COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 10 January 2018

on the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of the single document referred to in Article 94(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and of the reference to the publication of the product specification for a name in the wine sector

(Cairanne (PDO))

(2018/C 8/03)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (1), and in particular Article 97(3) thereof,

Whereas:

France submitted an application for protection of the name ‘Cairanne’ in accordance with Section 2 of Chapter I of Title II of Part II of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

In accordance with Article 97(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the Commission examined that application and found that the conditions laid down in Articles 93 to 96, 97(1), 100, 101 and 102 of that Regulation had been met.

In order to allow for the submission of statements of objection in accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the single document referred to in Article 94(1)(d) of that Regulation and the reference to the publication of the product specification made during the national procedure for examining the application for protection of the name ‘Cairanne’ should therefore be published in the Official Journal of the European Union,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The single document established in accordance with Article 94(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and the reference to the publication of the product specification for the name ‘Cairanne’ (PDO) are contained in the Annex to this Decision.

In accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the publication of this Decision shall confer the right to object to the protection of the name specified in the first paragraph of this Article within two months from the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671.

ANNEX

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘CAIRANNE’

PDO-FR-02175

Date of submission of the application: 13.7.2016

1. Name(s) to be registered

‘Cairanne’

2. Type of geographical indication

PDO — Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

Red wines

The red wines, which are produced mainly from the Grenache noir variety associated with Syrah and Mourvèdre, are generous and have a high colour-intensity. They are characterised by their red fruit aromas and floral fragrance. Predominant on the palate are the sweet, smooth tannins, offering an elegant and complex finish.

The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12,5 %.

At the packing stage:

— the malic acid content is less than or equal to 0,4 g per litre,

— the fermentable sugar content is ≤ 3 g/l if the natural alcoholic strength by volume is ≤ 14 %,

— the fermentable sugar content is ≤ 4 g/l if the natural alcoholic strength by volume is > 14 %,

— the colour intensity (OD 420 nm + OD 520 nm + OD 620 nm) ≥ 5,

— total polyphenol index (OD 280 nm) ≥ 45.

The other criteria are in line with EU rules.

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) 14 Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) 16,33 Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) 100

White wines

The white wines are mostly produced from the Clairette, Grenache blanc and Roussanne varieties. They have a floral nose and are fruity and mineral on the palate.

The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12 %.

The other criteria are in line with EU rules.

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) 13,5 Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) 16,33 Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) 150

5. Winemaking practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Vineyard layout

Cultivation method

— Planting density

The spacing between the rows is 2,4 metres or less.

The area available for each plant must not exceed 2,5 m2. This area is obtained by multiplying the distances between rows and the space between plants in the same row.

The distance between plants in the same row must be between 0,80 m and 1,25 m.

— Pruning rules

Vines are pruned short (using the ‘Gobelet’ or ‘Cordon de Royat’ method), with a maximum of six spurs for each plant. Each spur has a maximum of two buds.

— Plastic mulching is prohibited.

— Chemical priming of the trunk and chemical weed control in open parcels are prohibited.

— Use of pre-emergence herbicides between rows and on headlands is prohibited.

— Application of industrial sludge and fresh droppings is prohibited.

— Any substantial alteration to the shape and contours of the landscape and the natural pedological sequence of the parcels intended for production of the controlled designation of origin (AOC) is prohibited.

— Irrigation may be authorised.

Oenological practices

Specific oenological practice

— Grapes are harvested manually. Wine producers require that the harvest be sorted in order to remove spoiled and unripe grapes. The grapes have a minimum sugar content of 207 g per litre of must for the red varieties (with the exception of the Grenache noir variety which has a minimum content of 216 g/l) and 196 g per litre of must for the white varieties.

— The red wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12,5 %.

— The white wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12 %.

— Use of continuous presses is prohibited.

— Any heat treatment of the wine harvest at a temperature above 40 °C is prohibited.

— Use of wood chips is prohibited.

b. Maximum yields

Red wines

40 hectolitres per hectare

White wines

42 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and aged on the territory of the municipality of Cairanne in the department of Vaucluse. The demarcated area is 2 042 ha in size.

7. Main wine grapes

Grenache N

Grenache blanc B

Clairette B

Mourvèdre N

Syrah N

Roussanne B

8. Description of the link(s)

Lying to the south of the hills separating the Aygues valley (to the west) and the Ouvèze valley (to the east), the geographical area spans only the municipality of Cairanne in the department of Vaucluse, situated in the south-east of France.

The general exposure of the production area is optimal, with a peak altitude of 335 m, gradually descending towards a large plain. The contours of the landscape partly protect the vines from the Mistral, a strong northerly/north-westerly wind which blows for approximately 165 days per year. The climate is Mediterranean, characterised by an average annual temperature of between 14 °C and 14,5 °C and average annual rainfall of 720 mm, occurring mostly in the spring and autumn. These climate conditions benefit the vine varieties grown in the area.

Growing decisions have been taken in accordance with the characteristics of the soil, taking into account the topography. As a result, only the areas, parcels or sections of parcel best suited to the ripening of the grapes and to expressing Cairanne are used. In these conditions plants and their production potential need to be extremely well managed. Consequently, wines with the ‘Cairanne’ designation of origin are required to have a lower yield per hectare and a higher minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume than wines with the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ designation of origin. There is a greater presence of the Grenache variety (minimum of 50 % compared to a minimum of 40 % for the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ designation of origin). The ‘Cairanne’ protected designation of origin also has its distinctive manual harvesting and sorting processes so as to best preserve the organoleptic potential of the grapes. This has helped to ensure that the wines produced have the minimum required analytical characteristics and the organoleptic characteristics in relation to generosity and sweetness described below.

The municipality of Cairanne is situated in the geographical area covered by the ‘Côtes du Rhône’ controlled designation of origin, as set out in the Decree of 19 November 1937.

The originality of the wines produced in Cairanne has been recognised since 1953 as a complementary geographical designation of the ‘Côtes du Rhône’ controlled designation of origin, and since 1999 as a complementary geographical designation of the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ controlled designation of origin. Cairanne wines are still, dry red and white wines.

The red wines produced mainly from the Grenache noir variety associated with Syrah and Mourvèdre (varieties well suited to sunny, dry conditions) are generous, with a high colour-intensity. They are characterised by their red fruit aromas and floral fragrance. Predominant on the palate are the sweet, smooth tannins, offering an elegant and complex finish.

The white wines are mostly produced from the Clairette, Grenache blanc and Roussanne varieties. They have a floral nose and are fruity and mineral on the palate, which is reinforced by the dominance of limestone in the soil.

In 2013, Cairanne vineyards accounted for more than 1 000 ha. 80 % of the wine was marketed in bottles.

The combination of the Mediterranean climate, characterised by considerable sunshine, and the predominantly south-facing parcels optimises the ripening of the grapes and their sugar concentration, strengthening the aromatic complexity and roundness of the wines.

Furthermore, the dry climate reinforced by the effects of the Mistral makes for a healthy harvest and a build-up of polyphenols in the grapes. Under these conditions, the requirement for the harvest to be sorted, whereby only the best grapes are kept, ensures that musts are rich in sugar and the aromatic potential of the grapes is preserved.

The bringing together of a shared history, know-how and ambition within a unique environment lying at the crossroads between Aygues and Ouvèze has forged the identity of the wines. The links which bring these aspects together tell an epic tale: the tale of a wine-growing village and its people through the centuries. The wine producers of Cairanne at one point observed: ‘Cairanne is the village and Cairanne is the wine, each of them has been mistaken for the other for as long as can be remembered.’

9. Further essential conditions

Area in immediate proximity

Legal framework

National legislation

Type of further condition

Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area

Description of the condition

The area in immediate proximity, defined by derogation for the making, development and ageing of the wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

— Department of Drôme: Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, Rochegude, Tulette.

— Department of Vaucluse: Buisson, Camaret-sur-Aigues, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Courthézon, Jonquières, Gigondas, Lagarde-Paréol, Mornas, Orange, Rasteau, Roaix, Sablet, Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, Saint-Roman-de-Malegarde, Séguret, Sérignan-du-Comtat, Travaillan, Uchaux, Vacqueyras, Vaison-la-Romaine, Villedieu, Violès, Visan.

Broader geographical unit

Legal framework

National legislation

Type of further condition

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition

The labels of wines with the controlled designation of origin may specify the larger geographical unit ‘Cru des Côtes du Rhône’.

Smaller geographical units

Legal framework

National legislation

Type of further condition

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition

Wines with the controlled designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that:

— it is a registered location,

— it appears on the harvest declaration.

Reference to publication of the specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-25a5999e-1720-472a-bb4b-65e29f4f2adc