Publication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a geographical indication in the sector of spirit drinks, as referred to in Article 8(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1235
Date: 2024-02-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Bulgaria, Burgas region, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, spirits








C_202401625EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
Series C













C/2024/1625


29.2.2024






Publication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a geographical indication in the sector of spirit drinks, as referred to in Article 8(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1235
(C/2024/1625)

This communication is published in accordance with Article 8(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1235 (1).
COMMUNICATION OF STANDARD AMENDMENT MODIFYING THE SINGLE DOCUMENT


                     ‘Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare’
                  


EU No: PGI-BG-01855-AM01


Submitted on 30 November 2023
                  

1.   Name of the product


               ‘Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare’
            
2.   Member State

Bulgaria
3.   Sender

Ministry of the Economy and Industry
4.   Amendment

4.1.   Explanation that the amendments fall under the definition of the standard amendment as provided for in Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787

The amendments do not involve a change to the name or part of the name of the geographical indication, the legal name or the category of the spirit drink; there is no risk to the reputation or any other characteristic of the spirit drink essentially attributable also to the geographical origin; and the amendments do not entail restrictions on the marketing of the product.
Following notification of the amendments by a producer of the drink, the national Bulgarian procedure was enacted by Order No T-RD-27-17/27.11.2013 approving the spirit drink bearing the geographical indication Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare, issued by the Minister for the Economy and Energy in accordance with Section VII ‘Geographical indications’ of Chapter 9 ‘Spirit drinks’ of the Wine and Spirit Drinks Act (published in State Gazette No 45/2012). The national amendment procedure involves publishing the amendment in two national daily publications and allowing interested parties to raise objections. No objections were raised. The Minister for the Economy and Industry issued a new Order No RD-16-146/14.02.2023, which was published in the non-official section of State Gazette No 52 of 16 June 2023 (p. 70). After its promulgation, the order was published on the official website of the Ministry of the Economy and Industry.
4.2.   Description of and reasons for the amendment

Standard amendment to the product specification for Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare
Description
The amendments to the single document and product specification for Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare include the following:






1.2.1.


The villages of Valchin, Lozitsa and Ognen have been removed from the geographical area and the overall area of fruiting vineyards has been reduced from 3 146 hectares to 1 733,6 hectares. The amendment is necessary as the ownership of areas under vines over the years has changed over the years, meaning that producers of the drink bearing the geographical indication no longer use fruit from certain localities. The amendment concerns point 2.7. Concise definition of the geographical area for the single document / product specification.










1.2.2.


The following varieties have been added to the list of grape varieties used to make the drink: white – Chardonnay, Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Rheinriesling, Rkatsiteli, Pinot Gris, Gruner Veltliner and Vionier; red – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. The amendment has been made in order to preserve and maintain the producers’ wine-growing potential by planting and replanting areas with new vine varieties and grubbing-up old plantations that have come to the end of their life. The amendment to the single document / product specification concerns: point 2.6 Description of the spirit drink – the part relating to the specific characteristics (compared to other spirit drinks of the same category); point 2.9 Method of production of the spirit drink; and point 2.10 Description of the link between the spirit drink and its geographical origin, including, where appropriate, the specific elements of the product description or production method justifying the link.










1.2.3.


The continuous distillation unit NM 3000 has been replaced by the following continuous distillation units: DK2-640 with a throughput of 25 000 l/24 hours and DK2-780 with a throughput of 50 000 l/24 hours. The technological equipment has been changed in order to modernise and increase production capacity, without affecting the authenticity of the technology or the good production practices that are required. The amendment helps to preserve the traditional character and reputation of the drink and meet consumer expectations regarding the quality of the product. The amendment to the single document / product specification concerns: point 2.6 Description of the spirit drink – the part relating to the specific characteristics (compared to other spirit drinks of the same category) and point 2.9 Method of production of the spirit drink.




Summary of the reasons for which the amendment is required
The first national order approving Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare was issued in 2003. Over the last 20 years, the ownership of the agricultural land has changed, affecting the areas of fruiting vines and their varietal composition. The drink producers are establishing their own vineyards, with the intention of starting to produce wines and spirits mainly from their own vineyards. The addition of new varieties allows for greater flexibility and ensures that sufficient volumes are produced to meet demand, while fully maintaining and enhancing the quality of Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare. Over the years, producers have made changes to the containers used and their volumes, and to machinery and other equipment, while strictly complying with the authentic production technology. The amendments update the geographical indication.
The amendment affects the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name(s)


               ‘Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare’
            
2.   Applicant country

Bulgaria
3.   Geographical indication type

Geographical indication
4.   Category or categories of the spirit drink







4.


Wine spirit




5.   Description of the spirit drink

Physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics as well as specific characteristics of the product compared to spirit drinks of the same category
Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare is a wine spirit with a minimum alcoholic strength of 40 % vol., obtained through single or double distillation of wine from grapes up to 65 % vol.; the quantity of wine obtained from 100 kilograms of grapes may not exceed 75 litres.
—   Physical, chemical and/or organoleptic characteristics
Colour: from colourless to pale yellow or amber, obtained after maturation in oak barrels;
Aroma: fine with clean notes of grapes;
Taste: rich with a warm sweetness and no sharpness, spicy finish with an aftertaste;
Alcoholic strength: min. 40 % vol.; methanol max. 200 g/hl of 100 % vol. alcohol; volatile substances: min. 300 g/hl of 100 % vol. alcohol.
—   Specific characteristics (compared to spirit drinks of the same category)
Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare is produced from wines specially prepared for distillation, obtained from the following grape varieties: Cherven Misket, Muscat Ottonel, Chardonnay, Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Rheinriesling, Rkatsiteli, Pinot Gris, Gruner Veltliner, Vionier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. There are no fixed percentages for the varieties in the mix; the combination depends on the aromatic components of the varieties in the harvest concerned.
It is distilled to an alcoholic strength of 65 % vol. in the following continuous distillation units: DK2-640 with a throughput of 25 000 l/24 hours and DK2-780 with a throughput of 50 000 l/24 hours.
The drink comes in the following types:






—



                        ‘Сунгурларска гроздова ракия’: pale, straw colour due to maturing in barrels; characteristic aroma and taste of the rakya with a spicy finish and aftertaste.










—



                        ‘Сунгурларска гроздова ракия’ – special: colourless; fine aroma with clean notes of grapes; mild taste with alcoholic sweetness, an elegant structure, a lingering flavour and a fruity finish.










—



                        ‘Сунгурларска гроздова ракия’ – matured: amber colour; fruity aroma with notes from ageing in barrels and a rich taste.




6.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area of Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare is located in south-eastern Bulgaria, at the foot of the southern slopes of the eastern Stara Planina mountains. It covers the Sungarlare valley of the same name, including the following localities: municipality of Sungurlare – the town of Sungurlare and the villages of Slavyantsi, Lozarevo, Esen, Grozden, Kosten, Chernitsa, Chubra, Klimash, Podvis and Prilep; municipality of Karnobat – village of Nevestino; municipality of Kotel – villages of Mokren and Padarevo. The area planted with fruiting vines is 1 733,6 hectares.
7.   Method of production of the spirit drink

The grapes are harvested manually or mechanically, then received for processing and destemmed. The white varieties are pressed and the red varieties are crushed. This is followed by controlled alcoholic fermentation.
Distillation method: the product is distilled to 65 % vol. alcohol in continuous distillation units of types DK2-640, with a throughput of 25 000 l/24 hours, and DK2-780, with a throughput of 50 000 l/24 hours.
Storage method: In stainless containers or matured for at least 6 months in barrels.
Processing method: The batches of wine distillate are blended before processing. The alcohol content is corrected with demineralised water and the colour with caramel.
Filtering and bottling of the drink: there is no restriction on bottling outside the geographical production area.
8.   Specific rules concerning packaging

—
9.   Specific labelling rules

—
10.   Description of the link between the spirit drink and its geographical origin, including, where appropriate, the specific elements of the product description or production method justifying the link

The relief (semi-mountainous, hilly, 180 to 220 m above sea level); the soils (around 70 % chromic luvisols, chromic cambisols, vertisols and low-valley highly humic brown forest soils); and the climatic conditions (mild winters, long, warm autumns, cool springs and summers that are not scorching) in the geographical area of Сунгурларска гроздова ракия / Гроздова ракия от Сунгурларе / Sungurlarska grozdova rakya / Grozdova rakya from Sungurlare wine spirit make it suitable for vine cultivation. Quality white and red grape varieties with dominant fruity aromas are processed by experienced workers, combining tradition and modern technology. The drink has been produced for 40 years and has received numerous prizes and awards.

Link to the product specification

https://www.mi.government.bg/library/zapoved-za-utvarzhdavane-na-vinena-destilatna-spirtna-napitka-grozdova-rakiya-s-geografsko-ukazanie-sungurlarska-sungurlarska-grozdova-rakiya-grozdova-rakiya-ot-sungurlare-%e2%84%96-rd-16-146-14/


(1)  
            OJ L 270, 29.7.2021, p. 1.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1625/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)