INFORMATION NOTICE — PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Terms from Mercosur to be protected as traditional terms for wine in the European Union

(2018/C 322/11)

Within the ongoing negotiations with Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) for an Association Agreement (hereafter ‘the Agreement’) including an Annex on trade in wine and spirits, the Mercosur authorities have requested the protection of twelve terms as traditional terms for wines under the Agreement. The European Commission is currently considering whether these terms shall be protected as traditional terms under the future Agreement.

The Commission invites any Member State or third country or any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest, resident or established in a Member State or in a third country, to submit oppositions to such protection by lodging a duly substantiated statement.

Statements of opposition must reach the Commission within one month of the date of this publication. Statements of opposition shall be examined only if they are received within the time-limit set out above. Statements of opposition should be sent to the following e-mail address: AGRI-A3@ec.europa.eu

The possible protection of these terms as traditional terms in the European Union is subject to the successful conclusion of these negotiations and subsequent legal act.

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘CRIANZA’

Language of the application: Spanish

Applicant: Argentina

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Crianza

Language of the traditional term: Spanish

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition The expressions: Barrel, Crianza en Roble, Criado en Barrica de Roble or similar, may only be used when, to transmit to the wine products characteristics of the wood, oak barrels have been effectively used.

(Art.6 de la Resolución No 23/2008)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘DULCE NATURAL’

Language of the application: Spanish

Applicant: Argentina

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Dulce natural

Language of the traditional term: Spanish

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition Vino dulce natural: The product obtained by the partial fermentation of fresh and ripe grapes or fresh grape must from Vitis Vinifera L., whose incomplete fermentation is due to the use of physical processes at the time of its elaboration, whose alcoholic content is not less than five per cent volume in volume (5 % v/v) and its sugar content, exclusively remnant of fermentation, is not less than twenty grams per litre (20 g/l) of reducing sugars. This wine may be generic or varietal.

Vino espumante dulce natural: product whose carbon dioxide comes from fermentation in a closed container, fine grape must or fine grape must partially fermented and preserved by physical means; with a final pressure not lower than four atmospheres (4 atm.) to twenty degrees (20 °C) of temperature; with an alcoholic content not inferior to seven per cent volume on volume (7 % v/v) and a minimum remnant of natural sugar of sixty grams per litre (60 g/l). It cannot be added with tirage liquor and/or expedition.

(Art. 1 y 2 de la Resolución 17/2012 y Anexo I Punto I Punto 2.2 de la Resolución No 01/2003).

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘FINO’

Language of the application: Spanish

Applicant: Argentina

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Fino

Language of the traditional term: Spanish

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition It is the wine with an alcoholic content of 8,6 % to 14,0 % in volume coming exclusively from Vitis vinífera varieties except Criolla Grande and Cereza, elaborated by appropriate technological processes that ensure the optimization of its sensory characteristics.

(Capítulo 2 Art. 2.2.1.3 Reglamento GMC No 45/1996 Reglamento Vitivinícola del Mercosur)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘VINO GENEROSO’

Language of the application: Spanish

Applicant: Argentina

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Vino Generoso

Language of the traditional term: Spanish

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition Special wines (liqueur and/or fortified):

1.Category A: Dry or sweet wine that, without additions, has an alcoholic strength of not less than twelve and a half per cent (12,5 %) in volume and/or an acquired alcoholic content and potentially not less than of fifteen degrees (15° GL.);2.Category B: Dry or sweet wine whose alcohol content is not less than fifteen per cent by volume (15 %) and comes, in part, from the addition of wine alcohol at any time during its preparation;3.Category C: It is the wine obtained by adding any of the following products at any time during the indistinct production process, jointly or separately: concentrated must, mistela, arrope, grape caramel or wine alcohol with a total alcoholic strength of not less than to fifteen degrees (15° GL.)

(Art. 17 inc. B de la Ley 14.878 Ley General de Vinos)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘FINO’

Language of the application: Spanish

Applicant: Uruguay

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Fino

Language of the traditional term: Spanish

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition It is the wine with an alcoholic content of 8,6 % to 14,0 % by volume, exclusively from Vitis vinífera except Criolla Grande and Cereza varieties, elaborated through appropriate technological processes that ensure the optimization of its sensory characteristics.

(Capítulo 2 Art. 2.2.1.3 Reglamento GMC No 45/1996 Reglamento Vitivinícola del Mercosur)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘LEVE’

Language of the application: Spanish

Applicant: Uruguay

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Leve

Language of the traditional term: Spanish

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition It is the wine with alcoholic content of 7,0 % to 8,5 % in volume, obtained exclusively by the fermentation of the natural sugars of the grape, produced during the harvest in the producing region.

(Res GMC 45/96, Decreto 325/97, Decreto 190/2010)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘RESERVA’

Language of the application: Spanish

Applicant: Uruguay

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Reserva.

Language of the traditional term: Spanish

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition They are those produced from strains belonging to Vitis vinifera, of a recognised wine grape quality, which, following an ageing process under appropriate conditions, have reached a good level of refinement with regard to all of their sensory qualities.

(Decreto No315/994)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘VIEJO’

Language of the application: Spanish

Applicant: Uruguay

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Viejo

Language of the traditional term: Spanish

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition The wines sold with the names ‘old’ must have at least 2 years of elaboration.

(Decreto 6/8/29)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘FINO’

Language of the application: Portuguese

Applicant: Brazil

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Fino

Language of the traditional term: Portuguese

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition Vinho fino is wine with an alcoholic content of 8,6 % (eight and six tenths per cent) to 14 % (fourteen per cent) by volume, prepared by appropriate technological processes that ensure the optimization of its sensorial characteristics and exclusively of varieties Vitis vinifera of the group Nobles, as defined in regulation.

(item 2.2.1.3. do Regulamento Vitivinícola do Mercosul, Lei Federal n. 7.678/1988, § 1, Art. 9)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘LEVE’

Language of the application: Portuguese

Applicant: Brazil

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Leve

Language of the traditional term: Portuguese

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition Art. 10. Vinho leve is wine with an alcohol content of 7 % (seven per cent) to 8,5 % (eight and five tenths per cent) by volume, obtained exclusively from the fermentation of the natural sugars of the grape, produced during the harvest in the production areas, its elaboration being prohibited from table wine.

(item 2.2.1.2. do Regulamento Vitivinícola do Mercosul, Lei Federal n. 7.678/1988, Art. 10)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘RESERVA’

Language of the application: Portuguese

Applicant: Brazil

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Reserva

Language of the traditional term: Portuguese

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition

I — in the case of red wine of a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 11 %, to observe an ageing period of twelve months minimum, provided that containers of appropriate wood are used.

II — in the case of white or ‘rosé’ wine of a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 11 %, to observe an ageing period of six months minimum, provided that containers of appropriate wood are used.

(Portaria MAPA n. 43/2016, Art. 30)

APPLICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL TERM

‘GRAN RESERVA’

Language of the application: Portuguese

Applicant: Brazil

Traditional term for which the protection is requested: Gran Reserva

Language of the traditional term: Portuguese

Grapevine products categories Wine

Definition

I — in the case of red wine of a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 11 %, to observe an ageing period of 18 months minimum, the use of containers of suitable wood of a maximum capacity of six hundred litres being obligatory for a minimum period of six months and,

II — in the case of white or ‘rosé’ wine of a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 11 %, to observe an ageing period of 12 months minimum, the use of containers of suitable wood of a maximum capacity of six hundred litres being obligatory for a minimum period of three months.

(Portaria MAPA n. 43/2016, Art. 30)