Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin
Date: 2001-03-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Castile-Leon, designation of origin, location of production, pip fruit, product designation, product quality

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Official Journal of the European Communities

16.3.2001

Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC)
No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2001/C 86/03)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of the abovementioned
Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority in the
Member State concerned within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The
arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under 4.6, and are considered to justify the
application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION: ARTICLE 5

PDO (x)

PGI (

)

National application No: 56

1. Responsible department in the Member State

Name:

Subdirecci(cid:243)n General de Denominaciones de Calidad (cid:151) Direcci(cid:243)n General de Alimentaci(cid:243)n
(cid:151) Secretar(cid:237)a General de Agricultura y Alimentaci(cid:243)n (cid:151) Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y
Alimentaci(cid:243)n, Espaæa

Address: Paseo Infanta Isabel, 1, E-28071 Madrid

Tel.

Fax

(34) 913 47 53 94

(34) 913 47 54 10.

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name:

Asociaci(cid:243)n de Productores y Comercializadores de Manzanas Reinetas de El Bierzo

2.2. Address: Carretera N-VI, Km 396, E-24549 Carracedelo (Leon)

Tel.

Fax

(34) 987 56 27 13

(34) 987 56 27 13.

2.3. Composition: Producers/processors (x)

other (

).

3. Type of product: Apple (cid:151) Class 1.6. (cid:151) Fruit.

4. Specification

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1. Name: Manzana Reineta de El Bierzo.

4.2. Description: Apples (fruit of the Malus domestica Borkh species) grown from the (cid:145)Reineta Blanca(cid:146) or

(cid:145)Reineta del Canada(cid:146) and (cid:145)Reineta Gris(cid:146) varieties to be supplied fresh to the consumer.

Apples protected by the designation of origin are those classified in the (cid:145)Extra(cid:146) and (cid:145)I(cid:146) classes
established in Regulation (EEC) No 920/89 or legislation replacing it.

The apples protected by the designation of origin must conform on consignment to the market to
the following physical and chemical characteristics:

(cid:151) hardness of flesh measured with a piston (cid:151) 11 millimetres and in excess of 7 kilogrammes,

(cid:151) refractometric index above 14(cid:176) Brix,

(cid:151) acidity greater than 7 grammes of malic acid/litre.

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The protected apples must display the organoleptic characteristics distinguishing them from apples
of the Reineta gris and Reineta blanca or Reineta del CanadÆ varieties traditionally grown in the
Bierzo district:

(cid:151) smell and scent: average intensity, mixture of aromas having an acid quality and reminiscent of

grass, ripe apples and vanilla,

(cid:151) crunchiness: crunchy or very crunchy,

(cid:151) juiciness: high level,

(cid:151) mealiness: low level,

(cid:151) sweetness: sweet or very sweet,

(cid:151) acidity: acid or very acid,

(cid:151) overall taste: strong, intense and balanced in terms of acidity and sweetness,

(cid:151) thin russeting typical for the protected varieties on most of the surface area of the fruit,

(cid:151) basic colour: Reineta Blanca or Reineta del Canada, dark green; Reineta Gris, greyish-green.

4.3. Geographical area: Location of production, market preparation and packaging area: Bierzo district,

north-east of the Province of Leon, autonomous community of Castile-Leon, Spain.

The district of Bierzo comprises the following municipalities: Arganza, Balboa, Barjas, Bembibre,
Benuza, Berlanga del Bierzo, Borrenes, Cabaæas Raras, Cacabelos, Camponaraya, Cand(cid:237)n, Carra-
cedelo, Carucedo, Castropodame, Congosto, Corull(cid:243)n, Cubillos del Sil, Fabero, Folgoso de la
Ribera, Ig(cid:252)eæa, Molinaseca, Noceda del Bierzo, Oencia, PÆramo del Sil, Peranzanes, Ponferrada,
Priaranza del Bierzo, Puente de Domingo Fl(cid:243)rez, Sancedo, Sobrado, Toreno, Torre del Bierzo,
Trabadelo, Vega de Espinareda, Vega de Valcarce, Villadecanes and Villafranca del Bierzo.

Bierzo district covers a total area of 2 903 km2, accounting for 18,7 % of the area of the Province
of Leon. The area situated below 750 metres accounts for 44,88 % of the total area covered by the
area specified.

4.4. Proof of origin: Inspections and certification are the methods used to prove that the Manzana

Reineta de El Bierzo originates in the area:

(cid:151) the apples come from registered orchards situated in the geographical area specified and are
stored, prepared for the market and packed on registered premises situated in the same area,

(cid:151) the registered orchards and premises are inspected by the Regulatory Council,

(cid:151) the Regulatory Council applies the rules which set out the inspection and certification tasks to
be carried out in respect of the product covered by the designation of origin (cid:145)Manzana Reineta
de El Bierzo(cid:146), following general criteria applicable to product certification bodies which are laid
down in standard EN-54011,

(cid:151) the Regulatory Council applies written procedures under which it can proceed with the
certification of the apples protected by the designation of origin in accordance with the
provisions set out in its rules.

4.5. Method of production: The orchards suitable for the production of apples covered by the desig-
nation of origin must be situated below 750 metres, in soils with a pH value not below six and
have a minimum age of three years. The planting, layout and pruning systems are those best suited
to the type of soil and rootstock variety combination.

For the management of soil crop cover, irrigation and pest and disease control maximum efficiency
criteria are applied. Appropriate manuring is carried out to maintain the correct balance and levels
of nutrients in the plant. Thinning methods are applied when it is necessary to control production.

The fruit is picked at a time when the physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics conform
to the parameters defining optimum harvest time. The methodology for the harvest and the
systems used for transport are such as to prevent deterioration of the apples.

The techniques and systems used for storage, market preparation and packaging are such as to
allow the physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics peculiar to the apples covered by the
designation of origin to be maintained.

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4.6. Link

Background

The history of the reinette apple and its introduction in the Bierzo district is associated with the
Roman Empire’s colonisation of the area.

The introduction of the apple is attributed to religious orders, with their monasteries and adjoining
orchards especially in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries close to the pilgrimage routes leading to
Santiago de Compostela. The quotations and references of visitors and pilgrims during these
centuries abound.

Natural conditions

The delimited area consists of a rift valley surrounded by mountains. Only the valley of the Sil
provides a relatively easy exit. Altitude ranges from 340 metres to 2 117 metres. The average
altitude at the centre of the production zone is around 600 metres above sea level.

The climate is determined by the combined influence of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
North-westerly winds reach the rift valley and this explains the link with Spain’s wet zone. The
mountain range around the plain is responsible for temperatures that are more favourable than on
the Meseta. Latitude is between 42(cid:176) 20’ and 42(cid:176) 50’ and this directly affects the distribution of
hours of sunshine over the year, a major factor for the development of the reinette apple’s cycle.

The number of hours of sunshine, solar radiation and the temperature are directly connected with
the level of soluble solids, sugars and therefore with the acidity-sweetness contrast and the flavour.
The factor which determines flesh firmness is of climatic origin: a combination of temperature and
humidity at the time of ripening of the apple. The normal period for starting cropping is between
8 and 15 September. The contrast between the high daytime summer temperatures, about 27 (cid:176)C,
and the cool night-time temperatures around harvesting time, about 13 (cid:176)C, is what determines this
characteristic firmness and texture.

Rainfall in August and September is responsible for high levels of environmental humidity, with
the presence of early morning mists. This causes superficial russeting, a special feature of the
reinette apple grown in the Bierzo district which does not occur naturally in apples from other
production areas.

4.7. Inspection body

Name:

Consejo Regulador de la Denominaci(cid:243)n de Origen Manzana Reineta de El Bierzo

Address: Carretera N-VI, Km 398, E-24549 Carracedelo (Leon)

Tel.

Fax

(34) 987 56 28 66

(34) 987 56 28 69

E-mail:

conseman@lesein.es.

The Consejo Regulador de la Denominaci(cid:243)n de Origen (cid:145)Manzana Reineta de El Bierzo(cid:146) complies
with standard EN-45011.

4.8. Labelling: On the labels of the packages the words (cid:145)Denominaci(cid:243)n de Origen Manzana Reineta de
El Bierzo(cid:146) must appear together with the symbol for the designation of origin. The packages must
bear a distinctive number issued by the Regulatory Council.

4.9. National requirements: Law No 25/1970 of 2 December 1970 (cid:145)Estatuto de la Viæa, del Vino y de

los Alcoholes(cid:146).

EC No: G/E/00115/99.12.27.

Date of receipt of the full application: 7 April 2000.