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 65/06)

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

Côtes du Rhône

PDO-FR-A0325-AM03

Date of communication: 25 November 2019

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Vine varieties

Point V (vine varieties) of the specification for Côtes du Rhône PDO has been amended by adding Couston N and Caladoc N as secondary varieties which may account for up to 10 % of the varieties used in the production of red and rosé wines.

These vine varieties were included following ten years of vineyard experimentation in which they were compared with the two main secondary varieties used in Côtes du Rhône, namely Carignan N and Cinsault N. The reason for adding these new Côtes du Rhône PDO vine varieties was to maintain the essential characteristics of the designation and safeguard the typical characteristics associated with the local area. Both varieties have significant advantages in terms of their resistance to water stress and drought.

Supplementary information has been added to the Single Document in the section ‘Secondary wine grape varieties’ with the addition of the Couston N and Caladoc N varieties.

2. Area in immediate proximity

Under point IV(3), supplementary information has been added to the specification as regards the delimitation of the area in immediate proximity with the addition of communes in the departments of Drôme, Gard, Isère and Vaucluse. These communes were added so that existing winemaking practices in the area are taken into account. The addition of these communes allows for the human community detailed in the link to be maintained whilst ensuring the geographical continuity of the area in immediate proximity is preserved.

In the department of Drôme: the communes of Chamaret, Chantemerle-les-Grignan, Clansayes, Montaulieu, Saint Donat sur l’Herbasse and Valaurie have been added.

In the department of Gard: Argilliers, Beaucaire, Bellegarde and Collias.

In the department of Isère: Côtes d’Arey.

In the department of Vaucluse: Bédoin, Blauvac, Brantes, Crillon-le-Brave, Flassan, Malemort-du-Comtat, Methamis, Modène, Mormoiron, Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols, Savoillan and Villes-sur-Auzon.

The Single Document has been updated in the section on further conditions.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name of the product

Côtes du Rhône

2. Geographical indication type

PDO - Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine product

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

Still dry wines (fermentable sugar content <= 4 g/l).

The red wines are fruity, generous, with good colour intensity. They may be stored for varying lengths of time depending on the soil types and blend of varieties decided on through producers’ know-how.

The rosé wines, which are fruity or floral, very quickly built up a reputation in certain sectors.

The white wines are floral and full bodied, sometimes with exotic notes.

Minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume: 10,5 %

After enrichment the wines have a total alcoholic strength by volume of <=13 %.

Red wines: malic acid content <= 0,4 g/l.

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) 16,33 Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Specific oenological practices

Distance between rows and space between plants

Growing method

The distance between the rows is ≤ 2,5 m. The area available for each plant must not exceed 2,5 m2. The distance between plants in the same row is between 0,8 m and 1,25 m.

Pruning of the vine

Growing method

The vines are pruned with a maximum of six spurs per plant. Each spur has a maximum of two buds. It takes a maximum of two years for a spur to establish. Pruning is identical to the Viognier B.

The Viognier B variety may either be pruned with a maximum of eight buds on the cane and one or two spurs with a maximum of two buds, or it may be pruned with a maximum of six buds on each cane and one or two spurs with a maximum of two buds.

Irrigation

Growing method

Irrigation may be authorised.

The purpose of irrigation is to preserve the characteristics of the physical and biological environment which is a fundamental part of the local area.

Growing method

Plastic mulching is prohibited.

No substantial alterations may be made to the shape and contours of the landscape or the natural pedological sequence of parcels intended for production of the controlled designation of origin.

Enrichment

Specific oenological practice

Reductive methods of enrichment are permitted for the red wines with a limit of a 10 % concentration rate.

To produce the rosé wines, winemakers are permitted to use oenological charcoal exclusively on press musts without exceeding 20 % of the total volume made into wine by the operator for that harvest.

b. Maximum yields

60 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines are made and developed in the following communes:

— Department of Ardèche: 31 communes;

— Department of Drôme: 29 communes;

— Department of Gard: 54 communes;

— Department of Loire: 5 communes;

— Department of Rhône: 4 communes;

— Department of Vaucluse: 48 communes.

For a list of the communes see the specification of the PDO.

7. Main grape varieties

Piquepoul blanc B

Syrah N - Shiraz

Ugni blanc B

Mourvèdre N - Monastrell

Viognier B

Roussanne B

Clairette B

Grenache blanc B

Grenache N

Marsanne B

Bourboulenc B - Doucillon blanc

8. Description of the link(s)

The vineyards are located along the sillon rhodanien (furrow of the Rhone). The climate is affected by the Mistral, a northerly wind which always has a drying effect. This protects the vines from cryptogamic attacks and at the same time ensures significant sunshine and a suitable amount of rainfall. The resulting red wines are fruity, generous, have good colour intensity and may be stored for varying lengths of time depending on the soil types and blend of varieties. The resulting rosé wines are fruity and sometimes floral, whilst the white wines are floral, full-bodied, sometimes with exotic notes. Producers’ expert knowledge of the local area and regional climate give ‘Côtes du Rhône’ PDO wines their identity and reputation.

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

Supplementary geographical names

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

The name of the designation of origin may be followed by the indication ‘primeur’ (‘early’) or ‘nouveau’ (‘new’) for red and rosé wines meeting the conditions for these indications laid down in this specification.

Wines labelled using the term ‘primeur’ or ‘nouveau’ must also state the vintage.

Broader geographical unit

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

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

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 making and development of the wines, comprises the following communes:

— Department of Ardèche: Alboussière, Arlebosc, Baix, Beauchastel, Bidon, Boffres, Bogy, Champis, Charmes-sur-Rhône, Cheminas, Colombier-le-Cardinal, Eclassan, Etables, Flaviac, Gilhac-et-Bruzac, Gras, Labastide-de-Virac, Peaugres, Plats, Le Pouzin, Quintenas, Rompon, Saint-Barthélemy-le-Plain, Saint-Cierge-la-Serre, Saint-Cyr, Saint-Georges-les-Bains, Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, Saint-Montan, Saint-Remèze, Saint-Romain-d’Ay, Saint-Romain-de-Lerps, Saint-Symphorien-sous-Chomérac, Saint-Vincent-de-Durfort, Savas, Soyons, Thorrenc, Vernosc-lès-Annonay, Vinzieux, La Voulte.

— Department of Isère: Chonas-l’Amballan, Le-Péage-de-Roussillon, Reventin-Vaugris, Les Roches-de-Condrieu, Sablons, Saint-Alban-du-Rhône, Saint-Clair-du-Rhône, Saint-Maurice-l’Exil, Salaise-sur-Sanne, Seyssuel, Vienne.

— Department of Loire: Bessey, La Chapelle-Villars, Chuyer, Lupe, Maclas, Pélussin, Roisey, Saint-Romain-en-Jarez.

— Department of Rhône: Les Haies, Loire-sur-Rhône, Longes, Sainte-Colombe, Saint-Romain-en-Gal.

— Department of Vaucluse: Althen-les-Paluds, Aubignan, Le Barroux, Beaumont-du-Ventoux, Caderousse, Caromb, Carpentras, Cavaillon, Le Crestet, Entraigues-sur-la-Sorgue, Entrechaux, Lamotte-du-Rhône, Lapalud, Loriol-du-Comtat, Malaucène, Mazan, Monteux, Pernes-les-Fontaines, Le Pontet, Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron, Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux, Le Thor.

— Department of Drôme: Albon, Aleyrac, Allex, Ambonil, Andancette, Aubres, La Baume-de-Transit, Beausemblant, Benivay-Ollon, Bourg-lès-Valence, Chamaret, Chantemerle-les-Blés, Chantemerle-les-Grignan, Châteauneuf-de-Bordette, Châteauneuf-sur-Isère, Chavannes, Clansayes, Clérieux, Colonzelle, Condorcet, Donzère, Etoile-sur-Rhône, La Garde-Adhémar, Grane, Granges-les-Beaumont, Les Granges-Gontardes, Grignan, Laveyron, Loriol-sur-Drôme, Montjoux, Montoison, Montaulieu, Montségur-sur-Lauzon, La Motte-de-Galaure, La Penne-sur-l’Ouvèze, Pierrelatte, Pierrelongue, Le Poët-Laval, Les Pilles, Ponsas, Propiac, Roche-Saint-Secret-Beconne, Roussas, Saint-Barthélemy-de-Vals, Saint Donat sur l’Herbasse, Saint-Gervais-sur-Roubion, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, Saint-Rambert-d’Albon, Saint-Restitut, Saint-Uze, Saint-Vallier, Salles-sous-Bois, Solérieux, Teyssières, Triors, Valaurie, Valence, Veaunes.

— Department of Gard: Les Angles, Argilliers, La Bastide-d’Engras, Beaucaire, Bellegarde, La Capelle-et-Masmolène, Collias, Flaux, Le Garn, Goudargues, Issirac, Jonquières-Saint-Vincent, Meynes, Montfaucon, Saint-André-de-Roquepertuis, Saint-Bonnet-du-Gard, Saint-Christol-de-Rodières, Saint-Laurent-la-Vernède, Salazac, Sernhac, Vallabrix, Verfeuil, Vers-Pont-du-Gard.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-638435af-cee8-4881-a10c-9ab97b3af3da

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