordinary, and out of place, to permit the use of unauthorized red grape varieties to make Blanc de Noirs. Many smaller producers, who have been ignored, are angry and complaining about this measure. Producers will make Blanc de Noirs from lower yields, using activated carbon, which reduces aromas, to make low-quality wine and this will confuse consumers – it's contradictory to our industry's strategic plan of making better-quality Cava sold at higher prices.

With a shortage of Cava DO grapes, Freixenet has made the decision to release a new de-classified sparkling wine range called Cuvée de España using varieties such as Macabeo – one of the grape varieties that characterise Cava – and Chardonnay blended with other Spanish grapes. They will be made using the Charmat instead of traditional method.