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 72/12)

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

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

‘Bonnezeaux’

Reference number PDO-FR-A0926-AM02

Date of communication: 14 November 2019

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Geographical area

The geographical area has been amended as follows: ‘All stages of production take place in the geographical area encompassing the following municipality of the department of Maine-et-Loire, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code of 2018: Bellevigne-en-Layon (former territory of the delegated municipality of Thouarcé).

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

Editorial amendment: the new list of administrative bodies takes into account any mergers or other changes in administrative boundaries since the approval of the specification. For greater legal certainty, the list follows the current version of the Official Geographic Code, updated annually by the INSEE (the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies). The boundary of the geographical area remains exactly the same.

Finally, for the purposes of better public information, reference is made to the maps of the geographical area available on the INAO website.

Point 6 of the single document on the geographical area has been amended accordingly.

2. Area in immediate proximity

At point IV(3) of Chapter 1, the list of municipalities has been replaced by:

‘Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Bellevigne-en-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Champ-sur-Layon, Faveraye-Mâchelles, Faye-d’Anjou and Rablay-sur-Layon), Blaison-Saint-Sulpice (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Blaison-Gohier and Saint-Sulpice), Brissac Loire Aubance (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Alleuds, Brissac-Quincé, Charcé-Saint-Ellier-sur-Aubance, Luigné, Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne, Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire, Saulgé-l’Hôpital and Vauchrétien), Brossay, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chemillé-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chanzeaux and Valanjou), Denée, Doué-en-Anjou (former territory of the delegated municipality of Brigné), Les Garennes-sur-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Juigné-sur-Loire and Saint-Jean-des-Mauvrets), Lys-Haut-Layon (former territory of the delegated municipality of Tigné), Mozé-sur-Louet, Mûrs-Erigné, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance, Savennières, Soulaines-sur-Aubance, Terranjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chavagnes, Martigné-Briand and Notre-Dame-d’Allençon) and Val-du-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay).’

This amendment takes into account the various mergers of municipalities since the last version of the specification. The boundary of the area in immediate proximity remains exactly the same.

Point 9 of the single document on additional conditions has been amended accordingly.

3. Agri-environmental provision

The following has been added to point VI(2) of Chapter 1: ‘Managed vegetation cover, either natural or planted, is compulsory between rows. In the absence of vegetation cover, operators must tend the soil to ensure that naturally occurring vegetation is managed. Otherwise, operators must justify the use of bio-control products approved by the wine-growing authorities. Where bio-control herbicides are used on a land parcel, it is not permitted to use other herbicides.’

This amendment reflects current developments in the practices of operators promoting conservation agriculture throughout the vineyards of Anjou. It takes into account growing concern for the environment as part of technical procedures. By encouraging the existence of vegetation cover, or mechanised weeding, or even use of bio-control products, the amendment aims to reduce the use of chemical herbicides. The reduction in herbicides should strengthen the protection of wine-growing soils and preserve their natural properties such as fertility, bio-diversity and self-cleaning. This 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.

4. Harvest proclamation

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

It is no longer necessary to set a start date for harvests, as operators have a large selection of tools at their disposal enabling them to gauge the ripeness of the grapes with the greatest possible accuracy. 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.

5. Fermenting room capacity

Under point IX(1)(c) of Chapter 1, the sentence: ‘All operators have a fermenting room capacity for wine production equal to at least 1.4 times the average yield of their holding during the preceding five years.’ has been replaced by: ‘All operators have a fermenting room capacity for wine production equal to at least 1.4 times the average volume of wine produced during the preceding five years.’

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

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

6. Circulation of wines

Point IX(5)(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.

7. Transitional measure

The following has been inserted under point XI of Chapter 1: ‘In the case of vineyard parcels already in existence when this specification was approved, and in which the spacing between rows is less than or equal to 1.7 metres, the provisions relating to the following do not apply: the requirement for managed vegetation cover, either natural or planted, between rows; and, in the absence of such vegetation cover, the requirement for operators to tend the soil or use bio-control products to ensure that naturally occurring vegetation is managed.’

The transitional measure avoids the need to penalise existing vineyards currently using a training method not adapted to the agri-environmental provisions. In densely planted vineyards, where the spacing between rows is less than or equal to 1,7 metres, maintaining permanent grass cover or attempting to work the soil could, in effect, cause technical problems with machinery, materials or tools, for example. In low-growing vines, grass cover actually increases the risk of spring frosts. Furthermore, the presence of vegetation cover significantly increases the pressure on the water supply to the vines in the more densely-planted vineyards. Nevertheless, any vines planted after the specification has been approved will have to comply fully with the new agri-environmental provisions, regardless of planting density and spacing between rows.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

8. Record keeping

In point II(3) of Chapter 2, the word ‘potential’ has been replaced by ‘natural’.

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

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

9. Main points to be checked

Chapter 3 has been revised to make consistent 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 product

Bonnezeaux

2. Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

These are still white wines made from late-harvested grapes. They are vigorous wines that have a great sweetness combined with a complex fruitiness (dried and exotic fruit, white flowers, etc.) and a light golden colour with green highlights.

The wines have:

a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 15 %;

a fermentable sugar content (glucose and fructose) after fermentation of at least 51 grams per litre.

The minimum actual alcoholic strength is 11 %, or 12 % for wines with a natural alcoholic strength by volume below 19 %.

The total acid and total sulphur dioxide content are as laid down by EU legislation.

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

a. Essential oenological practices

Specific oenological practice

Enrichment is permitted under the rules set out in the specification.

The use of wood chips is forbidden.

Wines are aged at least until 15 March of the year following that of the harvest.

In addition to the above provisions, the oenological practices concerning these wines must meet the requirements laid down at EU level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.

Density

Cultivation method

The minimum vine planting density is 4 000 plants per hectare. The spacing between the rows of these vines must not exceed 2,5 m, and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 1 m. In the case of vineyard parcels where the planting density is at least 3 300 but less than 4 000 plants per hectare, the harvests are eligible for the controlled designation of origin provided that they comply with the rules on trellising and foliage height laid down in the specification. The spacing between the rows in such vineyard parcels must not exceed 3 metres, and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 1 metre.

Pruning

Cultivation method

The vines are pruned by 30 April using the rod and spur system, with a maximum of 12 buds per plant. At the phenological stage corresponding to 11 or 12 leaves, the number of fruit-bearing branches for the year per plant is 10 or less.

Harvest

Cultivation method

The grapes are hand-harvested in multiple passes.

Irrigation

Cultivation method

Irrigation is not permitted.

b. Maximum yields

30 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

All stages of production take place in the geographical area encompassing the following municipality of the department of Maine-et-Loire, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code of 2018: Bellevigne-en-Layon (former territory of the delegated municipality of Thouarcé).

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

7. Main wine grape varieties

Chenin B

8. Description of the link(s)

1. Information on the geographical area

a) Description of the natural factors relevant to the link

The geographical area lies in the very heart of Anjou’s wine-growing region, and in 2018 it was limited to the delegated municipality of Thouarcé. This municipality is located in the department of Maine-et-Loire and its territory is divided by the River Layon. The hamlet of Bonnezeaux is perched high up on a steep slope on the right bank of the river. The name ‘Bonnezeaux’ seems to refer to sources of ferruginous water.

The vineyards grow on three slopes that sit next to each other and face south-west. They are called ‘La Montagne’, ‘Beauregard’ and ‘Fesles’ and form a strip 2 800 metres long and 500 metres wide. The steepness of these slopes is approximately 15 % to 20 %. It is particularly marked on the western side of ‘Beauregard’ and on the middle slope, aptly called ‘La Montagne’, which begins near the hamlet of Petit Bonnezeaux. To the north of these three demarcated slopes there is a slightly undulating plateau with an average altitude of 90 m. The River Layon runs at an altitude of 29 metres.

The geological substratum belongs to the Saint-Georges-sur-Loire series, which is a schist-and-sandstone complex dating back to the upper Ordovician – lower Devonian period. It is sometimes covered by gravelly-clayey or sandy-clayey formations of the Cenomanian, in particular on the ‘Fesles’ slope. Erosion has exposed the slaty basement, while the sand and clay have remained in place near the shore and on the plateau. As a consequence, the parcels that are precisely demarcated for the grape harvest are fairly shallow and very rich in coarse fragments. Their colour is greenish grey and occasionally resembles the colour of wine lees. They have water reserves below 100 mm and excellent drainage capacity.

The geographical area has an attenuated oceanic climate and limited irrigation. It is sheltered from maritime mists by the higher slopes of Choletais and Mauges. The slopes are locally exposed to the prevailing winds from the southwest and west. Annual rainfall is approximately 550 mm to 600 mm, compared to over 800 mm on the slopes of Choletais and Mauges. Rainfall during the growing cycle of the vine is approximately 100 mm lower than the average in the department. Typically southern flora grows specifically on these slopes owing to their relative aridity and temperatures that are higher than in surrounding areas.

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

The Chenin B variety, which probably originates in the Anjou region, has found a prime location in Bonnezeaux. It is a hardy variety that expresses its potential in challenging soil conditions.

Producers quickly recognised the benefits of late harvesting this variety using specific techniques. Count Odart wrote the following in his 1845 ‘Traité des cépages’ treatise on vines: ‘We should also add the condition of not harvesting the grapes until around All Saints Day, when the grapes are overripe and their skin sphacelous after being softened by the rains.’ In other words, late harvesting is typical. In his 1816 work ‘Topographie de tous les vignobles connus’, Jullien noted that ‘At the good vineyards, the grape-pickers pass through the vineyards several times; the grapes picked in the first two passes are used for only the most mature wines, providing the wines to be shipped abroad, and the grapes from the third pass are used for wines for domestic consumption.’

As a result of the findings and analyses made by several generations of producers, ‘Bonnezeaux’ wines now rank among the finest in Anjou. In his 1802 translation of ‘Nouvelle Géographie Universelle’, British geographer William Guthrie (1708-1770) wrote: ‘Anjou wines can be divided into three classes. Those in the first class come from the villages of Faye, Saint-Lambert, Rablé, Maligny, Chavagne and Thouarcé, home to the Bonnezeaux vineyards.’

A number of references to these prestigious vineyards have been made since then. The phylloxera crisis curbed their growth severely, with only one local market being supplied with ‘Bonnezeaux’ wines. Through the serious efforts of the union of ‘Bonnezeaux’ producers, who wanted to keep yields low and maintain the practice of harvesting grapes in multiple passes, the wine first made a comeback on the French market before being exported abroad again. The controlled designation of origin ‘Bonnezeaux’ was recognised on 6 November 1951.

2. Information on the quality and characteristics of the product

These wines are appreciated because of their vigour. Their great sweetness, which is related to a high fermentable sugar content, is combined with a fruitiness that is often complex (dried fruit, exotic fruit, white flowers, etc.) and perhaps unexpected considering the generally light golden colour of the wines and their green highlights. The balance between acidity, alcohol and smoothness allows the wines to acquire even more complexity over the years.

3. Causal interactions

These vineyards, with their steep southwest-facing slopes and shallow and stony soils with exceptional thermal properties, are favourable to early growth and the maturation of the Chenin B variety. As a result of the prevailing winds that sweep the slopes and the extremely low water supply of the vine growing on skeletal soil, the grapes are concentrated on the vine through wilting or drying typical of these vineyards. The producers have known how to make the best of this particularity. The very low yields show how committed the producers are to the quality of the grapes.

‘Bonnezeaux’ wines owe their fine reputation to the late harvesting of the Chenin B grape on these slopes, which is carried out in multiple passes so as to select very ripe grapes. The history and renown of ‘Bonnezeaux’ wines are closely linked to those of Anjou and ‘Coteaux du Layon’ wines.

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

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 wine-growing, production and ageing, comprises the territory of the following municipalities of the department of Maine-et-Loire, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code of 2018:

Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Bellevigne-en-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Champ-sur-Layon, Faveraye-Mâchelles, Faye-d’Anjou and Rablay-sur-Layon), Blaison-Saint-Sulpice (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Blaison-Gohier and Saint-Sulpice), Brissac Loire Aubance (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Alleuds, Brissac-Quincé, Charcé-Saint-Ellier-sur-Aubance, Luigné, Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne, Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire, Saulgé-l’Hôpital and Vauchrétien), Brossay, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chemillé-en-Anjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chanzeaux and Valanjou), Denée, Doué-en-Anjou (former territory of the delegated municipality of Brigné), Les Garennes-sur-Loire (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Juigné-sur-Loire and Saint-Jean-des-Mauvrets), Lys-Haut-Layon (former territory of the delegated municipality of Tigné), Mozé-sur-Louet, Mûrs-Erigné, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance, Savennières, Soulaines-sur-Aubance, Terranjou (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Chavagnes, Martigné-Briand and Notre-Dame-d’Allençon) and Val-du-Layon (former territories of the delegated municipalities of Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay).

Labelling: optional terms

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

— The size of the letters of optional terms whose use, under EU provisions, may be regulated by the Member States, may not be larger, either in height, width or thickness, than twice the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

Labelling: geographical designation ‘Val de Loire’

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

The size of the letters of the geographical name ‘Val de Loire’ may 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.

Labelling: 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 labels, provided that: - it is a registered location; - it appears on the harvest declaration. The name of the registered location must be printed in letters no larger, either in height or in width, than half the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-9d4179cc-6768-4be5-bd1b-2e66d9483314

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