Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
Date: 2008-09-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Czechia, beer, designation of origin, labelling, location of production, product designation, product quality

25.9.2008

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Official Journal of the European Union

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OTHER ACTS

COMMISSION

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on
the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and
foodstuffs

(2008/C 244/09)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation
(EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date
of this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘ZNOJEMSKÉ PIVO’

EC No: CZ-PGI-005/0376-14.10.2004

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

This summary sets out the main elements of the product specification for information purposes.

1. Responsible department in the Member State:

Name:

Úřad průmyslového vlastnictví

Address: Antonína Čermáka 2a

CZ-160 68 Praha 6-Bubeneč

Tel.

Fax

(420) 220 38 31 11

(420) 221 32 47 18

E-mail:

posta@upv.cz

2. Group:

Name:

Address:

Tel.

Fax

Starobrno, a. s.

Hlinky 160/12
CZ-661 47 Brno

(420) 543 51 61 11

(420) 543 21 10 35

E-mail:

starobrno@starobrno.cz

Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( )

(1) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

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This application derogates from Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on account of the fact
that there is only one producer in the area. The requirements laid down in Article 2 of Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1898/2006 are fulfilled since the applicant is the only producer in the defined area
and ‘Znojemské pivo’ is produced in the defined area according to the method described below, from
raw materials possessing the properties and quality prescribed and using local water sources, which
lends ‘Znojemské pivo’
from beers produced in the
surrounding areas. The unique character of the production derives from the town's centuries-old
brewing tradition in the defined area. The indication ‘Znojemské pivo’ is traditionally and exclusively
linked only with the area in question.

its specific characteristics and sets it apart

3.

Type of product:

Class 2.1 — Beer

4.

Specification:

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1. Name:

‘Znojemské pivo’

4.2. Description:
lagers.

‘Znojemské pivo’ is produced in a number of basic categories: light draught, dark draught,

Raw materials used in production:

Malt — a malt produced from spring two-row barley is used. The properties of the malt must comply
with the following values:

Extract in dry malt

(% by weight)

Min.

Kolbach index

Diastatic power

Actual attenuation

Friability

(%)

(WK units)

(%)

(%)

Min.

Max.

Min.

78,0

38,0 ±3

220

82

80,0

Water — water from the town's supply system is used.

Hops — hops of the Žatecký poloraný červeňák and Magnum Hallertau varieties are used, in granulated
and extract form; the varieties used give ‘Znojemské pivo’ its characteristic hint of bitterness.

Description of individual products:

L i g h t d r a u g h t

— original gravity (% extract): 8-10 %,

— alcohol content (% by volume): 3,2-4,0,

— bitterness (EBC units): 17-25,

— colour (EBC units): 8-12,

— CO2 content (mg/l): 4,8-5,5,

— draught beer, more highly fermented, with a hint of bitterness, hoppy aroma, good head and

harmonious flavour, medium-strong sharpness.

D a r k d r a u g h t

— original gravity (% extract): 9-10 %,

— alcohol content (% by volume): 3,8-4,0,

— bitterness (EBC units): 18-25,

— colour (EBC units): 35-90,

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— CO2 content (mg/l): 4,4-5,5,

— garnet-coloured dark beer with a less pronounced bitterness, an agreeable malty caramel flavour

and aroma, and a medium sharpness.

L a g e r s

— original gravity (% extract): 11-12 %,

— alcohol content (% by volume): 4,5-5,0,

— bitterness (EBC units): 23-30,

— colour (EBC units): 11-14,

— CO2 content (mg/l): 4,4-5,5,

— medium fermented beer with a fuller taste, medium to pronounced bitterness and clean aroma with

balanced taste properties, medium body with a stronger sharpness and good head.

4.3. Geographical area: Znojmo area

4.4. Proof of origin: The producer has records covering the suppliers of all the raw materials, the purchasers
of the finished products and the system of checks performed in the course of production. The checks
performed in the course of production and the specification checks are carried out by the Státní
zemědělská a potravinářská inspekce (Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority), which is based in
Brno. In keeping with the legislation, each product gives details of the producer. Checks on the origin
of the Czech hops are carried out regularly by the Výzkumný ústav chmelařský (Hop Research Institute)
based in Žatec, which certifies the purity of the hop variety.

4.5. Method of production: Three basic ingredients are used to produce ‘Znojemské pivo’ — good quality
malt with the above-mentioned properties made from spring two-row barley, hops of the Žatecký
poloraný červeňák and Magnum Hallertau varieties and drinking water drawn from the town's supply
system without further treatment. Production of the beer begins in the brewhouse, where the malt is
milled and mixed with water. The next stage is the classic two-mash decoction process, which is used
to achieve the optimum temperature for the extraction of substances from the malt. The most
important technical step lies in the boiling of the beer, when the wort (malt extract mixed with water)
is boiled with the hops to produce the final product, namely hopped wort. The hot wort is separated
from the spent grain and cooled, after which it can be fermented. In Znojmo primary fermentation
takes place in a typical fermentation room, where the cooled wort is aerated, pitched with yeast and
fermented in open vats for about seven days. During this period the yeast converts the malt sugars to
alcohol, producing carbon dioxide as a by-product. The yeasts used are of the variety Saccharomyces
cerevisiae uvarum, a bottom-fermenting yeast. When primary fermentation is complete, the vat is chilled,
the yeast sinks to the bottom (hence the description ‘bottom-fermenting’) and the green beer is trans-
ferred to the lagering cellar to mature. Maturation of the beer takes between 30 and 90 days,
depending on the variety, and it is important that temperature levels remain around 2 °C during this
period. The purpose of maturing the beer is to optimise its organoleptic properties, allow it to reach its
CO2 saturation point and clarify it. Before being transferred to barrels or bottles, the green beer must
be filtered to remove the yeast. It is then stabilised and pasteurised in order to increase its colloidal and
microbiological shelf life. The beer matures in lagering cellars which are linked to the historic area of
tunnels below the town of Znojmo. The beer is transferred to bottles or kegs for transport on the
racking lines and dispatched to customers.

4.6. Link: The earliest documentary evidence of brewing in Znojmo dates from 1278. The ‘Losunková kniha’
(1363), which has survived from the era of Charles IV, identifies a number of houses and townspeople
having the right to brew beer, including the brewer Hostan (whose name has become the symbol of
‘Znojemské pivo’ and of the Znojmo brewery). In 1629 there were two independent breweries in the
town. In 1924 the two town breweries merged and Znojmo became the centre of beer production in
the lower Podyjí region. Following privatisation in 1993, the town's brewing tradition was carried on
by HOSTAN, s.r.o. In 2002 this company merged with STAROBRNO, a.s., who, as the successor
company, has continued to brew the traditional Znojmo beer, production of which dates back to the
13th century.

‘Znojemské pivo’ is produced in the defined area by the method described above, from raw materials
possessing the prescribed properties and quality and using local water sources, which lends ‘Znojemské
pivo’ its specific characteristics. The unique character of the production derives from the town's centu-
ries-old brewing tradition in the defined area.

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In the Czech Republic's most prestigious competition, which takes place at the PIVEX trade fair,
‘Znojemské pivo’ has won prizes in three of the four categories (in 1997 and 1998). In the Cena českých
sládků (Czech Brewers' Prize) competition, 12 % Premium — světlý ležák, a variety of ‘Znojemské pivo’,
was classed as third-best beer of the year in 1997.

In 1999, at the PIVEX trade fair, ‘Znojemské pivo’ won first prize for 12 % Hostan Premium and second
prize for 10 % Hostan Granát; at the Cena českých sládků competition ‘Znojemské pivo’ won first prize
for 11 % Hradní — světlý ležák. In 2000 ‘Znojemské pivo’ won first prize in the Naše pivko (Our Jar)
‘Pivní kurýr’ (Beer Courier). The most
competition organised by the editorial staff of the periodical
successful year to date for ‘Znojemské pivo’ was 2001, when it retained first prize in the Naše pivko
competition and Hostan — Naše pivko, a variety of ‘Znojemské pivo’, was declared best draught beer in
the České pivo competition, the most prestigious of this type in the Czech Republic; Hostan — Hradní,
another variety of ‘Znojemské pivo’, was placed third in the lager category. A further success was
scored in the same year when ‘Znojemské pivo’ won second prize in the Cena českých sládků competi-
tion for Hostan Hradní. In 2003 and 2004 Hostan — Naše pivko was awarded a quality certificate in the
Zlatý pohár PIVEXU (PIVEX Gold Cup) competition.

Irrespective of the trademark under which ‘Znojemské pivo’ is sold, consumers are in no doubt that it
is a ‘Znojemské pivo’ produced exclusively in the defined area.

The designation of origin ‘Znojemské pivo’ was registered under No 186 in the Czech Republic
in 2002.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name:

Státní zemědělská a potravinářská inspekce, Inspektorát v Brně

Address: Běhounská 10

CZ-601 26 Brno

(420) 542 42 67 02

(420) 542 42 67 17

Tel.

Fax

E-mail:

epodatelna@szpi.gov.cz

4.8. Labelling: —