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 63/10
Date: 2021-02-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Italy, Piedmont, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, red wine, white wine








C_2021063EN.01002001.xml










23.2.2021   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 63/20






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 63/10)
This communication is published in accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1)

COMMUNICATING THE APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

‘TERRE ALFIERI’


PDO-IT-A1241-AM02


Date of communication: 24 November 2020


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Designation and wines – Traditional terms







(a)


In Italy, ‘controlled and guaranteed designation of origin’ (DOCG) status is reserved for wines that have held ‘controlled designation of origin’ (DOC) status for at least 7 years, as indicated by the legislation in force, which are considered to be of particular value for their intrinsic quality characteristics (compared to the average of those of similar wines, due to the impact of traditional natural, human and historical factors) and the commercial reputation they have acquired. Therefore, 11 years after first being awarded protected status, ‘Terre Alfieri’ PDO wines can now bear the Italian traditional term ‘Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita’ [DOCG], which represents the reputation and esteem they have acquired both nationally and internationally.
This amendment affects point (a) of Section 1.3 of the single document (Other information – Traditional terms), and updates the articles of the product specification containing the term ‘controlled designation of origin’, replacing it with ‘controlled and guaranteed designation of origin’.










(b)


The terms ‘Superiore’ and ‘Riserva’ can now be used for the existing product types from category 1 (Wine). Climate change resulting in longer summers and higher temperatures gives the grapes a higher sugar concentration and greater potential alcoholic strength, making the resulting wines more suited to ageing. The aim behind this amendment was therefore to highlight the production of wines with a higher alcohol content and wines that are traditionally subjected to ageing, to better reflect the actual profile of the ‘Terre Alfieri’ PDO wines being produced, by broadening the range of products and providing the market with more choice.
These amendments affect point (b) of Section 1.3 of the single document (Other information – Traditional terms) and Articles 1 to 6 of the product specification.




2.   Description of the wine(s)







(a)


Descriptions have been added for the types ‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis Superiore, ‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Superiore and ‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Riserva including wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name
The inclusion of these types is aimed at distinguishing the wines made under this PDO that have superior analytical parameters (such as a higher alcohol and/or extract content) as well as a clear propensity for ageing; and in particular the red wines, which can present not only qualities from the grapes used, but also aromas from exposure to wooden barrels.










(b)


A minimum acidity at consumption of 4,5 grams per litre instead of 5 grams per litre has been laid down for all types.
Reasons: Climate change has led to early ripening and a physiological reduction in the total acidity of the grapes. Therefore it was considered appropriate, based on observations during the production of the PDO wines, to update this parameter to a minimum of 4,5 grams per litre for all types.
These amendments concern point 4 of the single document (Description of the wine(s)) and Article 6 of the product specification.




3.   Maximum yields

Maximum yields have been specified for the new types, ‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis Superiore and ‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Superiore and Riserva.
The maximum yields per hectare laid down for the types with the Superiore indication are one tonne less than those laid down for the basic types in order to pursue higher quality in the wines produced, which will be characterised by their higher alcohol and extract content.
This amendment affects point 5b of the single document (Maximum yields) and Article 4 of the product specification.
4.   Rules on wine-making

The natural alcoholic strength by volume for the ‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis type has been increased in view of ongoing climate change and observations made in the vineyards on the natural alcoholic strength by volume of the grapes intended for its production. It was considered necessary to update this analytical parameter from 11,00 % vol. to 11,50 % vol.
This amendment affects Article 4 of the product specification.
5.   Rules on wine-making







(a)


For the basic ‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis type, the rule that wines cannot be marketed before four months from 1 November of the year in which the grapes are harvested has been eliminated, as producers consider it to be a commercial disadvantage.










(b)


Minimum mandatory ageing periods have been laid down for the new categories: 6 months for ‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis Superiore; 12 months for ‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Superiore, 6 of which must be spent in wooden barrels; and at least 24 for ‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Riserva, of which at least 12 must be spent in wooden barrels. It has also been specified for these types that ageing starts from 1 November of the year in which the grapes are harvested.
These amendments affect Article 5 of the product specification.




6.   Grape production area – Editorial amendments

To achieve greater clarity it was considered necessary to include the precise delimitation of the production area in the single document, as described in the product specification (Grape production area). This is an editorial amendment that does not change the demarcation of the production area.
This amendment affects point 6 of the single document (Demarcated geographical area).
7.   Further conditions – Editorial amendments

Derogations from the requirement that production and bottling take place in the demarcated geographical area have been added to the ‘Essential further conditions’ section of the single document. These conditions have been in the product specification since the recognition of ‘Terre Alfieri’ as a PDO (in 2009), but due to error were not included in the single document. Therefore this is an editorial amendment.
This amendment affects point 9 of the single document (Essential further conditions) but does not concern the product specification.
8.   Other editorial amendments

The following has been deleted from Article 6 of the product specification as it no longer complies with the legislation in force: ‘The Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy may, by its own decree, change the total acidity and sugar-free extract limits’.






—


Some references to legislation in the product specification have been updated.










—


The ‘Other information – Contact details’ section of the single document has been updated in relation to points 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3 and 1.2.5.




SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name of the product

Terre Alfieri
2.   Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected Designation of Origin
3.   Categories of grapevine product







1.


Wine




4.   Description of the wine(s)


‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis

Colour: straw-yellow of varying intensity, occasionally with hints of gold.
Aroma: delicate, fragrant and sometimes floral.
Taste: bone dry, with a pleasant touch of bitterness.
Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 12,00 %, also for wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name.
Minimum sugar-free extract: 16,0 grams per litre, also for wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name.
Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume):


 




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume):


 




Minimum total acidity:


4,5 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre):


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre):


 





‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis Superiore

‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis Superiore including wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name
Colour: straw yellow of varying intensity, occasionally with hints of gold.
Aroma: delicate, fragrant and sometimes floral.
Taste: bone dry, with a pleasant touch of bitterness.
Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 12,50 %, also for wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name.
Minimum total acidity: 4,5 grams per litre.
Minimum sugar-free extract: 17,0 grams per litre.
Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and 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):


 





‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo

Colour: ruby red, tending to garnet with age.
Aroma: distinctive, delicate, sometimes with hints of violet.
Taste: bone dry, full, harmonious.
Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 13,00 %, also for wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name.
Minimum total acidity: 4,5 grams per litre.
Minimum sugar-free extract: 22,0 grams per litre; 23 grams per litre for wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name
Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume):


 




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume):


 




Minimum total acidity:


4,5 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre):


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre):


 





‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Superiore

‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Superiore including wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name
Colour: ruby red, tending to garnet with age.
Aroma: distinctive, delicate, sometimes with hints of violet.
Taste: bone dry, full, harmonious.
Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 13,50 %, also for wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name.
Minimum total acidity: 4,5 grams per litre.
Minimum sugar-free extract: 23,0 grams per litre.
Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume):


 




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume):


 




Minimum total acidity:


4,5 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre):


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre):


 





‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Riserva

Colour: ruby red, tending to garnet with age.
Aroma: distinctive, delicate, sometimes with hints of violet.
Taste: bone dry, full, harmonious.
Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 13,50 %, also for wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name.
Minimum total acidity: 4,5 grams per litre.
Minimum sugar-free extract: 23,0 grams per litre.
Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume):


 




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume):


 




Minimum total acidity:


4,5 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre):


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre):


 




5.   Wine-making practices

a.   Specific oenological practices

NONE
b.   Maximum yields


‘Terre Alfieri’ Arneis

10 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare

‘Terre Alfieri Arneis’ Superiore, including wines labelled

vigna

followed by a place or vineyard name

9 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare

‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo including Riserva

8 500 kilograms of grapes per hectare

‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Superiore and ‘Terre Alfieri’ Nebbiolo Riserva, including wines labelled vigna followed by a place or vineyard name

7 500 kilograms of grapes per hectare
6.   Demarcated geographical area

The production area for grapes suitable for making ‘Terre Alfieri’ DOCG wines comprises the entire territory of the municipalities of Antignano, Celle Enomondo, Cisterna d’Asti, Revigliasco, San Damiano, San Martino Alfieri and Tigliole in the province of Asti and part of the municipalities of Castellinaldo, Govone, Magliano Alfieri and Priocca in the province of Cuneo, as defined below:
Starting from the intersection of the border between the provinces of Asti and Cuneo, between the municipalities of San Damiano, Govone and Priocca, at Bricco Genepreto in the municipality of Govone, the boundary follows the road leading to Montebertola south-eastwards to the intersection with the Craviano municipal road, which it follows eastwards until the Govone cemetery. It continues south-eastwards on the provincial road leading from Govone to Priocca, passing San Pietro di Govone, and follows the road south-south-eastwards to the junction with provincial road No 2 (formerly No 231) in Priocca territory. It follows the No 2 southwards to the junction with Via Pirio until it merges in a south-easterly direction in Madonnina onto the Priocca / Magliano Alfieri provincial road. It follows that road to San Bernardo in Magliano Alfieri, and continues south-westwards on the Castellinaldo / Priocca / Magliano provincial road to San Michele in the municipality of Castellinaldo. At the intersection with the Leschea municipal road, it follows a south-easterly direction to the municipal cemetery road as far as Santa Maria, near the church (196 m contour line) in the municipality of Magliano Alfieri. It then continues south-eastwards on Via Moisa, following it southwards to the village of Borgata San Pietro (214 m contour line), and goes as far as San Carlo della Serra, continuing to the border with the municipality of Castagnito. It follows the border east as far as the intersection of the Asti/Alba national highway No 231, continuing on the highway north-westward towards Asti until it intersects the Tanaro River in Govone territory. It follows the river north until the border of the provinces of Asti and Cuneo, between the territories of Govone and San Martino Alfieri.
7.   Main wine grape variety(ies)

Arneis B
Nebbiolo N
8.   Description of the link(s)


‘Terre Alfieri’ DOC

The name ‘Terre Alfieri’ covers the area under vines of the Comunità Collinare [Hill Community] Colline Alfieri and of the union of municipalities known as ‘Roero fra Tanaro e Castelli’. The winegrowing area concerned represents a major asset of Asti’s rural tradition and culture: traditional viticulture that has continued to the present day and gained a high reputation on the market.
Through dogged perseverance, the local winegrowers have saved Arneis from disappearance and kept the cultivation of Nebbiolo going, bestowing a piece of local history on new generations.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Derogation on the production in the demarcated geographical area
Legal framework:
In EU legislation
Type of further condition:
Derogation on the production in the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:
The wine-making processes involved in making ‘Terre Alfieri’ DOCG wines must be carried out within the grape production area. These activities may also be carried out within the administrative territory of the provinces of Asti and Cuneo, to which the production area belongs.
Packaging in the demarcated area
Legal framework:
In national legislation
Type of further condition:
Packaging within the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:
The bottling of ‘Terre Alfieri’ DOCG wines must be carried out within the production area.
In accordance with Article 4(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/33, bottling or packaging must take place in the aforementioned demarcated geographical area with a view to safeguarding quality, guaranteeing the origin and ensuring the efficiency of checks. The distinctive features and qualities that ‘Terre Alfieri’ PDO wines obtain from their area of origin are better protected by bottling the wine within the demarcated area, since producers within this area are responsible for applying and enforcing all the technical rules on transport and bottling and have the necessary professional skills. Therefore the system of checks by the competent bodies on operators at all production stages (in particular during the bottling stage) is more efficient in a restricted area such as that of the ‘Terre Alfieri’ PDO. This requirement benefits the operators, who are aware of the risks and are responsible for preserving the quality of the designation, in order to give consumers assurance regarding the origin and quality of the wines and their conformity with the product specification, benefitting the image and reputation of the designation.

Link to the product specification

https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/16194


(1)  OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.