Publication of an amendment application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
Date: 2015-01-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Community of Valencia, Spain, consumer information, designation of origin, foodstuff, grape, product designation




C_2015018EN.01000601.xml










21.1.2015   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 18/6





Publication of an amendment application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
(2015/C 18/03)
This publication confers the right to oppose the amendment application, pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).
AMENDMENT APPLICATION

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006


on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
 (2)


AMENDMENT APPLICATION ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 9


‘UVA DE MESA EMBOLSADA DEL VINALOPÓ’


EC No: ES-PDO-0117-01032-22.8.2012


PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Heading in the product specification affected by the amendment



—
   
☐
 Name of product


—
   
☒
 Description of product


—
   
☐
 Geographical area


—
   
☐
 Proof of origin


—
   
☒
 Method of production


—
   
☐
 Link


—
   
☐
 Labelling


—
   
☐
 National requirements


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☐
 Other (to be specified)
2.   Type of amendment



—
   
☐
 Amendment to Single Document or Summary Sheet.


—
   
☒
 Amendment to Specification of registered PDO or PGI for which neither the Single Document nor the Summary Sheet have been published.


—
   
☐
 Amendment to Specification which does not require amendments to the published Single Document (Article 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006).


—
   
☐
 Temporary amendment to Specification as a result of the imposition of sanitary or phytosanitary measures by the public authorities (Article 9(4) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006).
3.   Amendments









(1)


The first amendment is the inclusion of new varieties of grape: the white grapes Doña María, Dominga and Victoria and the black grape Red Globe.
Reason: Since the Designation of Origin ‘Uva embolsada del Vinalopó’ was created in 1989, the region has been subject to many changes as a result of developments in growing techniques and changes and adaptations by consumers in response to the markets.
Initially Aledo, Italia or Ideal and Rossetti were grown. Although these varieties have continued to be grown, other varieties have been planted over several new hectares.
The same growing techniques have been used for these new varieties, as well as for the bagging technique. The area planted with these new varieties in the region is sufficiently large to be able to conclude that they have been able to adapt satisfactorily.
Indeed the fruits maintain virtually all of their bloom, and have a more accentuated colour and a skin which is free of defects.
In terms of organoleptic qualities, the varieties ‘Victoria’, ‘Red Globe’, ‘Doña María’ and ‘Dominga’ have a considerable degree of sweetness when harvested, which is consistent with the varieties originally covered (‘Aledo’, ‘Italia/Ideal’ and ‘Rosetti’). In fact when harvested all of them have a minimum of 12,5oBrix.
All these facts (sweetness, maintaining their bloom, an accentuated colour, skin free of defects, together with adaptation to their environment and the bagging technique) justify the application to include the new varieties in the PDO ‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’.
Description of the varieties:

Victoria: the bunch is large, pyramid-shaped, and smaller at the bottom. The grape is a waxy-yellow colour and is large and elliptical in shape. The flesh is crisp, with a sweet neutral flavour. It endures transportation very well. It is grown on arbours and high espaliers. It may be harvested at the end of July and, where forcing methods are used, even in June. It is a variety which derives great advantages from being bagged, which provides protection from birds and insects and, above all, the bagging ensures quality produce. The variety tolerates it and good results are obtained.

Dominga: may be harvested from October until the end of November. It is always bagged, resulting in very uniform cane-yellow tones and high quality, and it is very palatable to the consumer.

Doña María: its bunches are large, conical in shape and very loose. Its berries are pale yellow in colour, very large and oval. Very sweet flavour. It ripens at the start of September until the end of October. It is grown on high arbours and double-cordoned high espaliers. The variety copes very well with bagging.

Red Globe: its bunches are very large, conical-cylindrical, winged, with medium to long wings, and semi-loose. Its berries may be red, red-wine coloured, pink or red-violet coloured, spherical in shape, very large, with a neutral flavour, crisp flesh, and skin which is thick, resistant and easy to peel. It is grown on high arbours and double-cordoned high espaliers. It is a variety which has adapted perfectly to the conditions of the region and to bagging.












(2)


The second amendment is the deletion of the description of a cultural practice relating to pruning.
The following information is to be deleted:
‘The espaliers are pruned “on the canes”, that is using the Guyot two-arm pruning method, in other words 12 to 14 buds on each vine. The arbours have four arms, each with four to six spurs and two to four buds per spur’.
Reason: This information refers to pruning, spurs per arm and buds per spur, and is not relevant for obtaining ‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’ with its distinctive characteristics. Furthermore, since this file was submitted in 1996 and to date, with the experience that has been acquired in growing the product, it is not considered useful to restrict the type of pruning to the only type described in the original specification. As this involves a very particular practice, and as has already been said, it is not relevant for obtaining the product with its distinctive characteristics, we request that this information is not included in the new specification.












(3)


The third amendment consists of deleting the description of the categories of grape ‘Extra’ and ‘Class I’.
The following information is to be deleted:
‘The grape categories “Extra” and “Class I” as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 1730/87 and in the Ministerial Order of 24 November 1982 (Official State Gazette of 27 November 1982)
“Extra” category:
Grapes in this category must be of superior quality. In shape and development, the bunches must be typical of the variety and have no defects.
They must be uniform in colour, with an overall pale waxy-yellow tone.
Berries must be firm, firmly attached, evenly spaced along the stalk and have their bloom virtually intact. Minimum bunch weight: 200 grams ± 5 % weight of bunches not satisfying the requirements for the category, but meeting those for Class I.
A tolerance of 10 % by weight of bunches not satisfying the size requirements for the “Extra”, but meeting the packaging requirements for “Class I” is allowed.
“Class I” category
Grapes in this category must be of good quality. In shape and development, the bunches must be typical of the variety. They must be uniform in colour, with an overall waxy-yellow tone.
Berries must be firm, firmly attached and, as far as possible, have their bloom intact. They may, however, be less evenly spaced along the stalk than in the “Extra” category, with slight defects of shape and colouring allowed.
Minimum bunch weight: 150 grams’.
Reason: The definition of the categories ‘Extra’ and ‘Class I’, and their tolerances, as stated in the file requesting registration of the PDO ‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’, was included in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1730/87 of 22 June 1987 laying down quality standards for table grapes (3), which has been repealed. In addition, rules of this type are general and apply to all grapes; and not to specific grapes, i.e. to the grapes of the PDO ‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’. Lastly, it should be remembered that rules of this type may be subsequently amended, and therefore there is no sense in reflecting them in the detailed description for the category.




SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006


on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
 (4)


‘UVA DE MESA EMBOLSADA DEL VINALOPÓ’


EC No: ES-PDO-0117-01032-22.8.2012


PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name


‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’

2.   Member State or Third Country

Spain
3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 1.6. Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed.
3.2.   Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

The varieties suitable for inclusion under the Protected Designation of Origin are solely the following:






—


White varieties:

Aledo: The bunches are large and loose. The grape is ellipsoidal in shape, and waxy-yellow in colour. Thick and crisp skin. Late ripening, from November to December.

Italia or Ideal: The bunches are medium-sized, with large berries which are golden-yellow in colour and elliptical in shape, with crisp flesh and a slight flavour of Muscat. Harvesting takes place from September to October.

Rosetti: The bunches are large and cylindrical-conical or pyramidal in shape. The berries are waxy-yellow to golden-yellow in colour. The grape is large, with a neutral flavour but very sweet, with crisp flesh. Its skin is fine, with a pruinose consistency. Harvesting takes place from the beginning of September to the end of October.

Victoria: The bunches are large, with a pyramid-shape, and smaller at the bottom. The grape is a waxy-yellow colour and is large and elliptical in shape. The flesh is crisp, with a sweet neutral flavour. It is a resistant variety which can be grown on an arbour and a high espalier. It may be harvested at the end of July and, where forcing methods are used, even in June.

Dominga: May be harvested from October until the end of November. Its individual grapes are very uniform cane yellow in colour, of high quality and it is very palatable to the consumer.

Doña María: Its bunches are large, conical in shape and very loose. Its berries are pale yellow in colour, very large and oval. Very sweet flavour. Ripens at the start of September until the end of October. It is grown on high arbours and double-cordoned high espaliers.










—


Black varieties:

Red Globe: Its bunches are very large, conical-cylindrical, winged, with medium to long wings, and semi-loose. Its berries may be red, red-wine coloured, pink or red-violet coloured, spherical in shape, very large, with a neutral flavour, crisp flesh, and skin which is thick, resistant and easy to peel. It is grown on high arbours and double-cordoned high espaliers.
These varieties are characterised by a high degree of sweetness, with a minimum of 12,5oBrix.




The fruit, which belongs to the ‘Extra’ and ‘Class I’ categories, must be:






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sound,










—


clean,










—


free of any foreign matter,










—


free from signs of damage by pests or diseases,










—


free from all visible traces of mould,










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free of abnormal external moisture,










—


free of foreign smell and/or taste.




Individual grapes must be:






—


well formed,










—


normally developed,










—


attached to the stalk.




The ‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’ maintains virtually all of its bloom, has a more accentuated colour and a skin which is free of defects.
3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only)

—
3.4.   Feed (for products of animal origin only)

—
3.5.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

Production and harvesting
3.6.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.

—
3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling

Inscriptions, marking or labels identifying ‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’ must include the official European symbol for protected designations of origins, together with the words ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ and ‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’.
A conformity mark, known as a secondary label, must also be included which is identified by means of an alphanumeric key applied during packaging and subject to checks to ensure that it is not reused and to enable traceability. These secondary labels must include the words ‘Protected Designation of Origin Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’ and its logo.
4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area for the grapes covered by the Protected Designation of Origin ‘Uva de mesa embolsada Vinalopó’ include the parcels listed in the Register of parcels of the PDO managing body, and are located in the following municipalities of the province of Alicante: Agost, Aspe, Hondón de los Frailes, Hondón de las Nieves, Monforte del Cid, Novelda and La Romana.
5.   Link with the geographical area

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area


Natural factors

The Mid Vinalopó area is a meeting point for three climate types which, as part of the Mediterranean climate, originate in the province of Alicante (maritime, temperate and sub-tropical).
This means that the region rarely has temperatures lower than 0 °C, with the greatest risk of frost existing in the low areas facing north and north-west.
There are stark contrasts in terms of precipitation: both droughts and floods, and also a great level of variation in precipitation patterns from one year to the next, as well as in periods of drought.
The soil is limey and its lithology includes terraced gravel deposits resulting from continental sediments, marine sediments, molasses and limestone and arsenic and limey marls. All the soils in the Valley have a high calcium carbonate content and low levels of organic materials.
The topography of the region is conditioned by the Vinalopó and adjacent valleys which make up a narrow NE-SE passageway which cuts across the slope of the ‘Prebético’ mountain range through which the River Vinalopó flows.

Human factors

The bagging of the table grape is a special technique which is carried out ‘exclusively’ in the Mid Vinalopó area, in the abovementioned municipalities. This practice began in the municipality of Novelda around 1920, in order to protect the bunches against the bunch moth by using paper ‘bags’.
It consists of placing each bunch inside a protective paper bag where it remains until it is packaged.
5.2.   Specificity of the product

The PDO ‘Uva embolsada del Vinalopó’ maintains virtually all of its bloom. Its berries are distinctive as they have a more accentuated colour and a skin which is free of defects.
5.3.   Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI)

‘Uva de mesa embolsada del Vinalopó’ has distinctive features arising from a combination of natural and human factors:
The protected area has a Mediterranean climate, whose gentle temperatures throughout the year endow the berries with a more accentuated colour.
The topography of the Vinalopó district, which is characterised by interconnected valleys forming a passageway, keeps it free from frosts and thereby helps the fruit to obtain a stronger colour.
The bagging technique protects the grape, allowing the berries to maintain virtually all of their bloom and a skin which is free of defects.
Bagging is a special technique and over time the importance of selecting the right paper has been highlighted: the paper used, which is made of long cellulose fibres containing melanine to protect against humidity, and is satiny and cane-coloured, is also partly responsible for the stronger colour of the grapes.
This paper also lasts longer and repels more rainwater, which helps prevent the berries from developing skin defects, although it can lead to some grapes at the top of the bunch burning if temperatures are very high when the bag is placed on the bunch. Knowledge of the climatology of the area is fundamental for carrying out bagging correctly.

Reference to the publication of the specification

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (5))
http://www.agricultura.gva.es/pc_uvavinalopo


(1)  OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

(2)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

(3)  OJ L 163, 23.6.1987, p. 25.

(4)  Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

(5)  See footnote 4.