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 2023/C 68/12
Date: 2023-02-24
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Austria, Lower Austria, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, red wine, white wine








C_2023068EN.01004101.xml










24.2.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 68/41






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
(2023/C 68/12)
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

‘Wachau’


PDO-AT-A0205-AM01


Date of communication: 29.11.2022


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Maximum yield per hectare

The maximum yield per hectare prior to the 2020 harvest was 9 000 kg. As of the 2020 harvest, it is 10 000 kg.
2.   Vine varieties

For the ‘Wachau’ PDO, up until the 2020 harvest, all vine varieties authorised in Austria for Qualitätswein (quality wine) were allowed, with no restrictions. Since the 2020 harvest, the list of possible vine varieties has been restricted.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name of the product

Wachau
2.   Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected designation of origin
3.   Categories of grapevine product







1.


Wine




4.   Description of the wine(s)


‘Wachau’ PDO

CONCISE TEXTUAL DESCRIPTION
Most of the ‘Wachau’ PDO wines produced are white wines. Red wines account for a very small proportion.
Colour: the majority of the white wines are greenish yellow or light straw-yellow in colour. High value white wines which have been aged for longer may be moderate to deep golden yellow in colour. Young red wines may be described as light cherry red in colour, while older red wines which have been aged for longer are deep purplish red or have a garnet or ruby-red tinge.
Aroma: the white wines predominantly evoke pome fruit such as apple or pear, and citrus fruit. The more advanced the ageing process, the more the aromas evoke dried and exotic fruit (e.g. pineapple and banana). ‘Wachau’ red wines have primary aromas mainly of cherry and plum, or after time spent in barrels, secondary aromas of, e.g. tobacco or chocolate.
Taste: acidity is key to the taste of ‘Wachau’ white wines, underpinning the taste of apple and citrus fruit (grapefruit, lemon and lime). In more aged white wines, in particular where the main variety is Grüner Veltliner, the finish has notes of pepper and apricot. The red wines have a predominantly fruity, low-tannin flavour with hints of sour cherry and redcurrant. Wines stored in wooden barrels have a smokiness from barrel-ageing and hints of compote and stewed fruit.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)


15




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)


9,0




Minimum total acidity


4 grams per litre, expressed as tartaric acid




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)


18




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


200




5.   Wine-making practices

5.1.   Specific oenological practices

—
5.2.   Maximum yields

‘Wachau’ PDO
10 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare
6.   Demarcated geographical area

The ‘Wachau’ designation of origin covers the municipalities of Aggsbach, Bergern im Dunkelsteinerwald, Dürnstein, Mautern an der Donau, Mühldorf, Rossatz-Arnsdorf, Spitz and Weißenkirchen in Lower Austria.
7.   Wine grape variety(ies)

Grüner Veltliner - Weißgipfler
Weißer Riesling - Rheinriesling
Weißer Riesling - Riesling
8.   Description of the link(s)


‘Wachau’ PDO

The Wachau wine-growing area is characterised by steep terraces located on the banks of the Danube.
Climate: two powerful influences meet here, namely the western/Atlantic and the eastern/Pannonian climates. The Atlantic climate results in above-average rainfall, while the Pannonian climate is characterised by high daytime temperatures and cool nights. Wachau is also known for its microclimates depending on the slope, exposure and terrain, and resulting from the heat-storing walls and boulders of the terraces. The high daytime temperatures and harsh winters are tempered by the broad expanse of the Danube. Moreover, the cool downwinds from Waldviertel in the north cause major variation between day and night-time temperatures, especially in the months leading up to the harvest.
Soil: Wachau is characterised by weathered bedrock soils, while drift sand was deposited on the leeward side of the mountains in the postglacial period, allowing loess layers to form in many places on the eastern sides of the rock slopes. This geological terrain and the stone terraces which were laid in the Middle Ages allow for more efficient cultivation of the steep slopes along the Danube and are also the key features of the Wachau landscape.
Link: the weathered bedrock soils of the terraces bring out the citrus aromas (lemon and grapefruit) of the Rheinriesling variety. The loess soils are the basis for the pome fruit (apple and pear) aromas of the potent, full-bodied Grüne Veltliner wines. The highly variable temperatures are key to the high acidity of the white wines. In the red wines, the temperature differences bring out, in particular, the fruity, low-tannin flavours.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)


Production

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:
For all PDO wines, the Austrian Wine Act provides that the production of a PDO wine must take place in the wine-growing region (PGI region of origin) in which the PDO area is located or in an adjacent wine-growing region. Austria therefore makes general use of the derogation provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/33.
For the production of ‘Wachau’ PDO wines, additional conditions have been laid down: ‘Wachau’ PDO wines may be produced outside the area of origin if the producer is based in the Kremstal or Traisental areas of origin adjacent to the ‘Wachau’ PDO area and owns vineyards in the Wachau area of origin or has agreed grape supply contracts with owners of such vineyards.

Bottling

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Packaging within the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:
The Austrian Wine Act does not lay down general rules on the bottling of PDO wines.
In order to ensure the quality and typical characteristics of ‘Wachau’ PDO wines, the following conditions are laid down on the bottling of ‘Wachau’ PDO wines: ‘Wachau’ PDO wines may be bottled by any bottler based in Wachau. Furthermore, it may be bottled by bottlers based in the Kremstal or Traisental areas of origin adjacent to the ‘Wachau’ PDO area who own vineyards in the Wachau area of origin or have agreed contracts with owners of such vineyards.

Link to the product specification

https://info.bml.gv.at/themen/landwirtschaft/landwirtschaft-in-oesterreich/pflanzliche-produktion/wein/Weinherkunft.html


(1)  OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.