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 156/05
Date: 2020-05-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, red wine, rosé wine, sparkling wine, white wine








C_2020156EN.01001101.xml










8.5.2020   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 156/11






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 156/05)
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

‘Alpes-Maritimes’


PGI-FR-A1148-AM02


Date of communication: 10.2.2020


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Description of the wine(s)

In point 3.3 ‘description of the wine(s)’ and point 7.2 ‘specificity of the products’ of Chapter I of the specification for the ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ PGI, the description of the wines has been supplemented to specify their colour and organoleptic characteristics.
These details have also been added to the ‘Link with the geographical area’ and ‘Description of the wine(s)’ sections of the single document.
2.   Vine varieties

In point 5 of Chapter I of the specification, the Artaban N, Floreal B, Monarch N, Muscaris B, Prior N, Solaris B, Soreli B, Souvignier Gris B, Vidoc N and Voltis B varieties have been added to the list of varieties that may be used for the production of the ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ PGI.
These varieties are known to be resistant to drought and cryptogamic diseases. While they are similar to the varieties used to produce the PGI wines, they allow the use of plant protection products to be reduced. They do not affect the wines’ characteristics.
The ‘Main wine grape varieties’ section of the single document has been supplemented by adding these varieties.
3.   Geographical area

Point 4.1 of Chapter I of the specification has been updated with a formal amendment to the description of the geographical area.
It now specifies the year of the Geographic Code, which is the national reference listing the municipalities per department making up the geographical area of the PGI. The relevant Geographic Code is the one published in 2018.
This amendment does not affect the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name of the product

Alpes-Maritimes
2.   Geographical indication type

PGI – Protected Geographical Indication
3.   Categories of grapevine product







1.


Wine










5.


Quality sparkling wine




4.   Description of the wine(s)


Still red, rosé and white wines

Wines eligible to bear the protected geographical indication ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ include still red, rosé and white wines.
Still wines bearing the protected geographical indication ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ have a minimum actual alcoholic strength by volume of 9 %.
In the case of still wines, the threshold or limit values for actual alcoholic strength (sparkling wines only), total alcoholic strength, total acidity, volatile acidity, total sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide (sparkling wines only) are as established in EU legislation.
The red wines are generally tannic, sophisticated and powerful. Their colour is deep and ranges from ruby red to garnet with purple tints.
The rosé wines are either floral or fruity and spicy, powerful in the mouth depending on the blends used, with freshness principally from the Grenache N and Cinsault N varieties. They are bright pink with salmon tints.
The complex and elegant white wines are characterised in particular by floral and citrus aromas. They are fine, fruity and lively, and either pale yellow with hints of green or a bright and clear gold.






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)


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 





Quality sparkling wine

Wines eligible to bear the protected geographical indication ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ include sparkling red, rosé and white wines.
The quality sparkling wines have fine, elegant bubbles and a pleasant freshness combined with floral or fruity aromas, depending on the varieties used for the cuvée. Quality sparkling rosé wines are mainly produced from Grenache N and Mourvèdre N and quality sparkling white wines from Vermentino B and Sémillon B. They are fruity and floral and have similar organoleptic characteristics to the still wines.
In the case of quality sparkling wines, the threshold or limit values for actual alcoholic strength (sparkling wines only), total alcoholic strength, total acidity, volatile acidity, total sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide (sparkling wines only) are as established in EU legislation.






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)


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 




5.   Wine-making practices

a.   Essential oenological practices

Specific oenological practice
All winemaking practices followed must comply with the requirements laid down at EU level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.
b.   Maximum yields

120 hectolitres per hectare
6.   Demarcated geographical area

The harvesting of the grapes and the vinification and processing of ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ PGI wines must take place in the department of Alpes-Maritimes.
7.   Main grape varieties

Sauvignon gris G – Fié gris
Ugni blanc B
Piquepoul noir N
Cabernet-Sauvignon N
Téoulier N
Muscat Ottonel B – Muscat, Moscato
Mauzac B
Gascon N
Mérille N
Mouyssaguès
Saint-Pierre doré B
Gros Manseng B
Gewurztraminer Rs
Voltis B
Solaris B
Colombard B
Plant droit N – Espanenc
Chatus N
Liliorila B
Gamay N
Persan N
Pinot gris G
Terret blanc B
Counoise N
Elbling B
Plant de Brunel N
Carcajolo N
Colombaud B – Bouteillan
Gamay de Bouze N
Muresconu N – Morescono
Gamaret
Sacy B
Muscat cendré B – Muscat, Moscato
Graisse B
Fuella nera N
Baroque B
Sauvignon B – Sauvignon blanc
Bourboulenc B – Doucillon blanc
Tannat N
Montils B
Semillon B
Muscardin N
Riesling B
Soreli B
Valdiguié N
Piquepoul blanc B
Roussette d’Ayze B
Mondeuse blanche B
Meunier N
Lledoner pelut N
Aramon gris G
Mourvèdre N – Monastrell
Lauzet B
Joubertin
Aubin vert B
Carcajolo blanc B
Arinarnoa N
Petit Courbu B
Etraire de la Dui N
Prior N
Corbeau N – Douce noire
Prunelard N
Grenache blanc B
Muscaris B
Riminèse B
Petit Manseng B
Verdesse B
Couderc noir N
Ondenc B
Piquepoul gris G
Clarin B
Clairette B
Noir Fleurien N
Monerac N
Artaban N
Cot N – Malbec
Rivairenc N – Aspiran noir
Chardonnay B
Arbane B
Mollard N
Select B
Souvignier gris Rs
Chenanson N
Gouget N
Viognier B
Blanc Dame B
Brachet N – Braquet
Aramon N
Terret gris G
Syrah N – Shiraz
Béclan N – Petit Béclan
Muscat à petits grains roses Rs – Muscat, Moscato
Courbu B – Gros Courbu
Muscat à petits grains rouges Rg – Muscat, Moscato
Folle blanche B
Aubin B
Folignan B
Carignan blanc B
Bouillet N
Portan N
Négret de Banhars N
Tourbat B
Jurançon noir N – Dame noire
Codivarta B
Pinot noir N
Varousset N
Castets N
Auxerrois B
Tibouren N
Mancin N
Béquignol N
Bachet N
Carignan N
Roublot B
Villard blanc B
Perdea B
Morrastel N – Minustellu, Graciano
Rosé du Var Rs
Muscat à petits grains blancs B – Muscat, Moscato
Ekigaïna N
Duras N
Terret noir N
Seinoir N
Aubun N – Murescola
Grassen N – Grassenc
Durif N
Calitor N
Arrouya N
Molette B
Pascal B
Floreal B
Oberlin noir N
Picardan B – Araignan
Mourvaison N
Marselan N
Arriloba B
Feunate N
Saint-Macaire N
Melon B
Villard noir N
Tressot N
Merlot N
Mondeuse N
Marsanne B
Barbaroux Rs
Segalin N
Muscadelle B
Claverie B
Gramon N
Roussanne B
Furmint B
Macabeu B – Macabeo
Monarch N
Petit Meslier B
Chenin B
Grenache N
Crouchen B – Cruchen
Portugais bleu N
Carmenère N
Caladoc N
Raffiat de Moncade B
Aligoté B
Genovèse B
Knipperlé B
Orbois B
Brun Fourca N
Semebat N
Tempranillo N
Muscat de Hambourg N – Muscat, Moscato
Précoce de Malingre B
Cabernet blanc B
Brun argenté N – Vaccarèse
Listan B – Palomino
Cinsaut N – Cinsault
Sylvaner B
Courbu noir N
Aranel B
Muscat d’Alexandrie B – Muscat, Moscato
Egiodola N
Alicante Henri Bouschet N
Jurançon blanc B
Camaralet B
Pineau d’Aunis N
Meslier Saint-François B – Gros Meslier
Négrette N
Servanin N
Grolleau gris G
Précoce Bousquet B
Nielluccio N – Nielluciu
Saint Côme B
Gringet B
Chasan B
Altesse B
Biancu Gentile B
Müller-Thurgau B
Grenache gris G
Pagadebiti B
Milgranet N
Maréchal Foch N
Rivairenc blanc B – Aspiran blanc
Bouquettraube B
Bouchalès N
Goldriesling B
Aramon blanc B
Rivairenc gris G – Aspiran gris
Cabernet franc N
Mayorquin B
Pinot blanc B
Grolleau N
Mauzac rose Rs
César N
Vermentino B – Rolle
Vidoc N
Petit Verdot N
8.   Description of the link(s)


Specificity of the geographical area and of the product

Located in south-eastern France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, and bordering the Mediterranean, the geographical area of the protected geographical indication ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ covers the entire department of Alpes-Maritimes. It is primarily characterised by extremely varied landscapes. The agricultural area of this department is limited and located close to the coastal strip, where there is strong competition for land, as well as in the valleys, which ascend towards the mountains, and on the best-exposed slopes. These slopes are traditionally home to both vines and olive trees, as the valleys are more commonly used for growing flowers or fruit and vegetables.
The protected geographical indication ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ is produced in a small area of vineyards (less than 50 hectares) split up into larger and smaller pieces of land (in the municipalities of Nice, Saint-Jeannet and Saint-Paul-de-Vence) that are distributed among small holdings.
These vineyards, which are located at the heart of alpine Provence, on the eastern border of calcareous Provence, consist primarily of the vineyards in Nice and its surroundings. Their subsoil dates back to the ‘Pliocene revolution’, which gave rise to this large sea when Provence shifted towards the south. The resulting sedimentary deposits are covered by thick layers of conglomerates called ‘conglomerates of the Pliocene delta of the Var’. The landscapes were formed in the Quaternary period, when Provence underwent a new shift – this time towards the west – which pushed these conglomerates up to an altitude of 600 m. This is how the steep slopes came into existence.
The soils created by these formations consist of sand-lime pudding stones and roundstones from the erosion of the Alpine peaks close by. One notable exception are the dolomitic, clay-limestone, magnesium-rich soils of the Lérins Islands.
The vineyards are planted at an altitude of up to 400 metres, almost exclusively on slopes facing north-south, and rarely on hilltop plateaux. They have an eastern or western exposure and grow on parcels that have been carefully selected for the harvest of the grapes. The vines are rooted in narrow man-made bench terraces, or ‘restanques’, consisting of roundstones mixed with very light coarse sand (pudding stone) with veins of clay.
The average annual rainfall is 830 mm, with plenty of sunshine, as much as 2 820 hours a year.
The Var Valley is fundamental to the description of the climate affecting the vines. The valley allows the wind to circulate according to the axis of the slopes, thereby subjecting the vineyards to northern winds blowing from the Alps during the night and part of the morning, and then to sea breezes from the east at the end of the day. Even though the economic balance of the holdings depends partly on having to plant all the vine varieties capable of producing original blends and satisfying the markets, one of the particularities of this protected geographical indication can be found in the winemakers’ wish to preserve local vine varieties, such as Braquet N, Fuella Nera N, Grassen N and Mourvaison N., for the making of red wines. Wines from the varieties Braquet N and Fuella Nera N are well suited to ageing. In addition, there are vine varieties that are common to the rest of Provence and are based on Mourvèdre N, Cinsault N, Carignan N, even Grenache N or Alicante N.
Using this selection of ‘black’ grape varieties, wine estates produce tannic, sophisticated and powerful red wines.
The rosé wines are made from blends that produce either floral or fruity and spicy wines that are powerful in the mouth but always pleasantly fresh.
The white wines, composed mainly of the Vermentino B variety, locally called ‘rolle’, are complex and elegant, with floral and citrus aromas. They are often well suited to ageing. Other vine varieties may be used as well, such as Roussanne B, Clairette B, Bourboulenc B and Chardonnay B.
Quality sparkling rosé wines are mainly produced from Grenache N and Mourvèdre N and quality sparkling white wines from Vermentino B and Sémillon B. They are fruity and floral and have similar organoleptic characteristics to the still wines.

Causal link

These vineyards are very strongly marked by their geographical environment and varying and contrasting landscapes ranging from the Mediterranean coast to the high mountains. They combine the characteristics of a Provençal vineyard with certain northern influences. The sea and the mountains, the sun and the cold wind, and the striking contrasts between northern and southern exposure affect the vines, olive trees and men alike.
The well-exposed slopes, the draining soils that encourage the establishment and growth of the vine while protecting it against the damage caused by summer storms, the sunny and windy weather allowing good ripening and protection against cryptogamic diseases – all of these contribute to the development of the vineyard. The climatic characteristics enable slow ripening, which is essential in particular to the freshness and elegance of the white and rosé wines and the sparkling wines. They are also behind the powerful, tannic character of the red wines.
Furthermore, the establishment of the vines has benefited from the location of the slopes, as they are sufficiently far away from the coast to have discouraged barbarian invasions but still close enough to the sea to have rendered possible the development of trade.
Thus, despite competition from other crops and, in particular, the cultivation of the Nice carnation, which was very lucrative after the Second World War, the vineyards gradually flourished again thanks to the determination of a few winegrowing families, who were able to preserve old and very distinctive local varieties that were well adapted to the area.
A dozen or so family holdings are persevering in winemaking on the Côte d’Azur. They produce approximately 600 to 700 hl per year of still wines, 50 % of which are red wines, 35 % white wines and 15 % rosé wines. Their quality has been recognised since 1979 under the denomination ‘Vin de Pays’. A total of 3 000–4 000 bottles of sparkling wine are produced every year.
Wines bearing the protected geographical indication have displayed their own identity and built a strong reputation; the recognised, high-quality wines produced by the monks of Lérins are excellent proof of this. The reputation of the wines of Alpes Maritimes is reflected in the sound economic health of this production, 70 % of which is marketed at regional level, at remunerative prices of EUR 8 to 10 per bottle to clients who are mostly tourists, while 20 % is sold domestically and 10 % exported.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
The Protected Geographical Indication ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ may be supplemented by the name of one or more grape varieties.
The Protected Geographical Indication ‘Alpes-Maritimes’ may be supplemented by the terms ‘primeur’ (early) or ‘nouveau’ (new). The terms ‘primeur’ or ‘nouveau’ are reserved for still wines only.
The European Union PGI logo must appear on the label if the words ‘indication géographique protégée’ (Protected Geographical Indication) are replaced by the traditional expression ‘Vin de Pays’.
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 wines with the Protected Geographical Indication ‘Alpes-Maritimes’, comprises the following districts bordering the geographical area:
in the south-west, bordering the department of Var: the district of Draguignan; in the west, bordering the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: the districts of Barcelonnette and Castellane.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-d665acec-e3bc-4cf1-b3b9-2e571e3bf214


(1)  OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.