Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to a product specification for a name in the wine sector as referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33
Date: 2023-11-15
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Italy, Umbria, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, red wine








C_202300889EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
Series C













C/2023/889


15.11.2023






Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to a product specification for a name in the wine sector as referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33
(C/2023/889)

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


                     ‘Montefalco Sagrantino’
                  


PDO-IT-A0833-AM02


Date of communication: 30.10.2023
                  


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Recognition of the traditional production conditions for Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG

The current production process (since the DOCG was established in 1992) authorises vinification and ageing at certain existing traditional production sites for Montefalco Sagrantino in the neighbouring municipalities of Foligno and Spoleto.
This amendment is therefore not a restriction (bottling within the area was already mentioned in previous versions of the product specification). Rather, the area of vinification and bottling has merely been uncoupled from the area of production of the grapes, allowing certain wineries to undertake vinification, ageing, raisining and bottling operations, as long as they are in possession of all the traditional elements which are now better set out in the new specification for ‘Montefalco Sagrantino’ PDO.
This amendment relates to Article 5 of the product specification and the section ‘Further conditions – Derogation from production in the demarcated geographical area’ of the single document.
2.   Use of the broader geographical name ‘Umbria’
                        

Description: the use of the broader geographical name ‘Umbria’ is allowed on the labelling and presentation of ‘Montefalco Sagrantino’ PDO wines. The name ‘Umbria’ must be separated from the geographical designation and from the wording ‘Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita’ [Controlled and guaranteed designation of origin]. The font size for the name ‘Umbria’ must be smaller than that of the ‘Montefalco Sagrantino’ designation, and the same font, style, spacing, prominence, colour and colorimetric intensity must be used for both.
Reasons: the amendment better contextualises the geographical area, providing enhanced information to better communicate the link with the area of production. It is an amendment suitable for making the designation stand out on the supermarket shelf and on wine menus at restaurants. It is a real amendment to the geographical information, adding new and evocative content.
The use of the name ‘Umbria’ has not been made obligatory but is up to the producer.
This amendment affects Article 7 of the product specification and the Section ‘Further provisions relating to labelling’ of the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name(s)

Montefalco Sagrantino
2.   Type of geographical indication

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







1.


Wine




4.   Description of the wine(s)

1.   Montefalco Sagrantino secco

CONCISE TEXTUAL DESCRIPTION
Colour: ruby red, intense, occasionally with hints of purple, tending to garnet with age;
Aroma: delicate and distinctive, recalling blackberries;
Taste: clean, harmonious;
Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 13,00 % vol.
Minimum sugar-free extract: 26,0 g/l.
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 in grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 




2.   Montefalco Sagrantino passito

CONCISE TEXTUAL DESCRIPTION
Colour: deep ruby red, occasionally with hints of purple, tending to garnet with age.
Aroma: delicate and distinctive, recalling blackberries.
Taste: sweet, harmonious, pleasant.
Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 18,00 % vol.
Minimum residual sugar: 80 g/l.
Maximum residual sugar: 180 g/l.
Minimum sugar-free extract: 35,0 g/l.
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 in 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

5.1.   Specific oenological practices

—
5.2.   Maximum yields:







1.


Montefalco Sagrantino secco






 



                                    8 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare














2.


Montefalco Sagrantino passito






 



                                    8 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare








6.   Demarcated geographical area

Grapes suitable for the production of wine with the registered designation of origin ‘Montefalco Sagrantino’ are produced on quality wine-growing land throughout the municipality of Montefalco and in part of the municipalities of Bevagna, Gualdo Cattaneo, Castel Ritaldi and Giano dell’Umbria in the province of Perugia.
7.   Wine grape variety(-ies)

Sagrantino N
8.   Description of the link(s)


Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG

The area of production is very small, with gently rolling plots at altitudes of between 220 and 472 metres above sea level. The slope of the vineyards and their general exposure varies. The town of Montefalco and the surrounding hills enjoy a continental climate. The oldest known mention of the cultivation of the ‘sagrantina’ grape in Montefalco dates back to 1549. What makes these wines stand out is the combination of the grape varieties, the area and the soils in which the grapes grow and mature, together with the work of humans who, with dedication and experience, obtain wines of high quality and longevity.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Vinification, ageing, raisining and bottling
Legal framework:
In national legislation
Type of further condition:
Derogation from production in the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:
Mandatory vinification and ageing operations as well as bottling must be performed within the territory of the municipalities wholly or partly in the zone of production.
However, given the traditional situation, such operations are also allowed in wineries located outside that area but still within the administrative territory of the municipalities of Foligno and Spoleto, under specific conditions provided for in the production process.
Wines with the controlled and guaranteed designation of origin ‘Montefalco Sagrantino’ must be bottled and packaged within the above-mentioned geographical area in order to safeguard the quality and reputation of the wines, guarantee their origin or ensure the effectiveness of checks. Individual authorisations are provided to guarantee the pre-existing rights of parties who have traditionally carried out bottling activities outside the demarcated area of production.
Use of the broader geographical name ‘Umbria’
            
Legal framework:
In EU legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
The use of the broader geographical name ‘Umbria’ is allowed on the labelling and in the presentation of ‘Montefalco Sagrantino’ PDO wines. The name ‘Umbria’ must be separated from the geographical designation and from the wording ‘Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita’ [Controlled and guaranteed designation of origin]. The font size for the name ‘Umbria’ must be smaller than that of the ‘Montefalco Sagrantino’ designation, and the same font, style, spacing, prominence, colour and colorimetric intensity must be used for both.

Link to the product specification

https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/19833


(1)  
            OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/889/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)