Freixenet invests in its position as the UK’s leading Cava
The UK’s top-selling Cava remains focused on quality, and the black and gold design of Freixenet Cordon Negro Cava has been given a 21st century refresh.
For many in the UK, a matt black bottle with gold text and the cursive sweep of an ‘X’ simply is Cava. According to data from Circana (in the 52 weeks to 13 April 2025), Freixenet is the UK’s best-selling Cava brand. With 50 years of legacy and expertise behind it, the bottle has been a wine rack mainstay for multiple generations of British drinkers.
Yet adaptability is just as important as tradition. For its 50th anniversary last year, the winery refreshed its branding for both Cordon Negro Cava and Cordon Rosé Cava. The new look launched on 75cl bottles in the autumn, with 20cl mini-bottles following suit later this year.
The matt black bottle of Cordon Negro remains, but the new design aims for a more premium image, with clean lines and a more distinctive layout, ensuring the longevity, growth, and relevance of both the brand and Cava for years to come. The rosé mirrors the former’s design but in a palette of soft pinks. Both wines now display Freixenet’s similarly updated logo, paying tribute to its historic winery in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, borrowing the façade’s font.
The modern look aligns with the modern style of the Cavas. Using the three indigenous Cava varieties of Penedès – Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada – Cordon Negro is a light expression with flavours of green apple, pear and citrus, as well subtle notes of ginger on the finish. The winery recommends serving it as a celebratory sparkler or pairing with eggs Benedict, seafood or sushi.
Cordon Rosé, meanwhile, uses Grenache and Trepat for berry fruit aromas, with notes of bay leaf and flowers. Freixenet recommends pairing it with tapas, soft cheeses or fruity desserts.
Finding new fans
The rebrand is positioned to capture a younger generation of drinkers, who value the focuses on quality winemaking and ‘everyday luxury’ that have always led the brand. However, the refresh is also providing opportunities to align further with the next generation of drinkers.
The new look for the mini-bottles has been particularly important, as this category is providing Freixenet with great results. As more drinkers moderate their consumption, small formats are the perfect way to enjoy a treat without opening a full bottle. They also offer transportability for al fresco drinking, and are perfect as gifts. Their potential is illustrated in sales growth for 20cl bottles: up 20.5% over the last year for Cordon Negro and 45.2% for Cordon Rosé (data from Circana).
The refresh also afforded Freixenet an opportunity to make the bottles more sustainable. The mini-bottles now use less plastic and weigh less, lowering their emissions in transportation. The larger format, meanwhile, is using more sustainable materials, dispensing with features such as lamination on the front label, which make it difficult to recycle bottles. In addition to the stylish update, therefore, Freixenet can highlight its sustainable credentials – a key consideration as it builds its presence for the next 50 years.
Information from The Drinks Business
