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 68/10
Date: 2023-02-24
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Austria, Styria, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, rosé wine, white wine








C_2023068EN.01003301.xml










24.2.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 68/33






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 68/10)
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

‘Weststeiermark’


PDO-AT-A0234-AM01


Date of communication: 29.11.2022


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Modification of the maximum yield per hectare

The maximum yield per hectare prior to the 2020 harvest was 9 000 kg/ha; as of the 2020 harvest it has been set at 10 000 kg/ha.
2.   Wine-grape varieties

Prior to the 2018 harvest all grape varieties authorised for quality wines in Austria were permitted for use in ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO wines. Since the 2018 harvest the list of possible grape varieties has been restricted.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name(s)

Weststeiermark
2.   Geographical indication type

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







1.


Wine




4.   Description of the wine(s)


‘Weststeiermark’ PDO

CONCISE TEXTUAL DESCRIPTION
About 80 % of production in the ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO wine-growing area is exclusively accounted for by the Blauer Wildbacher variety (traditional name: ‘Schilcher’) . Blauer Wildbacher is an old, indigenous variety.
Colour: Pink to rosé
Aroma: Red berry notes (wild strawberry, strawberry, raspberry)
Taste: Fresh, lively acid with multiple notes of juicy wild strawberries and strawberries.
A small proportion of ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO wines are produced from white-wine grapes.
Colour: greenish yellow to light golden yellow
Smell: Fruity aromas of blackcurrant and gooseberry, but also green pepper.
Taste: Apple, freshly mown grass and mineral notes.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)


15,0




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)


9




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


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

The ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO area covers the districts of ‘Graz’, ‘Graz-Umgebung’, ‘Voitsberg’ and ‘Deutschlandsberg’ in the province of Styria.
7.   Wine grape variety(ies)

Blauer Wildbacher - Schilcher
8.   Description of the link(s)


‘Weststeiermark’ PDO

Climate: The ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO area is characterised by its particular topography. Deep valleys running from East to West protect against strong winds and allow considerable warming during the day. The vast majority of vineyards are, moreover, located on slopes and therefore absorb more solar radiation than is usually the case. The nights, however, are much cooler, owing to the altitude of the ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO area.
Soil: Vineyards in the ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO area are largely located on mostly acidic, crystalline solid rocks of the Eastern Alps and, to the East, on the partly coarse and predominantly loose rocks of the Styrian Basin.
Link: The extreme temperature difference between day and night causes the grapes to have a higher acidity than average. The rosé wine from the ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO (traditional name: ‘Schilcher’) is therefore the most acid-rich wine in Austria. The white wines are also characterised by a flavour profile dominated by acidity. In addition to the defining acidity, the diurnal range confers characteristic fruit aromas such as strawberry and raspberry, especially on white wines made from Burgunder grape varieties.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)


Production

Legal framework:
In 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 ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO wines, additional conditions have been laid down: Production must take place in the ‘Steiermark’ PDO area (including the ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO, ‘Südsteiermark’ PDO and ‘Vulkanland Steiermark’ PDO). Bottling outside the ‘Steiermark’ PDO wine-growing area is permissible only after notification to and approval by the Styria Regional Wine Committee.

Bottling

Legal framework:
In 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 ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO wines, the following conditions are laid down on the bottling of ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO wines: Bottling must take place in the ‘Steiermark’ PDO area (including the ‘Weststeiermark’ PDO, ‘Südsteiermark’ PDO and ‘Vulkanland Steiermark’ PDO). Bottling outside the ‘Steiermark’ PDO wine-growing area is permissible only after notification to and approval by the Styria Regional Wine Committee.

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.