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: 2024-03-14
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, red wine, rosé wine, still wine, white wine








C_202402129EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
Series C













C/2024/2129


14.3.2024






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/2024/2129)

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


                     ‘Gigondas’
                  


PDO-FR-A0143-AM04


Date of communication: 18.12.2023
                  


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Geographical area and area in immediate proximity

In Section IV ‘Areas and places in which the various operations are conducted’ of Chapter I of the product specification for the ‘Gigondas’ designation, point 1 ‘Geographical area’ and point 3 ‘Area in immediate proximity’ have, without further change, been amended to update the reference to the 2023 Official Geographic Code.
This editorial amendment allows the geographical area to be identified with reference to the 2023 version of the Official Geographic Code, which is updated by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), and gives the definition of the geographical area legal certainty.
The same reference has been added to the single document, under the headings ‘Geographical area’ and ‘Additional conditions – area in immediate proximity’.
2.   Demarcated parcel area

In Section IV ‘Areas and places in which the various operations are conducted’ of Chapter I of the product specification for the ‘Gigondas’ designation, point 2 ‘Demarcated parcel area’ has, without further change, been amended to update the date of approval by the competent national authority of the demarcated parcel area within the geographical area of production. Parcels are demarcated by identifying the parcels within the geographical area of production that are suited to production of the product covered by the protected designation of origin in question. The geographical area has not changed.
This update does not affect the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name(s)

Gigondas
2.   Type of geographical indication

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







1.


Wine




4.   Description of the wine(s)

1.   Still rosé wines
BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12,5 %.
At the time of packaging: the fermentable sugar (glucose + fructose) content is not more than 3 g per litre.
The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.
The red and rosé wines are mostly produced from the Grenache N, Syrah N and Mourvèdre N varieties. The proportion of Grenache N in the wines is at least 50 %.
Grenache N brings tannins and roundness to the blends. A moderate quantity of Syrah N strengthens the colour and aromatic intensity and gives the wine greater ageing potential, without altering its character. Mourvèdre N, with its high antioxidant capacity, perfectly complements Grenache N. It enhances the wine’s aromatic complexity, adds spicy notes and is perfectly suited to maturing in wood. The rosé wine, despite making up only a small percentage of the overall production, deserves considerable attention, notably due to its fullness on the palate. It is a rich pink colour with tints of purple. The nose is characterised by a bouquet of almonds and cooked berries, while on the palate, it is heady yet well balanced.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)


14,5




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)


 




Minimum total acidity


in milliequivalents per litre




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)


14,28




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 




2.   Still red wines
BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12,5 %.
At the time of packaging:






—


the malic acid content is no more than 0,3 g per litre at the time of packaging;










—


the total polyphenol index is at least 45;










—


the fermentable sugar (glucose + fructose) content is not more than 3 g per litre.




The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.
The red and rosé wines are mostly produced from the Grenache N, Syrah N and Mourvèdre N varieties. The proportion of Grenache N in the wines is at least 50 %.
Grenache N brings tannins and roundness to the blends. A moderate quantity of Syrah N strengthens the colour and aromatic intensity and gives the wine greater ageing potential, without altering its character. Mourvèdre N, with its high antioxidant capacity, perfectly complements Grenache N. It enhances the wine’s aromatic complexity, adds spicy notes and is perfectly suited to maturing in wood. The red wine is well suited to ageing. Its shimmering red colour ranges from ruby to a dark garnet. Robust and generous, it possesses aromas of very ripe red and black fruits in its youth, later developing wild notes of undergrowth and truffles.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)


14,5




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)


 




Minimum total acidity


in milliequivalents per litre




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)


17,30




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 




3.   Still white wines
BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The white wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12 %.
The fermentable sugar (glucose + fructose) content is not more than 3 g per litre.
The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.
The white wines are made from grapes or wines which comprise at least 70 % Clairette Blanc.
The white wines are produced in three zones. They show minerality and balance and have a brilliant, pale colour with green tints, which can become slightly more intense and golden with ageing.
On the high ground, the white grape varieties, mainly Clairette, ripen slowly, which gives them freshness. The minerality, in turn, is derived from the limestone substratum. The combination of those two elements gives the wines an airy quality.
On the colluvial cone, the white grape varieties take on a slightly more dense structure, while still reflecting the presence of the limestone that can be found everywhere in Gigondas.
On the Miocene sands, the white grape varieties, in particular Clairette, display salinity and aromatic complexity.






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)


14,5




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)


 




Minimum total acidity


 




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)


17,30




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 




5.   Winemaking practices

5.1.   Specific oenological practices

1.   Training of the vines
Cultivation method






—


The distance between rows must not exceed 2,50 m.










—


The area available for each vine must not exceed 2,50 m2. This area is calculated by multiplying the distance between rows by the distance between vines in the same row.










—


The distance between vines in the same row must be between 0,80 m and 1,25 m.










—


The vines are pruned short (goblet or cordon de Royat) with a maximum of six spurs. There are a maximum of two count buds on each spur.










—


The formation or regeneration period for the cordon de Royat is limited to 2 years. During this period, single Guyot pruning, with a maximum of eight count buds on the cane and one spur with a maximum of two count buds, or double Guyot pruning, with two rods with five buds each and two replacement spurs with two buds each, is permitted.










—


Single Guyot pruning, with a maximum of eight count buds on the cane, and one or two spurs with a maximum of two count buds, may be used for the Syrah N and Viognier B varieties.




Irrigation may be authorised.
2.   Winemaking practices
Specific oenological practice






—


Any heat treatment of the wine harvest at a temperature above 40 °C is forbidden.










—


The use of woodchips is forbidden.










—


When making rosé wines, the use of oenological charcoal is forbidden, whether alone or mixed in preparations.




In addition to the above provisions, all winemaking practices followed must also comply with the requirements laid down at EU level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.
5.2.   Maximum yields







1.


Red and rosé wines
40 hectolitres per hectare










2.


White wines
44 hectolitres per hectare




6.   Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and matured in the commune of Gigondas in the department of Vaucluse, on the basis of the 2023 Official Geographic Code.
7.   Wine grape variety(ies)

Bourboulenc B – Doucillon Blanc
Brun Argenté N – Vaccarèse
Cinsaut N – Cinsault
Clairette B
Clairette Rose Rs
Counoise N
Grenache N
Grenache Blanc B
Grenache Gris G
Marsanne B
Mourvèdre N – Monastrell
Muscardin N
Piquepoul Blanc B
Piquepoul Noir N
Roussanne B
Syrah N – Shiraz
Terret Noir N
Ugni Blanc B
Viognier B
8.   Description of the link(s):

8.1.   Description of the natural and human factors relevant to the link

Located at the heart of the southern vineyards of the Rhône Valley and recognised as a Cru des Côtes du Rhône, the area defined for the production of wines bearing the registered designation of origin ‘Gigondas’ forms an integral part of the remarkable Dentelles de Montmirail limestone massif, which erosion has sculpted into an imposing and spectacular shape. The demarcated geographical area comprises the commune of Gigondas in the department of Vaucluse. The vineyards are planted at an altitude of between 160 and 400 metres, and the orientation of the land is such that they are protected from excessive summer sun. Their hillside location protects them from fog and spring frosts, ensuring a regular harvest each year. The climate is typically Provençal, a climate of contrasts, marked by Mediterranean summer heat and the fierce Mistral wind. As in all parts of the Mediterranean region, rainfall can be very heavy around the spring and autumn equinoxes.
For 2 000 years, the people of Gigondas, a village at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, have made their living mainly from viticulture. The first winemaking estates are thought to have been established by the soldiers of the second Roman legion. In the 19th century, the production of ‘Gigondas’ wines steadily increased, as did their renown. On the basis of this reputation, ‘Gigondas’ became a protected designation of origin in 1924, in accordance with the Law of 6 May 1919.
Initially registered under the ‘Côtes du Rhône’ registered designation of origin (recognised by decree on 19 November 1937), ‘Gigondas’ wines were soon recognised for their quality and their distinctive character. As a result, from 1951 the name of the commune was naturally allowed to appear on the label alongside the registered designation of origin ‘Côtes du Rhône’. On 6 January 1971, ‘Gigondas’ itself was recognised by decree as a registered designation of origin, thereby joining the Crus des Côtes du Rhône family of wines.
In 2009, the vineyards covered an area of 1 230 hectares, with an average production of 32 500 hectolitres.
Three types of wine are produced: red wines, which account for 99 % of production, and a much smaller quantity of rosé and white wines. Some 80 % of the wines are produced by private wineries.
8.2.   Causal interactions

Gigondas, once known as jucunditas (Latin for ‘joy and gladness’), may justly be considered a prime location for the production of wines with a strongly distinctive identity whose quality has long been recognised.
The area is perfectly suited to winegrowing, and over the centuries the local people have been able to turn this to best advantage and work carefully with the unique raw material, which is the fruit of their labours on the land.
In magnificent surroundings, among holm oak and olive trees, with a good mesoclimate, the vineyards are planted on permeable soils that lessen the erosion caused by run-off water and enable the carefully selected plots of land to dry out quickly. Generally, these soils combine a clayey matrix, suitable for controlled water management, with a high gravel content that helps them to dry out and has a beneficial effect on temperatures when the grapes are ripening. The slopes are located at an altitude of 160 m to 400 m, above the Rhône mists, and this, together with their orientation (north-north-west), protects the vines from excessive sun and from spring frosts.
The commune of Gigondas thus offers all the advantages of the Provençal climate, i.e. plentiful sunshine and the Mistral, a cold, dry wind that helps to reduce fungal diseases and increase natural concentrations in the fruit, without the disadvantages, thanks to the protection provided by the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range.
Over 2 000 years, all these factors, combined with the winegrowers’ hard work and expertise, notably evident in their choice of grape varieties and mandatory sorting of the fruit, have led to the recognition and renown of the wines produced under the ‘Gigondas’ registered designation of origin and have above all allowed them to retain their distinctive character.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Area in immediate proximity
Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:
The area in immediate proximity, defined by derogation for the making, development and maturing of the wines, comprises the territory of the following communes in the department of Vaucluse, on the basis of the 2023 Official Geographic Code:
Aubignan, Le Barroux, Beaumes-de-Venise, Beaumont-du-Ventoux, Bédarrides, Bollène, Buisson, Caderousse, Cairanne, Camaret-sur-Aigues, Caromb, Carpentras, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Courthezon, Le Crestet, Entrechaux, Faucon, Jonquières, Lafare, Lagarde-Paréol, Lamotte-du-Rhône, Lapalud, Loriol-du-Comtat, Malaucène, Mazan, Mondragon, Mornas, Orange, Piolenc, Puymeras, Rasteau, Roaix, La Roque-Alric, Sablet, Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron, Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux, Saint-Marcellin-lès-Vaison, Saint-Romain-en-Viennois, Saint-Roman-de-Malegarde, Sarrians, Séguret, Sérignan-du-Comtat, Sorgues, Suzette, Travaillan, Uchaux, Vacqueyras, Vaison-la-Romaine, Vedène, Villedieu, Violès and Visan.
Additional labelling information
Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:






(a)


Wines bearing the registered designation of origin may display the name of a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that:






—


it is a registered location;










—


it appears on the harvest declaration.














(b)


Wines bearing the registered designation of origin may indicate the broader geographical unit ‘Cru des Côtes du Rhône’ or ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ on their labels. The rules governing the use of the broader geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ are set out in the agreement signed between the protection and management bodies concerned.





Link to the product specification

http://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-439e2397-7b57-4a70-b1c8-f4a8a3a3aff6


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


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/2129/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)