Prosecco vs Cava

Tank method vs traditional method

Prosecco spumante gets its second fermentation in a closed pressure tank (autoclave), Cava in the bottle by the traditional method.1,2 Prosecco DOC is Italian and made from at least 85% Glera; Cava is Spanish, with Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada, Malvasía and Chardonnay among its white grapes.1,2

Side by side

Prosecco DOCCava
StatusDOC since 20091DO since 1986, EU recognition 19892
RegionNine provinces of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia; 28,100 ha (2025)1,3Zones in Catalonia, the Ebro valley, Almendralejo and Requena; 37,299 ha2,4
MethodSpumante: second fermentation in autoclave1Traditional, second fermentation in the bottle2
GrapesGlera at least 85%1Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada, Malvasía, Chardonnay; four black varieties2
Minimum ageingNo minimum for spumante in the 2019 decree; Rosé at least 60 days in autoclave5,1Guarda 9 months on lees, up to 36 for Paraje Calificado2
PressureNot stated in the disciplinare1At least 3.5 bar at 20 °C6
Sugar termsSpumante: Brut nature to Demi-sec1Brut Nature to Dulce2
RoséGlera 85-90% with Pinot Noir 10-15%1Base wine with at least 25% red grapes2
Maximum yield18 t/ha112,000 kg/ha2
Volume667 million bottles in 2025, 82% exported3190,010,000 bottles sold in 20254
Label"Treviso" or "Trieste" may be added; Rosé must carry "Millesimato"1Ageing category; vintage required for Guarda Superior2

Tank or bottle

The method is the main difference. Prosecco spumante ferments a second time in an autoclave and is then bottled; there is no riddling or disgorgement of single bottles.1,7 Cava ferments in the bottle it is aged in and is disgorged, like Champagne.2 Only Cava may use the EU term "traditional method".8 See traditional vs tank method.

Grapes

Prosecco rests on one variety, Glera. Cava allows five white varieties, including Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada, and four black ones: Garnacha tinta, Monastrell, Pinot Noir and Trepat.1,2

Ageing

Cava sets a ladder of minimums on the lees: 9 months for Guarda, 18 for Reserva, 30 for Gran Reserva and 36 for Paraje Calificado.2 The Prosecco texts set a time only for the Rosé, at least 60 days in autoclave.1,9

Scale

Prosecco DOC is about three and a half times larger by bottles: 667 million in 2025, of which spumante made up 77.8%, against 190,010,000 bottles of Cava sold.3,4

Questions and answers

Is Cava the same as Prosecco?

No. Cava is Spanish and ferments in the bottle; Prosecco is Italian and its spumante ferments in an autoclave.2,1

Are Prosecco or Cava champagne?

Neither. Both are protected names of their own, and the name Champagne is reserved for wine from the Champagne area.10,2,11

Which sells more bottles?

Prosecco DOC: 667 million bottles in 2025 against 190,010,000 bottles of Cava.3,4

Can Cava be brut nature?

Yes. Brut Nature is one of the Cava terms, meaning 0-3 g/L with no added sugar, and it is permitted even for Gran Reserva and Paraje Calificado.12,2

See also

Prosecco DOCRegionsCavaRegionsTank methodMethodsTraditional methodMethodsGleraGrapesChampagne vs ProseccoComparisons

Sources

  1. AIS (reproduction of MASAF disciplinare). Disciplinare di produzione DOC Prosecco (consolidated text, last mod. DM 19.06.2023, GURI n.148 27.06.2023) (2023-06-19)
  2. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (MAPA). Pliego de condiciones DOP Cava
  3. Consorzio di Tutela della DOC Prosecco. Brochure IT 2025 (figures for 2025) (2026-06)
  4. Consejo Regulador DO Cava. Resumen datos económicos 2025 DO Cava (2026)
  5. Gazzetta Ufficiale (copy hosted by unionalimentari.com). Decreto 8 agosto 2019, disciplinare DOP Prosecco (GU n. 199, 26 August 2019), reproduction (2019-08-08)
  6. Consejo Regulador DO Cava. Pliego de condiciones DOP Cava
  7. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives). Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934, Annex II (sparkling wine oenological practices), as reproduced on legislation.gov.uk (2019-03-12)
  8. EUR-Lex. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (consolidated text), Articles 47, 48, 49, 53, 54 and Annex III Part A (2023-12-08)
  9. Consorzio di Tutela della DOC Prosecco. Prosecco DOC Rosé technical sheet (2024-02)
  10. European Commission eAmbrosia register. Prosecco PDO single document / technical file, PDO-IT-A0516-AM01 (2014-06-24)
  11. Cahier des charges de l'AOP « Champagne » - modifications approved by the INAO national committee on 11 September 2024 (national opposition procedure text) (2024-09-11)
  12. Consejo Regulador DO Cava. Categories and types

Facts checked on 2026-10-20