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 12/05)

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

COMMUNICATION OF STANDARD AMENDMENT MODIFYING THE SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘CEBREROS’

PDO-ES-02348-AM01

Date of communication: 23.10.2020

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Amendment of the general analytical characteristics

AMENDMENT(S):

Reduction of the minimum total acidity limit expressed as grams of tartaric acid per litre for aged wines.

This amendment concerns section 2(a) of the product specification and section 4 of the single document.

This is a minor amendment of the characteristics of the wine and does not imply a substantial change to the product, which retains the properties that result from the interplay between natural and human factors described in the link. Therefore, the proposed amendment does not fall into any of the categories provided for in Article 14 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33. It is therefore considered a standard amendment.

REASONS:

The last few years have seen decreased rainfall in the area and a rise in average temperatures, resulting in an overall decrease of acidity in all grape varieties. As a result, the wines present lower total acidity levels that decrease further during the prolonged time the wines are kept in the barrel due to the precipitation of salts from the tartaric acid.

2. Amendment of the provisions relating to packaging

AMENDMENT(S):

The use of containers other than glass bottles is permitted, provided they preserve the physical, chemical and organoleptic properties of the wines.

This amendment concerns section 8(b)(2) of the product specification and does not affect the single document.

The proposed amendment does not fall into any of the categories provided for in Article 14 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33. It is therefore considered a standard amendment.

REASON:

The proposed change allows the use of other containers that do not undermine the properties of the product and that are in demand in certain markets, both national and international, for their sustainability. This way our wines will become better known and our production for both internal and external markets will increase, boosting the promotion of our quality wines.

3. Amendment of the provisions relating to labelling (smaller geographical units)

AMENDMENT(S):

The names of the municipalities in the demarcated area (Sierra de Gredos, Calle del Alberche, Calle del Tiétar and Valle de Iruelas) have been added as smaller geographical units, as well as their exact demarcation, accompanied by the mention ‘Vino de Pueblo’ (Village Wine).

Section 8(b)(3) of the product specification and section 9 of the single document have been amended.

Although the proposed amendments provide for other geographic areas to be included, they do not constitute a change of the protected name ‘Cebreros’, which must be emphasised above all other terms. The mention of the smaller geographical units is complementary in nature, in that it provides additional information to the consumer on the origin of the product.

Additionally, these optional labelling terms do not in any way constitute a trade restriction.

Therefore, the proposed amendment does not fall into any of the categories provided for in Article 14 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33. It is therefore considered a standard amendment.

REASONS:

The purpose of including this information on the labelling is to complement and elaborate on the information regarding the origin of the wines, making them more attractive to consumers.

Consumers are increasingly interested in knowing more about the origin of the wines they drink, and producers want to make this additional information available on the label in order to highlight the importance of the villages and geographical units with a long tradition of producing quality grapes. It is also so that consumers have access to accurate information on the label, meaning that it is necessary to regulate the conditions of use of these names.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name of the product

Cebreros

2. Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

White wines

The white wines have shades that range from straw-coloured to golden yellow. They are clear and bright, with a fruity fragrance, and are flavourful, balanced, and unctuous in the mouth. If the wines have been aged in barrels, they may be golden-coloured at the edges, their fruity aroma is riper and they are more full-bodied on the palate.

* Maximum volatile acidity for wines more than one year old: 16,67 meq/l up to 10 % vol., increasing by 1 meq/l for each degree of alcoholic strength in excess of 10 %. These wines may exceed the limits laid down in Annex I, Part C, point 1 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2019/934, provided that they comply with the conditions set out in Section 3 of this Annex.

* Minimum total acidity for wines aged for more than six months. 3,5 g/l expressed as tartaric acid (46,67 meq/l).

* The analytical parameters not laid down in this document shall comply with the rules in force.

General analytical characteristics Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume): 12 Minimum total acidity: 4 g/l expressed as tartaric acid Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre): 13,33 Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre): 160

Rosé wines

The rosé wines are clear and bright, and their colour ranges from pale pink to strawberry-pink or raspberry. They typically have notes of red and/or black fruits, with a medium structure in the mouth. If they have been aged in barrels, their tones may be more orangey, and the hints of fruit linger with less intensity, and woody impressions appear in the background.

* Maximum volatile acidity for wines more than one year old: 16,67 meq/l up to 10 % vol., increasing by 1 meq/l for each degree of alcoholic strength in excess of 10 %. These wines may exceed the limits laid down in Annex I, Part C, point 1 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2019/934, provided that they comply with the conditions set out in Section 3 of this Annex.

* Minimum total acidity for wines aged for more than 12 months. 4 g/l expressed as tartaric acid (53,33 meq/l).

* The analytical parameters not laid down in this document shall comply with the rules in force.

General analytical characteristics Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume): 12 Minimum total acidity: 4,5 g/l expressed as tartaric acid Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre): 13,33 Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre): 160

Red wines

The red wines are clear in appearance, with cherry-red tones and touches of violet. They typically have notes of red and/or black fruits, as well as a balanced acidity and structure, which gives them finesse and elegance. If they have been aged in barrels, they retain their fruity range together with their woodiness, and they become smoother and acquire a longer-lasting flavour with terracotta touches.

* Maximum volatile acidity for wines more than one year old: 16,67 meq/l up to 10 % vol., increasing by 1 meq/l for each degree of alcoholic strength in excess of 10 %. These wines may exceed the limits laid down in Annex I, Part C, point 1 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2019/934, provided that they comply with the conditions set out in Section 3 of this Annex.

* Minimum total acidity for wines aged for more than 12 months. 4 g/l expressed as tartaric acid (53,33 meq/l).

* The analytical parameters not laid down in this document shall comply with the rules in force.

General analytical characteristics Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume): 13 Minimum total acidity: 4,5 g/l expressed as tartaric acid Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre): 13,33 Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre): 150

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Cultivation method

— The planting, filling in of gaps, in situ grafting, and top grafting may only be done with authorised varieties.

— New planting may only use the main varieties: Garnacha Tinta and Albillo Real.

The vine can be trained in the following ways:

Using the traditional goblet method and its variants.

On espalier vine-training systems: guided and supported training.

Essential oenological practice

Minimum potential alcoholic strength of the grapes: 12 % vol. (red varieties) and 11 % vol. (white varieties).

Only tanks and containers that do not contaminate the wine and which are permitted under current legislation shall be used.

Maximum extraction rate: 70 l per 100 kg of grapes.

Ageing conditions:

Wines using the term ‘FERMENTADO EN BARRICA’ (‘FERMENTED IN BARRELS’) shall use oak barrels for both the fermentation and the ageing on the lees.

Subsequent ageing shall be carried out in oak barrels.

Calculation of the ageing period shall start on 1 November of the year of the harvest.

Relevant restriction on making the wines

— The white wines shall be made exclusively with the Albillo Real variety.

— The rosé and red varieties shall be made with a minimum of 95 % of the Garnacha Tinta variety.

For the extraction of the must, the use of both high-speed centrifuge machines and continuous presses is prohibited.

b. Maximum yields

6 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare

42 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

The municipalities are listed below, all of which are in the province of Avila:

La Adrada, El Barraco, Burgohondo, Casavieja, Casillas, Cebreros, Cuevas del Valle, Fresnedilla, Gavilanes, Herradón de Pinares, Higuera de las Dueñas, El Hoyo de Pinares, Lanzahíta, Mijares, Mombeltrán, Navahondilla, Navalmoral, Navaluenga, Navarredondilla, Navarrevisca, Navatalgordo, Pedro Bernardo, Piedralaves, San Bartolomé de Pinares, San Esteban del Valle, San Juan de la Nava, San Juan del Molinillo, Santa Cruz de Pinares, Santa Cruz del Valle, Santa María del Tiétar, Serranillos, Sotillo de la Adrada, El Tiemblo, Villanueva de Ávila and Villarejo del Valle.

7. Main wine grapes variety(ies)

ALBILLO REAL

GARNACHA TINTA

8. Description of the link(s)

Natural and human factors

Natural factors

The area to be protected is located in the Central Iberian System of mountain ranges, between the basins of the Alberche and Tiétar rivers, which are tributaries of the Tagus. The eastern part of the Sierra de Gredos mountain range separates the two river basins. It mostly contains materials that are granitic in origin.

In the Alberche basin, the terrain is rugged, but without sharp features. It is interspersed with steep-sloped hills of considerable height. The vineyard is located mainly on the hillsides of the left bank of the valley facing south. The altitude is between 800 m and 1 000 m, although some parcels may be above 1 000 m. The Tiétar river basin is lower-lying, but rises abruptly towards its source.

The soils are loamy, sandy, and slightly acidic, with a granite bedrock and little organic material. There is a shale area with loamy-clay-sandy soils, although it is much smaller. According to the FAO classification, the soils in the area are mostly Cambisols. Dystric and Humic Cambisols account for most of the soils in the vineyards.

The climate is Mediterranean with a continental influence. It has relatively short winters that are not very cold. The summers are long, warm and dry. The average annual temperature in the area where the vineyard is located (the Sierra de Gredos has a mountain climate) is between 12 and 15 °C, and the rainfall varies between 400 and 800 mm a year. There are 215 frost-free days a year. In general, it may be said that the climate is warmer and more rainy than in the areas elsewhere in the region, where the River Douro PDOs are located.

Human factors

For centuries, humans have selected the best lands for cultivating vines, choosing those that were most suitable and that had a south-southwest aspect. The high altitude of certain plots — with an elevation of over 1 000 metres — should be noted.

Garnacha Tinta and Albillo Real are the main varieties used for making the wine. There have been references throughout history to how well suited these varieties are to the area. Although these varieties are grown in other areas, the qualities of the soil and climate produce very distinctive characteristics in the protected wines.

The vineyards in the demarcated area are very old: 94 % of the vines are more than 50 years old and 37 % are more than 80 years old. This means low production volumes that are high in quality.

There is a spacious planting pattern in the area, generally greater than 2,5 × 2,5 metres. The planting density is thus 1 600 vines per hectare, suited to the low and irregular rainfall and to the soil that is poor in organic matter.

Characteristics of the product

The wines in the demarcated area can be separated into: whites, rosés, reds, young and aged. These all share the following characteristics of the terroir:

— High alcoholic strength.

— High and balanced tartaric acid.

— Good storage potential. The red wines in particular keep very well.

— They are balanced, smooth and graceful on the palate and very lively.

Causal link

The distinctiveness of the wines from the demarcated area is essentially due to the geographical environment. As mentioned above, the area is defined by two mountain ranges and two rivers, both belonging to the river Tagus basin. The vineyard is located mainly on the hillsides of the left banks of the valleys facing south. As a result, the characteristics of the area’s soil, geology and climate make for an exceptional and singular area for vine cultivation. In addition, human know-how in selecting the most appropriate varieties and the most suitable growing method makes it possible to produce a specific and unique product. The main factors that bear out this link are summarised below:

— The sandy loan texture of the soils with the granite bedrock gives the wines finesse, making them graceful on the palate.

— The microclimate of the area to be protected is — unlike the surrounding areas — more varied than the rest of Castile and Leon, and is cooler than the areas to the south and east, with its own marked features. However, the absence of rainfall in the summer and early autumn ensures that the grape harvests are healthy and of high quality.

— The vineyards are located at high altitude, with some situated more than a thousand metres above sea level. This is why the resulting grapes have very good acidity, bringing freshness and liveliness to the wine.

— The grape variety map also attests to its distinctiveness. The wine growers have for centuries chosen the varieties best suited to the area: Garnacha Tinta and Albillo Real, which are the basis of the wines and give them their distinguishing feature. Garnacha Tinta produces wines with a high alcoholic strength, although due to the altitude and climate they are fresh on the palate. Albillo Real is specific to the area and distinct from Albillo Mayor, typical of other areas in Castile and Leon; it produces complex, flavourful and lively wines, very suited to ageing in the barrel.

— The planting distances that have been traditionally used, together with the low rainfall and the lack of organic material in the soil result in very low grape yields. This is one of the factors behind the high quality of the grapes from both a production and polyphenol perspective. They have balanced analytical parameters and ripen very well.

— The vineyard is very old (94 % of the vines are more than 50 years old and 37 % are more than 80 years old.) Combined with the features mentioned earlier, this means the wines keep particularly well.

Taken together, the circumstances described above produce grapes that ripen very well and mean that wines with a high alcohol content (not less than 12o in the white and rosé wines and 13° in the reds) can be produced. At the same time there is considerable acidity (total acidity of not less than 4,5 g/l expressed as tartaric acid). This double characteristic, a high alcohol content and high acidity, gives the Cebreros wines their characteristic balance.

The wines covered by the protected area are different from those of surrounding areas, in particular the wines from the Duero valley, in that they display this typical balance between alcohol and acidity, with a structure that is marked but not excessive, resulting in wines with a very elegant character.

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

Legal framework:

In national legislation

Type of further condition:

Packaging within the demarcated geographical area

Description of the condition:

The wine-making process includes bottling and refinement of the wines. Thus, the organoleptic and physical and chemical characteristics described in this product specification can only be guaranteed if all of the wine handling operations take place in the area of production. The bottling of wines covered by the ‘Cebreros’ PDO is one of the factors critical to attaining the characteristics set out in the specification. As a consequence, and with a view to ensuring quality and providing a guarantee as to origin and control, bottling shall take place in wineries located in bottling plants in the production area.

Legal framework:

In national legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

1. The geographic name ‘Cebreros’ and the terms ‘Denominación de Origen Protegida’ (Protected Designation of Origin) or the traditional terms ‘Vino de Calidad’ (Quality Wine) must be included and appear prominently on the labelling of bottled wines.

2. It shall also be obligatory to indicate the vintage, even if the wine has not undergone ageing processes.

3. Additionally, the labelling of wines covered by the ‘Cebreros’ PDO may use the optional terms listed in the following sections: — The terms ‘FERMENTADO EN BARRICA’ or ‘ROBLE’ (‘OAK’) may be used, provided that the wines meet the conditions laid down in current legislation. — The name of each municipality listed in section 1.6 of this single document, as well as the terms ‘VINO DE PUEBLO’ may be used for protected wines for which at least 85 % of the grapes came from parcels located within the municipality in question. — The geographical name of the following smaller geographical units may be used, provided they meet the stated requirements: either: ‘SIERRA DE GREDOS’ for protected wines for which at least 85 % of the grapes came from parcels located within the following municipalities: La Adrada, El Barraco, Burgohondo, Casavieja, Casillas, Cebreros, Cuevas del Valle, Gavilanes, Herradón de Pinares, Higuera de las Dueñas, El Hoyo de Pinares, Lanzahíta, Mijares, Mombeltrán, Navahondilla, Navalmoral, Navaluenga, Navarredondilla, Navarrevisca, Navatalgordo, Pedro Bernardo, Piedralaves, San Bartolomé de Pinares, San Esteban del Valle, San Juan de la Nava, San Juan del Molinillo (Navandrinal), Santa Cruz de Pinares, Santa Cruz del Valle, Santa María del Tiétar, Serranillos, Sotillo de la Adrada, El Tiemblo, Villanueva de Ávila and/or Villarejo del Valle. or ‘VALLE DEL ALBERCHE’ for protected wines for which at least 85 % of the grapes came from parcels located within the following municipalities: El Barraco (except for zones 18 and 19), Burgohondo, Cebreros, Herradón de Pinares, Hoyo de Pinares, Navalmoral, Navaluenga (except zones 8 and 9), Navarredondilla, Navarrevisca, Navatalgordo, San Bartolomé de Pinares, San Juan de la Nava (except zone 6), San Juan del Molinillo (Navandrinal), Santa Cruz de Pinares, Serranillos, El Tiemblo (except zones 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65) and/or Villanueva de Ávila. or ‘VALLE DEL TIÉTAR’ for protected wines for which at least 85 % of the grapes came from parcels located within the following municipalities: La Adrada, Casavieja, Casillas, Fresnedilla, Gavilanes, Higuera de las Dueñas Lanzahíta, Mijares, Navahondilla, Pedro Bernardo, Piedralaves, Santa María del Tiétar and Sotillo de la Adrada, Cuevas del Valle, Mombeltrán, San Esteban del Valle, Santa Cruz del Valle and/or Villarejo del Valle. or ‘VALLE DE IRUELAS’ for protected wines for which at least 85 % of the grapes came from parcels located within the following municipalities: ☐ El Barraco: Zones 19 and 18. ☐ El Tiemblo: Zones 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65. ☐ Navaluenga: Zones 8 and 9. ☐ San Juan de la Nava: Zone 6.

Link to the product specification

www.itacyl.es/documents/20143/342640/Ppta+PCC+DOP+CEBREROS+Rev+1.docx/d76c9227-1015-a025-398a-e6bfaebf5d81

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