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

(2020/C 57/08)

This notice is publishedin accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1).

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

‘Saumur-Champigny’

PDO-FR-A0147-AM02

Date of communication: 18 November 2019

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Geographical name

‘Supplementary geographical name’ has been shortened to ‘geographical name’ in points II and XII(2)(b) of Chapter I.

A number of product specifications for Loire Valley wines allow what is conventionally known as the eponymous geographical name – ‘Val de Loire’ – to be used to refer to the greater region. The use of this term on wine labels is subject to specific rules laid down in those product specifications. As the term ‘supplementary geographical name’ is also used in some cases to denote smaller geographical units with more restrictive production conditions, the word ‘supplementary’ has been removed in order to prevent any confusion.

Point 9 of the single document, ‘Further conditions’, has been amended accordingly.

2. Geographical area

Under point IV(1) of Chapter I, the sentence ‘The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and aged in the following municipalities:’ is replaced by the following sentence: ‘All stages of production must take place in the geographical area, which spans the territories of the following municipalities, based on the 2018 Official Geographical Code:’ The following sentence has also been added: ‘Maps of the geographical area can be viewed on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality.’

The wording proposed under ‘Geographical area’ is aimed at being more reader‐friendly and removes any ambiguity concerning the description of the phases (wine-making, developing, ageing, etc.).

Editorial amendment: the list of administrative entities takes into account any merger or other changes in administrative boundaries that have occurred since the approval of the specification. For greater legal certainty, the list follows the current version of the Official Geographical Code, updated yearly by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). The boundaries of the geographical area remain exactly the same.

Lastly, to keep the public better informed, reference is made to the availability of maps of the geographical area on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO).

Point 6 of the single document, ‘Geographical area’, has been amended accordingly.

3. Demarcated parcel area

In point IV(2) of Chapter 1 of the product specification, the words ‘and 19 January 2017’ have been added after ‘5 September 2007’.

The purpose of this amendment is to add the date on which the competent national authority approved a modification of the demarcated parcel area within the geographical area of production. Parcels are demarcated by identifying the parcels within the geographical area of production that are suited to production of the product covered by the protected designation of origin in question.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

4. Area in immediate proximity

In point IV(3) of Chapter 1, the list of municipalities has been replaced as follows:

— Department of Deux-Sèvres: Saint-Martin-de-Mâcon, Tourtenay;

— Department of Indre-et-Loire: Chinon;

— Department of Maine-et-Loire: Artannes-sur-Thouet, Brézé, Brossay, Cizay-la-Madeleine, Le Coudray-Macouard, Courchamps, Distré, Doué-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Concourson-sur-Layon, Doué-la-Fontaine, Forges, Meigné and Les Verchers-sur-Layon), Épieds, Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, Montreuil-Bellay, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Rou-Marson, Saint-Just-sur-Dive, Saumur, Terranjou (former territory of the delegated municipality of Chavagnes), Les Ulmes, Vaudelnay;

— Department of Vienne: Berrie, Curçay-sur-Dive, Glénouze, Pouançay, Ranton, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saix, Ternay, Les Trois-Moutiers.

This change reflects the various mergers of municipalities that have taken place since the previous version of the product specification was published. The boundaries of the area in immediate proximity remain exactly the same.

Point 9 of the single document, ‘Further conditions’, has been amended accordingly.

5. Agri-environment rule

The following sentences have been added to point VI(2) of Chapter 1 after ‘naturally occurring plant growth is managed’: ‘Otherwise, operators must provide justification for using bio-control products approved by the wine-growing authorities. Where bio-control herbicides are used on a land parcel, the use of other herbicides is not permitted.’

This amendment reflects current developments in practice among operators in favour of conservation agriculture throughout the vineyards of Anjou. It takes into account growing environmental concern as part of technical procedures. By encouraging plant cover, the use of mechanical methods for weeding, or the use of bio-control products, the amendment aims to reduce the use of chemical herbicides. This reduction in herbicides should increase the protection of wine-growing soils and guard their natural properties, such as fertility, bio-diversity and self-cleaning. In this way, it will contribute to the quality and authenticity of the wines and strengthen the sense of terroir.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

6. Harvest proclamation

In point VII(1) of Chapter 1, the following sentence has been deleted: ‘The start date of the harvests is set in accordance with Article D. 645-6 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.’

It is no longer necessary to set a start date for harvests, since operators now have a wide selection of tools at their disposal that allow them to gauge the ripeness of the grapes as accurately as possible. All operators have access to various machines and equipment, both individually and collectively, that enable them to determine accurately the ideal start date for harvesting each parcel, depending on the production objectives.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

7. Sugar content

In point IX(1)(c) of Chapter 1, the words ‘of the wines, after fermentation’ have been added after the words ‘glucose + fructose’.

This amendment has been made to avoid any confusion with the sugar content before fermentation, as it is important to specify that the content must be verified after fermentation.

Point 4 of the single document, ‘Description of the wine(s)’, has been amended accordingly.

8. Wood chips

In point IX(1)(d) of Chapter 1 of the product specification, the words ‘except during wine-making’ have been added after the words ‘The use of wood chips is forbidden’.

The purpose of this amendment is to lift the ban on the inclusion of oak wood chips when making red wines bearing this designation of origin. In doing so, producers wish to reinforce the distinctiveness of wines of this designation of origin as fruity, smooth wines that are ready to be drunk from an early age. Tannins from wood are used during the wine-making process, which enhances the fruitiness and develops the structure of the wines by giving them roundness and a good length on the palate, while keeping the colour stable in the case of aged wines.

Point 5 of the single document, ‘Specific oenological practices’, has been amended accordingly.

9. Fermenting room capacity

In point IX(1)(e) of Chapter 1, the sentence: ‘All operators have a fermenting room capacity for producing wine equal to at least 1.4 times the holding’s average yield over the past five years.’ has been replaced by the sentence: ‘All operators have a fermenting room capacity for producing wine equal to at least 1.4 times the average volume of wine produced over the past five years.’

The specification made reference not to volume capacity (expressed in hectolitres or cubic metres) but to yield, which is the harvest volume divided by the production area (expressed for example in hectolitres per hectare). The proposed amendment rectifies this inconsistency regarding measurements without making any substantial change: the minimum is still set at 1.4 times the average volume of wine produced by a holding over the previous years.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

10. Circulation of wines

Point IX(4)(b) of Chapter 1, concerning the date of entry into circulation of the wines between authorised warehouses, has been deleted.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

11. Link with the geographical area

The word ‘Agricultural’ has been added to ‘Angers Agricultural and Industrial Company’ (Société Agricole et Industrielle d’Angers) because the title of this journal was incomplete. The proposed correction rectifies this omission.

Point 8 of the single document, ‘Description of the link(s)’, has been amended accordingly.

12. Transitional measure

The transitional measure in point XI(1) of the specification has been deleted, as it expired in 2017.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

13. Labelling rules

A new point 1 has been added:

‘1 General provisions Wines bearing the controlled designation of origin “Saumur-Champigny” under the terms of this product specification and presented under that designation cannot be declared after harvest, offered to the public, dispatched, marketed or sold unless the controlled designation of origin appears in the harvest declaration, in advertisements, catalogues, and on any labels, invoices or receipts.’

This rule is present in all product specifications and had been omitted by mistake.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

14. Record-keeping

Under point II(3) of Chapter 2, the word ‘potential’ is replaced by the word ‘natural’.

In order to ensure consistency in the drafting method across all specifications from the Anjou/Saumur area, the words ‘natural alcoholic strength by volume’ replace the words ‘potential strength’ or ‘degree’. These amendments improve the readability of the specifications. The harmonisation of the provisions on record-keeping is intended to make it easier to draw up inspection plans and check records.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

15. Main points to be checked

Chapter 3 has been updated to harmonise the drafting of the main points to be checked in specifications from the Anjou/Saumur area.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name of the product

Saumur-Champigny

2. Geographical indication type

PDO - Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine product

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

The wines are still red wines. They have:

— a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 10,5 %;

— a maximum fermentable sugar content after fermentation of 3 grams per litre.

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

Malolactic fermentation must be completed. Wines ready to be marketed in bulk or at the packaging stage have a malic acid content that does not exceed 0,4 grams per litre.

The wines are generally a dark-ruby colour, often heralding aromas of red fruits or violet. Fresh, round and smooth, they are equally capable of revealing their charm while still young or after years of preservation.

The other criteria are in line with the applicable rules.

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

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Specific oenological practices

Planting density - Spacing

Growing method

Minimum planting density is 4 000 vines per hectare. Rows of vines must not be spaced more than 2,5 m apart. The vine trunks making up a row must be spaced at least 1 m apart.

The controlled designation of origin may be used for vineyard parcels with a density of fewer than 4 000 – but at least 3 300 – vines per hectare, subject to compliance with certain vine-training and foliage height rules laid down in the designation’s product specification. On such parcels, the rows of vines must not be spaced more than 3 m apart, and the vine trunks making up a row must be spaced at least 1 m apart.

Pruning rules

Growing method

The vines are pruned by 30 April at the latest; using the mixed pruning method, according to the following rules:

The Pineau d’Aunis N variety: either with a maximum of 10 buds per plant and a maximum of 6 buds on the cane, or with a maximum of 12 buds per plant and a maximum of 4 buds on the cane.

The Cabernet franc N and Cabernet sauvignon N varieties: either with a maximum of 12 buds per plant and a maximum of 8 buds on the cane, or with a maximum of 14 buds per plant and a maximum of 5 buds on the cane.

Enrichment

Specific oenological practice

Reductive methods of enrichment are permitted, with the maximum partial concentration rate set at 10% in relation to the volumes used.

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

Use of wood chips

Specific oenological practice

The use of wood chips is forbidden, except during the wine-making process.

b. Maximum yields

69 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

All stages of production must take place in the geographical area, which spans the territories of the following municipalities of the Maine-et-Loire department, based on the 2018 Official Geographical Code: Chacé, Montsoreau, Parnay, Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg, Saumur, Souzay-Champigny, Turquant, Varrains.

Maps of the geographical area can be viewed on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality.

7. Main grape variety

Cabernet franc N

8. Description of the link(s)

1. Information on the geographical area

a) Description of the natural factors relevant to the link

The vineyards form part of the former province of Anjou, where the far south-west of the Parisian Basin meets the foothills of the Armorican Massif. Historically, this juxtaposition of whitish, chalky soils with darker, schist and slate soils has been used to distinguish the ‘Anjou Blanc’ [White Anjou], or Saumur, region from the ‘Anjou Noir’ [Black Anjou], or Angers, region. The vineyards are bounded to the north by the River Loire. They are crossed from north to south by the valley of the River Thouet and its tributary, the Dive. The way in which this network of waterways carves through the landscape has left a succession of slopes oriented in various directions, measuring between 40 and 110 m high. The geographical area covers eight municipalities of the Maine-et-Loire department. These municipalities, which correspond to the Turonian cuesta and the formations that rise above it, form part of the geographical area of the ‘Saumur’ controlled designation of origin.

Vines have colonised the favourably oriented slopes and shaped the landscape, while the hilltops continue to be populated by coniferous or deciduous forests, predominantly oak and chestnut. The immense caves from which stone was quarried to build the local houses, and which are now used for growing mushrooms or as cellars, provide a ventilation outlet at the heart of the vineyards. The harmonious coexistence of vineyards with local buildings, an osmosis between the wine‐growing villages, walled vineyards attached to stately homes and châteaux built in the ‘Anjou Blanc’ tufa stone, with their characteristic gleaming white façades set with sculptures, contributed to the region being designated as a protected natural area and listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

The parcels selected for harvesting grapes are specifically demarcated over the various Turonian formations: rendzina and chalky brown soils of varying depths. At the tops of the slopes these are covered with sands and clays originating from more recent epochs such as the Senonien or Eocene. These soils have good thermal properties and moderate water retention capacity. They are free from any sign of waterlogging.

The climate of the Saumur region is oceanic. The Mauges Massif, located to the west of the vineyards, adds a foehn effect that modulates these oceanic conditions. Annual average rainfall ranges from 500 mm to 600 mm, the geographical area as a whole being sheltered from the humid winds; it exceeds 800 mm over the Mauges hills. This difference in rainfall is even more marked during the vines’ growth cycle, in particular from June up to the harvest period. The influence of the ‘Seuil du Poitou’ [Poitou Gap], located to the south of the geographical area, gives it some more ‘southerly’ flavours, with the presence of species one might not expect to find on the banks of the Loire, such as holly oaks, olive trees or almond trees. Average annual temperatures are relatively high (around 12 °C).

b) Description of the human factors relevant to the geographical link

Up to the High Middle Ages, the vineyards of the Saumur were linked to those of the Anjou, which belonged to the Counts of Anjou. Geologically close to the Touraine region, the Saumur is closer to the Anjou region in historical and human terms. The birth of the ‘Saumur-Champigny’ vineyards dates back to 1066, when the slopes of the ‘Bois Doré’, which rise above the River Loire between Saumur and Montsoreau, were cleared by monks from St. Florent Abbey. The vineyards, known at that time as ‘Coteaux de Saumur’, earned a strong reputation for the quality of the white wines they produced.

The production of red wine emerged in the early 17th century. Around 1630, Cardinal Richelieu, then governor of Guyenne, sent to his intendant in Touraine, for planting in the cantons of Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur, thousands of vines of the most highly prized variety in the Bordeaux region: Cabernet franc N. It would appear, however, that this variety arrived earlier than that, via the port of Nantes (hence its local name ‘Breton’), as a result of the union between its region of origin, Aquitaine, and the Anjou following the marriage between Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

The 18th century saw a sharp rise in red wine consumption and in the number of plantations of the Cabernet franc N variety. Count Odart wrote the following about Cabernet franc N in his 1845 ‘Traité des cépages’ treatise on grape varieties: ‘this variety is extremely common in western France and is what gives Bordeaux wine, the red wines of Chinon and Bourgueil and the wines of Champigny their distinctive character’. In 1861, however, Guillory points out that the red wines are harvested in far lower quantities than their white counterparts. He wrote the following in an Angers Agricultural and Industrial Company Bulletin: ‘on the left banks of the Loire, the most renowned red wine vintages are Souzay, Champigny and Dampierre’.

The growth of the Cabernet franc N variety would be slow but steady, thanks in the main to Antoine Cristal, a cutting-edge wine producer from the municipality of Parnay in the late 19th century. His efforts to control, adapt and develop this variety helped the controlled designation of origin ‘Saumur-Champigny’ to take off in the 1960s, confirming the words of Dr Maisonneuve in his 1925 work ‘L’Anjou, ses vignes et ses vins’: ‘it works magnificently in the chalky soils of the Saumur region, producing the region’s great Champigny wines.’

The creation of a cooperative winery in 1957 was key to the development of markets, initially in Paris then throughout France, and for export outside the country from the 1980s on. By 2009, an average of 70 000 hl of the controlled designation of origin ‘Saumur-Champigny’ was being produced.

2. Information on the quality and characteristics of the product

‘Saumur-Champigny’ are very pleasant red wines. They are generally a dark-ruby colour, often heralding aromas of red fruits or violet. Fresh, round and smooth, they are equally capable of revealing their charm while still young or after years of preservation.

3. Causal interactions

Thanks to the combination of a relatively warm, dry climate and chalky, well‐drained soils that favour a regular but not excessive supply of water, the Cabernet franc N variety has become well-established on the most favourably oriented slopes, promoting early growth and ventilation of the grapes, which helps them reach their optimum level of ripeness. Operators were quick to assimilate techniques that enabled them to extract the best from their grapes by adapting their wine-making techniques. These techniques, which are mostly common practice by now, were exhibited by eminent oenologist Sébille-Auger at a congress in Bordeaux in 1843, through a presentation of a winery in Souzay-Champigny.

During the second half of the 20th century, the controlled designation of origin ‘Saumur-Champigny’ saw significant growth in planted area and sales for export to more than 40 countries.

Efforts by the local community to memorialise these vineyards were rewarded with their listing as a UNESCO world heritage site. Today, the controlled designation of origin ‘Saumur-Champigny’, recognised as one of the most prestigious of the Loire Valley, confirms the words of Georges Clémenceau when he discovered the wine produced by his friend Antoine Cristal: ‘a country that produces this wine is a great country, for a country without history or a great civilisation cannot be said to be great.’

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

Geographical name ‘Val de Loire’

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

The name of the controlled designation of origin may be followed by the geographical name ‘Val de Loire’, in accordance with the rules laid down in the specification. The size of the letters of the geographical name ‘Val de Loire’ must not be larger, either in height or width, than two thirds of the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

Smaller geographical unit

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 label, provided that:

— it is a registered place name;

— it appears on the harvest declaration.

The registered place name is printed in letters that must not be larger, either in height or width, than half of the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

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 production of wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities, on the basis of the 2018 Official Geographical Code:

— Department of Deux-Sèvres: Saint-Martin-de-Mâcon, Tourtenay;

— Department of Indre-et-Loire: Chinon;

— Department of Maine-et-Loire: Artannes-sur-Thouet, Brézé, Brossay, Cizay-la-Madeleine, Le Coudray-Macouard, Courchamps, Distré, Doué-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Concourson-sur-Layon, Doué-la-Fontaine, Forges, Meigné and Les Verchers-sur-Layon), Épieds, Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, Montreuil-Bellay, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Rou-Marson, Saint-Just-sur-Dive, Saumur, Terranjou (former territory of the delegated municipality of Chavagnes), Les Ulmes, Vaudelnay;

— Department of Vienne: Berrie, Curçay-sur-Dive, Glénouze, Pouançay, Ranton, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saix, Ternay, Les Trois-Moutiers.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-0e0411ee-1698-4400-9eda-5fc7e90883b0

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