Official Journal of the European Union

Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to a 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 520/13)

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

‘Saint-Pourçain’

PDO-FR-A0586-AM03

Date of communication: 26 October 2021

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Official Geographic Code

The municipalities of the geographical area have been updated in accordance with the official geographic code.

The boundaries of the area remain unchanged.

Point 6 of the single document has been amended.

2. Grape variety

The variety Sacy B has been moved from the category of supplementary variety to the category of main variety. This change is consistent with the permitted increase in the percentage of this variety blended in the wines. Sacy B is a variety local to the area of the designation. The increase will strengthen the local identity of the wines.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

3. Canopy height

In the specification, it has been clarified that the height of the trellised canopy is measured after trimming or ‘tucking in’.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

4. Irrigation

The option of irrigating the vineyard parcels has been added. The maximum crop load per parcel has been reduced for irrigated parcels.

This amendment does not require any changes to the single document.

5. Agri-environmental provision

The following agri-environmental provisions have been added to the specification.

Permanent grass cover is required along parcel boundaries (headlands and areas between parcels not planted or cultivated). This requirement does not apply to headlands being restored, in particular following erosion or exceptional climatic events.

This amendment is intended to take better account of the environment and of general demands for less use of plant protection products.

This amendment does not require any changes to the single document.

6. Oenological practices

The ban on using heat treatment on the harvest has been abolished.

The aim is to allow fine tannins to be extracted more effectively and thereby avoid wines being too light in the years with less than ideal harvesting conditions.

Point 5.1 of the single document has been amended accordingly.

7. Date for circulation between authorised warehouses

Point IX(4)(b) of Chapter I on the date on which wines may enter into circulation between authorised warehouses has been deleted.

This amendment does not require any changes to the single document.

8. Transitional measures

The expired transitional measures have been deleted from the specification.

This amendment does not require any changes to the single document.

9. Reporting requirements

The reporting requirements have been reviewed. A production waiver declaration and a declaration prior to the sale of wine in bulk have been added. The packaging declaration has been revised. The declarations concerning renewing the headlands and bud pruning have been withdrawn.

This amendment does not require any changes to the single document.

10. Main points to be checked

Chapter 3 has been updated to harmonise the wording of the main points to be checked in specifications for products from the Val de Loire area.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

11. Reference to the inspection body

The reference to the inspection body has been reworded to align it with the wording of other product specifications. It is a purely formal amendment.

This amendment does not require any changes to the single document.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name(s)

Saint-Pourçain

2. Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

The wines are still and dry, white, red and rosé.

Their minimum natural alcoholic strength is 10,5 %.

When packaged, their fermentable sugar content (glucose and fructose) is not more than 4 grams per litre for the white and rosé wines, and not more 2 grams per litre for the red wines.

When placed on the market, the red wines have a malic acid content of no more than 0,3 grams per litre.

The red wines are fruity with notes of cherry and blackcurrant, and spices such as pepper and coriander. They have a smooth and delicate tannic structure. The rosé wines are fruity and salmon-pink in colour. The white wines are fresh and lively with aromas of white-fleshed fruits, exotic fruits and citrus.

GENERAL ANALYTICAL CHARACTERISTICS

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) Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

5. Wine-making practices

5.1. Specific oenological practices

1. Oenological practices

Specific oenological practice

After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume must not exceed 12,5 %.

In addition to the above provision, the oenological practices followed must meet the requirements laid down at EU level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.

2. Restrictions

Wine-making restriction

The use of oenological charcoal in making the rosé wines is prohibited, whether alone or mixed in preparations.

The use of wood chips is not permitted.

3. Growing methods

Cultivation method

The minimum planting density of the vines is 4 000 plants per hectare, with a maximum distance of 2,5 metres between rows.

The spacing between plants in the same row is between 0,90 and 1,20 metres.

The vines are pruned using the following techniques:

— Gamay N and Pinot Noir N grapes: mixed pruning (single or double Guyot, cordon de Royat) with a maximum of 12 buds per plant;

— Chardonnay B, Sacy B and Sauvignon B grapes: mixed pruning (single or double Guyot, cordon de Royat) with a maximum of 14 buds per plant.

Trellising is compulsory. Canopy height must comply with the specification.

5.2. Maximum yields

1. 66 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made and matured in the following municipalities in the department of Allier: Besson, Bransat, Bresnay, Cesset, Chantelle, Chareil-Cintrat, Châtel-de-Neuvre, Chemilly, Contigny, Deneuille-lès-Chantelle, Fleuriel, Fourilles, Louchy-Montfand, Meillard, Monetay-sur-Allier, Montord, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, Saulcet and Verneuil-en-Bourbonnais (list based on the official geographic code of 2020).

7. Main wine grape variety(-ies)

Chardonnay B

Gamay N

Pinot Noir N

Sacy B

8. Description of the link(s)

The brown soils, shallow soils and sandy-clay of the slopes and gravelly terraces of the Allier and Sioule rivers are characterised by good thermal properties and modest water reserves. The wine producers’ expertise, in vine-tending and the control of yields, give clear expression to the strong link between these soils and the quality of the wines:

— the red wines are fruity with spice notes, and a smooth and delicate tannic structure;

— the rosé wines are fruity and salmon-pink in colour;

— the white wines are fresh and lively with dominant fruit aromas.

The river connection provided by the Allier meant that wines could be sent for sale to Paris where, in 1360, a royal decree categorised them as wines of great price.

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

Smaller geographical unit

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

Labels may include the name of a smaller geographical unit, provided that:

a) it appears in the land registry;

b) it appears on the harvest declaration.

Additional name

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

The additional designation ‘Val de Loire’ may follow the designation of origin. The size of the letters must not be larger, either in height or width, than two-thirds of the size of the letters forming the name of the protected designation of origin.

Link to the product specification

http://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-3cec4b5b-5775-46ab-987f-9b17a1a53d41

(1) OJ L 9, 11.2019, p. 2.