Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to the product specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33

(2021/C 178/03)

This communication is published in accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1).

COMMUNICATION OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT TO THE SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘BEAUMES DE VENISE’

PDO-FR-A0724-AM02

Date of communication: 9.3.2021

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Area in immediate proximity

In Chapter I, point IV, sub-point 3° ‘Area in immediate proximity’ of the product specification, the municipality of Violès has been added to the list of Vaucluse municipalities comprising the area in immediate proximity, in order to take winemaking practices into account. This municipality is adjacent to the area in immediate proximity and does not call into question the basis of the link with the geographical area.

This amendment has been included in the ‘Further conditions’ section of the single document.

2. Vine varieties

— In Chapter I, point V, sub-point 1° ‘Vine varieties’ of the product specification, the Mourvèdre variety has been moved from the list of secondary varieties to the list of additional varieties. This amendment has been included in the single document by moving the Mourvèdre variety from the list of secondary varieties to the list of main varieties.

— In Chapter I, point V, sub-point 2° ‘Rules on the proportion of varieties to be planted’ of the product specification, an amendment has been made establishing that Syrah and Mourvèdre are to represent at least 25 % of a holding’s vine varieties at vineyard level. These rules on the proportion of varieties to be planted do not apply to small holdings with an area of less than 1,5 hectares, or to holdings forced to re-structure (succession, termination of a tenancy agreement, winding-up of a company, grubbing up, expropriation, purchase) whereby the producer has five years to reach compliance. These rules on the proportion of varieties do not affect the single document.

— In Chapter I, point XI ‘Transitional measures’ of the product specification, the transitional measure regarding the rules on the proportion of varieties to be planted up to the 2015 harvest has been deleted as it is now obsolete. This amendment does not affect the Single Document.

3. Training systems

— In Chapter I, point VI, sub-point 1° ‘Training systems’ of the product specification, an amendment has been made in order to clarify the minimum vine planting density, pruning rules and prohibited chemical treatments and weed control.

The minimum vine planting density is 4 000 plants per hectare. Moreover, the maximum distance between rows has been increased from 2,20 m to 2,50 m and the minimum area available for each plant has been increased from 2,20 m2 to 2,50 m2.

These amendments have been included in the single document, under ‘Wine-making practices’.

With regard to pruning rules, the period for establishing the cordon de Royat has been increased from 2 to 5 years. The maximum number of buds seemed too high and has been changed from a maximum of 12 to a maximum of 8. It has been clarified that the regeneration of a vineyard parcel pruned using the cordon de Royat method may not account for more than 10 % of existing plants per year. These changes are in line with practice in the field.

These amendments have been included in the single document, under ‘Wine-making practices’.

Clarification is provided on the chemical treatments and weed control methods which are prohibited from use in vineyards. These details have been added to the single document, under ‘Wine-making practices’.

— Specific chemical treatments against botrytis are prohibited.

— Full chemical weed control on parcels is prohibited.

— Chemical weed control between rows is prohibited.

— Chemical weed control of headlands is prohibited.

— Spontaneous vegetation cover on headlands is maintained.

— Plastic mulching is prohibited.

4. Blends of grape varieties in the wines

— In Chapter I, point IX ‘Processing, winemaking, winegrowing, market preparation’ of the product specification, information has been added to clarify the rules on blending grape varieties in the wines and the colour intensity limit applicable to wines.

The wines are made from a blend of grapes or wines which mostly comprise the main and additional varieties and must include the Grenache N grape variety. The main and additional varieties must account for at least 60 % of the blend.

The colour intensity limit has been lowered and is greater than or equal to 5 instead of 6.

These details have been added to the single document under ‘Description of the wine(s)’.

— In Chapter I, point IX ‘Processing, winemaking, winegrowing, market preparation’ of the product specification, amendments have been made to clarify the following:

All operators have a wine-making capacity at least that of the volume of wine produced during the previous harvest where the surface area is the same.

The bottling line and packaging equipment must undergo a cleaning procedure.

Agglomerated corks are prohibited.

Operators must provide proof of appropriate storage areas for market-ready products.

These details regarding storage and packaging do not affect the single document.

5. Producer declaration requirements

Chapter II of the product specification clarifies the declaration requirements applicable to producers so as to comply with the methods for inspecting claims, transactions and market preparation. These details do not affect the single document.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name(s)

Beaumes de Venise

2. Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

The wines are still red wines, produced at a low yield and from a blend of several varieties. It is essential for Grenache N, Syrah N and Mourvèdre to be used and to be the predominant varieties. The Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre varieties must account for at least 60 % of the blend.

These intense wines are characterised by their elegant, ample and full-bodied structure, the good balance between acidity, alcohol and silky tannins, and by their fruity, spicy aromas, becoming enriched with animal essences after ageing.

Malic acid content < or = 0,4 g/l; minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume >12,5 % vol.; modified colour intensity greater than or equal to 6; total polyphenols index greater than or equal to 45.

Fermentable sugar content < or = 3 g/l if natural alcoholic strength by volume < or = 14 %, or 4 g/l if natural alcoholic strength by volume > 14 % vol.

General analytical characteristics Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) Minimum total acidity: in milliequivalents per litre Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) 16,33 Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

5. Wine-making practices

5.1. Specific oenological practices

Density

Cultivation method

— The minimum vine planting density is 4 000 plants per hectare.

— The distance between rows must not exceed 2,50 m.

— The area available for each plant is up to 2,50 m2. This surface area is obtained by multiplying the spacing between the rows by the spacing between the plants.

— The spacing between plants in the same row is between 0,90 m and 1,10 m other than for vines trained using a unilateral cordon for which the spacing between plants in the same row is between 0,80 m and 1,10 m.

Pruning

Cultivation method

The vines are pruned short (using the gobelet or cordon de Royat method), with a maximum of 12 buds per plant. Each spur has a maximum of two buds.

— The period for establishing the cordon de Royat is limited to 5 years. During this period, vines may be pruned in single or double Guyot with a maximum of 8 buds per plant after debudding.

— The regeneration of a vineyard parcel pruned using the cordon de Royat method may not account for more than 10 % of existing plants per year.

Harvesting and transportation

Cultivation method

Grapes are harvested manually.

— Harvests must be sorted on the parcel or on a sorting table.

— The content of the tipper trailers which transport the harvest may not exceed 3 000 kg.

Irrigation

Cultivation method

— Irrigation may be authorised.

Oenological practices and physical treatments

Specific oenological practice

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

The wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume after enrichment must not exceed 14,5 %.

Weed control

Cultivation method

To preserve the characteristics of the physical and biological environment which is a fundamental part of the local area:

— Specific chemical treatments against botrytis are prohibited.

— Full chemical weed control on parcels is prohibited.

— Chemical weed control between rows is prohibited.

— Chemical weed control of headlands is prohibited.

— Spontaneous vegetation cover on headlands is maintained.

— Plastic mulching is prohibited.

5.2. Maximum yields

Red wine

42 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and aged in the territory of the following municipalities in the department of Vaucluse: Beaumes-de-Venise, Lafare, La Roque-Alric and Suzette.

7. Main wine grape variety(-ies)

Grenache N

Mourvèdre N - Monastrell

Syrah N - Shiraz

8. Description of the link(s)

The wine-growing area is south-facing and ensconced in the terrain of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain chain. The Mediterranean climate is characterised by very dry summers with abundant sunshine. This climate favours the ripening of the grapes. The dry, red wines are made from a blend of several grape varieties, including Grenache N and Syrah N. These intense wines have a sensory profile characterised by an elegant, ample and full-bodied structure, a good balance between acidity, alcohol and silky tannins, and by fruity, spicy aromas, becoming enriched with animal essences after ageing.

9. Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

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 of the Department of Vaucluse: Aubignan, Courthézon, Gigondas, Sarrians, Vacqueyras and Violès.

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’.

The labels of wines with the controlled designation of origin may specify the larger geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ in accordance with the conditions specified in the agreement signed between the various protection and management bodies concerned.

Link to the product specification

http://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-75070b8a-ae04-4f4e-9d15-ee0dcb121b20

(1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.