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
Date: 2024-08-05
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Romania, Vaslui, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, red wine, rosé wine, white wine








C_202404880EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2024/4880


5.8.2024






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
(C/2024/4880)

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


                     ‘Huşi’
                  


PDO-RO-A1583-AM04


Date of communication: 30 May 2024
                  


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Updated information regarding control body

Some information on the contact details of the competent control body have been updated.
Chapter XV of the specification has been amended, with no change to the single document.
2.   Indication of some specific conditions regarding labelling

The specification has been amended so as to correctly indicate some specific labelling conditions; these must be reflected in the corresponding chapter on marketing conditions (presentation, labelling).
Chapters III and XII of the specification and point 9 of the single document are amended.
3.   Amendment of conditions regarding cultivation practices in vineyards

The specification has been amended due to changes in irrigation conditions which must be updated and reworded for the sake of clarity.
Chapter VIII of the specification and point 5.1.1. of the single document are amended.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name(s)

Huşi
2.   Geographical indication type

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







1.


Wine




3.1.   Combined Nomenclature Code

22 – BEVERAGES, SPIRITS AND VINEGAR
2204 – Wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines; grape must other than that of heading 2009
4.   Description of the wine(s)

1.   Organoleptic properties – white wines

CONCISE TEXTUAL DESCRIPTION
Colour: straw-yellow/deep yellow, greenish-yellow, lemon-yellow, greenish, golden.
Aroma: typical, rounded, intense aromas of vine flowers, elderflower, green citrus, fruity, melon notes appearing with age.
Bouquet: summer apples, mown hay, slightly bitter, typical smell of vines in flower, with typical subtlety, fine aroma of ripening grapes, fresh apples, citrus fruit, field flowers, with age mown hay, honey, fruitiness, acacia flowers, hints of fresh butter, floral, balanced acidity, distinct notes of incense and basil.
Taste: slightly acidic, lively, fruity, round, pleasant after-taste, aroma of field flowers, with age mown hay, honey, fruitiness, slightly bitter aftertaste.
(Grasă de Cotnari, Muscadelle, Semillon, Riesling de Rhin – aromatic and semi-aromatic varieties which have above-average aromatic values which could lead to an accumulation of aromas or sugars.)






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)


15,00




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)


10,5




Minimum total acidity


4,5 in grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)


18




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


200




2.   Organoleptic properties – red wines

CONCISE TEXTUAL DESCRIPTION
Colour: ruby-red, garnet, mauvish-red, bright/dark red.
Bouquet: aroma of cherries, strawberries, sour cherries, hints of prunes, full-bodied. Aroma: redcurrants, cranberries, blackberries, floral bouquet, scent of rose petals and basil.
Taste: tannic, aroma of ripe forest fruit, sour cherries, strongly herbal, hints of prunes.
(Syrah, Zweigelt, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera: varieties with an increased accumulation of coloured tannins and a similar concentration of their aromatic character, most probably due to climate change in the area in recent years.)






General analytical characteristics




Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)


15,00




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)


10,5




Minimum total acidity


4,5 in grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)


20




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


150




5.   Oenological practices

5.1.   Specific oenological practices

1.   Cultivation practices
Cultivation practice






—


minimum 3 000 plants/ha (or minimum 75 % plants, compared to the projected vineyard),










—


irrigation: permitted only during years of drought/unfavourable weather conditions and with ONVPV (National Office of Vine and Wine) notification, applying optimum irrigation standards to ensure plant growth potential and specific quality,










—


green harvesting – reducing the number of grape clusters at veraison when the potential production exceeds the maximum limits permitted under the specifications.




2.   Production of wines
Relevant restriction on making the wines
In certain climatic conditions which, in conjunction with the potential of certain varieties, have a positive impact on yields on plantations in the demarcated area, it would be possible to process wines which bear the Huși PDO also outside the demarcated area, in the neighbouring area where the wine centres offer the best capacity.
The neighbouring area designated for this purpose (for quick winemaking, fermentation at controlled temperature, preservation of the aromatic potential of certain varieties including Fetească regală, Sauvignon, Muscat Ottonel, Tămâioasă românească, Busuioacă de Bohotin) comprises the following towns and villages in Vrancea County:






—


Panciu, Movilița;










—


Odobești, Unirea, Jariștea, Bolotești;










—


Obrejița, Tâmboiești, Popești, Budești, Cârligele, Vârteșcoiu, Câmpineanca.




3.   White or rosé wine production
Specific oenological practice
White and rosé wines can be obtained from the Pinot gris and Traminer roz varieties, depending on the producer’s choices, using technologies that preserve the PDO quality of the grapes and the wines produced from these varieties.
5.2.   Maximum yields









1.


Aligoté, Fetească Regală, Zghihară de Huși, Crâmpoșie Selecționată, Francușă, Plăvaie, Donaris, Grasă de Cotnari varieties

                     16 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare












2.


Riesling Italian, Semillon, Băbească Gri, Codană, Portugais Bleu varieties

                     16 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare












3.


Riesling de Rhin, Muscadelle, Fetească Albă, Chardonnay, Aromat de Iași, Syrah, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera varieties

                     15 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare












4.


Muscat Ottonel, Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Tămâioasă Românească, Șarba, Traminer roz, Busuioacă de Bohotin, Merlot, Zweigelt varieties

                     13 600 kilograms of grapes per hectare












5.


Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Pinot Noir, Negru Aromat, Băbească Neagră varieties

                     12 900 kilograms of grapes per hectare












6.


Aligoté, Fetească Regală, Zghihară de Huși, Crâmpoșie Selecționată, Francușă, Plăvaie white and rosé varieties
123 hectolitres per hectare












7.


Grasă de Cotnari, Donaris, Riesling Italian, Semillon, Băbească Gri, Codană, Portugais Bleu white and rosé varieties
123 hectolitres per hectare












8.


Codană, Portugais bleu red varieties
119 hectolitres per hectare












9.


Riesling de Rhin, Muscadelle, Fetească Albă, Chardonnay, Aromat de Iași white and rosé varieties
115 hectolitres per hectare












10.


Syrah, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera red varieties
111 hectolitres per hectare












11.


Muscat Ottonel, Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Tămâioasă românească, Șarba, Traminer roz white and rosé varieties
104 hectolitres per hectare












12.


Busuioacă de Bohotin, Merlot, Zweigelt red varieties
100 hectolitres per hectare












13.


Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Pinot Noir, Negru Aromat, Băbească Neagră rosé varieties
97 hectolitres per hectare












14.


Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Pinot Noir, Negru Aromat, Băbească Neagră red varieties
93 hectolitres per hectare




6.   Demarcated geographical area

The area demarcated for the production of wines with the ‘Huși’ controlled designation of origin may include subdesignations and is situated in the following areas of Vaslui County:

               ‘Huși’ designation:






—


Town of Huși;










—


Municipality of Duda-Epureni, Epureni, Duda villages;










—


Municipality of Pădureni, Pădureni, Văleni, Leoști, Ivănești, Rusca villages;










—


Municipality of Tătărăni, Tătărăni, Crăsnășeni, Bălțați, Manțu villages;










—


Municipality of Stănilești, Stănilești, Pogănești villages;










—


Municipality of Buneşti-Avereşti, Buneşti, Avereşti, Armăşeni, Tăbălăeşti, Plopi villages;










—


Municipality of Arsura, Arsura, Fundătura, Pâhnești villages;










—


Municipality of Drânceni, Drânceni, Ghermănești, Râșești villages;










—


Municipality of Boțești, Boțești, Gugești villages;










—


Municipality of Banca, Banca, Stoișești, Sârbi, Țifu villages;










—


Municipality of Fălciu, Fălciu, Bozia, Copăceana, Rânzești villages;










—


Municipality of Blăgești, Blăgești, Igești villages.





               ‘Vutcani’ subdenomination:






—


Municipality of Vutcani, Vutcani, Mălăiești villages;










—


Municipality of Roșiești, Roșiești, Gara Roșiești, Valea lui Darie villages;










—


Municipality of Şuletea, Şuletea, Râşcani, Fedeşti villages;










—


Municipality of Epureni, Horga village;










—


Municipality of Berezeni, Berezeni, Rânceni, Mușata villages.




7.   Wine grape variety(-ies)







 


Aligoté B – Plant de trois, Plant gris, Vert blanc, Troyen blanc










 


Aromat de Iași B










 


Barbera N










 


Busuioacă de Bohotin Rs – Schwarzer Muscat, Muscat fioletovîi, Muscat violet cyperus, Muscat rouge de Frontignan










 


Babeasca gri G










 


Băbească neagră N – Grossmuttertraube, Hexentraube, Crăcana, Rară neagră, Căldăruşă, Serecsia










 


Cabernet Sauvignon N – Petit Vidure, Burdeos tinto










 


Chardonnay B – Gentil blanc, Pinot blanc Chardonnay










 


Codană N










 


Crâmpoşie selecţionată B










 


Donaris B










 


Fetească albă B – Păsărească albă, Poama fetei, Mädchentraube, Leanyka, Leanka










 


Fetească neagră N – Schwarze Mädchentraube, Poama fetei neagră, Păsărească neagră, Coada rândunicii










 


Fetească regală B – Königliche Mädchentraube, Königsast, Kiralyleanka, Dănășană, Galbenă de Ardeal










 


Frâncuşă B – Vinoasă, Mildweisser, Mustoasă de Moldova, Poamă creaţă










 


Grasă de Cotnari B – Dicktraube,Grasă, Köver szölö










 


Merlot N – Bigney rouge, Plant Medoc










 


Muscadelle B – Moscatello bianco, Mouscadet doux










 


Muscat Ottonel B – Muscat Ottonel blanc










 


Nebbiolo N










 


Negru Aromat N










 


Pinot Gris G – Affumé, Grauer Burgunder, Grauburgunder, Grauer Mönch, Pinot cendré, Pinot Grigio, Ruländer










 


Pinot noir N – Blauer Spätburgunder, Blauer Burgunder, Burgund mic, Burgunder roter, Klävner Morillon Noir










 


Pinot noir N – Spätburgunder, Pinot nero










 


Plăvaie B – Bălană, Plăvană, Poamă bălaie










 


Portugais Bleu N – Blauer Portugieser, Oporto, Portugieser










 


Riesling de Rhin B – Weisser Riesling, White Riesling, Riesling Renano, Rheinriesling










 


Riesling italian B – Olasz Riesling, Olaszriesling, Welschriesling










 


Sangiovese N – Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino










 


Sauvignon B – Sauvignon blanc










 


Syrah N – Shiraz, Petit Syrah










 


Sémillon B – Semillon blanc










 


Traminer Roz Rs – Rosetraminer, Savagnin Rose, Gewürztraminer










 


Tămâioasă românească B – Busuioacă de Moldova, Muscat blanc à petit grains










 


Tămâioasă românească B – Rumänische Weihrauchtraube, Tamianka, Tămâioasă albă de Drăgășani










 


Zghihară de Huși B – Zghihară, Zghihară galbenă, Zghihară verde bătută










 


Zweigelt N – Blauerzweigelt, Negru de Zweigelt, Zweigelt blau










 


Şarba B




8.   Description of the link(s)


Link with the demarcated area

The lithologic substrate forms a typologically diverse cover. There may be alternate steppe and forest steppe mollisols in clay-alluvial soil at forest level. Cambic chernozem and grey earth, the most widespread soils in the Huși Depression, are also the most valuable to vineyards, as their sandy/clay-like texture improves physical characteristics in combination with their basic bio-chemical properties: intense biological activity, significant humus content, high cation exchange capacity, neutral to slightly acidic reaction, high saturation of bases and nutrients.
The relief is formed by a series of wide round hills on the NW – SE axis. The hills have different orientations, morphological characteristics and gradients. This wine-growing area brings together different sub-units: one hilly area at around 300 m altitude and a lower foothill area with an average altitude of 150 m. The hills have different orientations, morphological characteristics and gradients which form the background for some of the vineyards in the area.
The Huși Depression is delimited by high hills to the South, West and North and by the Prut valley to the East, and represents over 70 % of vineyards in the area. The valleys separating the hills of the region with slightly asymmetrical slopes begin in the coastal plain with hilly covering, forming a chain of depressions (Voloseni, Huși, Epureni, Novaci, Diuca, Fundătura, Arsura, Ghermănești) which, together with the higher hills of the depression, contain the most valuable vine-growing areas.
The climate is temperate continental with moderately continental aspects in the hills and hemiboreal in the Huși Depression.
Global solar irradiance is approximately 120 kcal/CMP/year, the average duration of sunshine per year is 2 000 hours on high hills and over 2 100 hours in the Huși Depression and the Prut valley. Considering the average annual radiative and solar thermal values, we note that they remain high throughout the growing season, which is beneficial for the development and the ripening of grapes.
The predominant winds are from the W, NW and N, which together account for over 60 % of annual winds and have Föhn characteristics when blowing down the slopes of the hills to the depression. The NE wind, especially the Crivăț, increases frost, while those from the E and SE are hot and dry in the summer, increasing drought, both of which are felt intensively both in the Huși Depression and the Prut floodplain.
The hydrographic network which drains the territory of the town is composed of two main arteries: the Drăslăvăț in the south and the Răiești, formed from the Turbata and the Șara in the north. They converge to the east of the town, forming the river Huși. The Drăslăvăț and Răiești streams have torrential hydrographic characteristics. In spring, when the snow is melting rapidly as a result of increasing temperatures, or in summer after torrential rain, the streams carry large quantities of water, sometimes bursting their banks.
Wines produced in this area are dry to sweet or liqueur wines, white, rosé or red. They are generally light wines, not too extractive, with moderate alcohol content, slightly acidic in the north of the area with a ‘peak’ in acidity in the Averești area, where natural acidity can reach 11-12 grams of tartaric acid per litre in some years, making this area excellent for the production of sparkling wines.
Red wines are range from lightly coloured in the north of the area to intensely coloured in the south.
The first written documents referring to the existence of vineyards in the areas where today’s vineyards are located predates the first record naming the town of Huși. An act by Alexander the Good in 1415 sets out the boundaries of the old vineyard. Another document dated August 1436 shows that there were plantations of vines in the wine-growing areas of Epureni – Pâhnești – Huși. Contemporary documents state that vines were planted intensively in the Saca and Ochi vineyards between 1600 and 1662; the vines of Huși belonged to the local lord.
There are old records of the excellent quality of wines from Huși, written by foreign travellers in medieval Moldova, in particular Marco Bandinus in 1646: ‘Huși, an ancient settlement of Moldovan vineyards, produces a delicious and fragrant wine which is in high demand’. The great cartographer Dimitrie Cantemir, born in the village of Silișteni near Huși (the village has since been renamed in his honour) writes in ‘Descriptio Moldaviae’ that ‘the best wine is made in Cotnari, and that of Huși comes after’.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Labelling indication
Legal framework:
In national legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
On the labels of the wines, the Huși protected designation of origin may be supplemented, depending on the interests of the producers, by one of the following single vineyard names: Duda-Epureni, Pădureni, Dealul Lohan, Dealul Dobrina, Dealul Şara, Dealul Ochi, Dealul Galbena, Dealul Ograda, Dealul Podgoria, Cerdacul Lui Vodă, Dealul Mănăstirii, Avereşti, Pîhneşti, Arsura, Dealul Dragalina, Dealul Roşiori, Podina, Armăşeni, Dealul Pribeasca, Buneşti, Movila Lui Andrei, Dealul Câlcea, Colina Mănăstirii, La Schit, Dealul Lui Moțoc.
For the ‘Huși-Vutcani’ designation, by the following vineyard names: Valea Lui Darie, Dealul Heretei.
Marketing conditions
Legal framework:
In national legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
Labelling of wines may be carried out in any way provided that the mandatory information is indicated in the same field of vision. The label and counter-label are not mandatory, labelling may be carried out in one or more components, have any shape and be made of any material and using any technique.
The labelling may also use the traditional term provided for in the legislation in force for wines which indicates the quality of the harvest as a result of the sugar content at harvest (when the grapes have noble rot).
Indications used in presentation/labelling
Legal framework:
In EU legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
Some indications referring to certain production methods may also be used on a voluntary basis, as follows:






—


the indications ‘fermentat in barrique’ [fermented in barrels], ‘maturat in barrique’ [matured in barrels] ‘fermentat în prezența așchiilor de stejar’ [fermented in the presence of oak chips] and ‘maturat în prezența așchiilor de stejar’ [matured in the presence of oak chips] may be shown on the labelling in Romanian, or terms in languages of international use may be used to inform the consumer that the said process is employed, such as any of the following indications:






—



                              ‘fumé’ or ‘smoked’ or ‘toasted’ in English, whether or not accompanied by the term defining the intensity of the heat treatment applied to the oak wood used, i.e. ‘light’, ‘medium’ or ‘heavy’;










—



                              ‘fumé’ or ‘fumée’ in French, whether or not accompanied by the term describing the intensity of the heat treatment applied to the oak wood used, i.e. ‘légère’, ‘moyenne’, ‘forte’ or ‘petite fumé’, ‘demi fumé’, ‘intense fumé’.








These indications may be in any other language of international use or in the language of the country in which the wine product is intended to be marketed if the wine producer so chooses, informing the consumer of the use of practices applied throughout the world to obtain wines with distinct sensory characteristics.
For wines that undergo a period of maturation or ageing on the lees, the label may include terms such as ‘sur lie’, ‘bâttonnage’ or ‘aged on the lees’.

Link to the product specification


https://www.onvpv.ro/sites/default/files/caiet_de_sarcini_doc_husi_modif_cf_cererii_standard_356_19.02.2024_no_track_changes.pdf



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


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4880/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)