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: 2024-10-21
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, wine








C_202406316EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2024/6316


21.10.2024






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/2024/6316)

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


                     ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’
                  


PDO-FR-A0664-AM07


Date of communication: 22 July 2024
                  


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Vine varieties

The list of secondary varieties in Chapter I, Section V, point 1, ‘Vine varieties’ of the product specification has been expanded.






(a)


White wines:
The varieties Carignan B, Floréal B and Rolle B have been added, limited to 5 % of the variety mix and 10 % of blends.










(b)


Red and rosé wines:
The varieties Carignan B, Floréal B, Rolle B and Vidoc N have been added, limited to 5 % of the variety mix and 10 % of blends.
The inclusion of these varieties is one of the solutions adopted for the designation in response to climate change and reduced use of plant health products. The new secondary varieties are consistent with the profile of the wines of the designation and allow adaptation to drought and fungal diseases. They allow the use of plant protection products to be reduced.
The varieties in question have been added in the ‘Wine grape varieties’ section of the single document.
The proportion of Carignan B, Floréal B, Rolle B and Vidoc N in the variety mix has been specified in Section V, point 2, ‘Rules on planting proportions’ of the product specification. This amendment does not affect the single document.
The proportion of Carignan B, Floréal B, Rolle B and Vidoc N in blends has been specified in Section IX, point 1, ‘Blend of varieties’ of the product specification. This amendment does not affect the single document.




2.   Labelling rules

Rules on specifying the larger geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ on the labelling have been set out in Chapter I, Section XII, ‘Rules on presentation and labelling’ of the product specification. This information must appear in the same visual field as all the mandatory details and must be printed in the same font and colour as the designation, provided that it is no bigger than two thirds of the size of the designation.
This amendment has been included in the ‘Further conditions’ section of the single document.
In Chapter I, Section XII, ‘Rules on presentation and labelling’ of the product specification it has been specified that the names of varieties of interest for adaptation purposes may not appear on the labelling.
This amendment has been included in the ‘Further conditions’ section of the single document.
3.   Declaration requirements

Chapter II of the product specification on declaration requirements has been brought into line with the inspection plan for the designation.
This amendment does not affect the single document.
4.   References to the inspection body

Chapter III of the product specification concerning the inspection body has been complemented to specify that checks on compliance with the product specification must be carried out on the basis of an approved inspection plan and by a third-party body offering guarantees of competence, impartiality and independence delegated by the INAO, the inspection body.
This addition does not affect the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name(s)

Côtes du Rhône Villages
2.   Type of geographical indication

PDO - Protected designation of origin
3.   Categories of grapevine products







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)

Red, rosé and white wines
BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The wines are still and dry (with a fermentable sugar content not exceeding 4 g/l).
Red and rosé wines account for the bulk of production (98 %). The wines are round and generous with good colour intensity. They are suited to ageing for varying lengths of time depending on the soil type and the blend of varieties, as determined by producers based on their expertise. The Grenache N variety makes up at least 40 % of the blends, in combination with Syrah N and/or Mourvèdre N, which, as main varieties, account for at least 25 % of the variety mix.
The white wines are round in the mouth, sometimes with notes of spices and vanilla.
The wines must have a natural alcoholic strength by volume of at least 12 %. The red wines have a malic acid content of less than 0,4 g/l. The other analytical criteria a,re in line with EU rules.
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): 16,33










—


Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre): —




5.   Wine-making practices

5.1.   Specific oenological practices

1.   Oenological practices
Specific oenological practice






—


Subtractive enrichment techniques are permitted for the red wines up to a concentration rate of 10 %;










—


To produce the rosé wines, winemakers are permitted to use oenological charcoal exclusively on press musts, without exceeding 20 % of the total volume made into wine by the operator for that harvest.




2.   Spacing between rows and plants
Growing method






—


The spacing between rows is 2,50 m or less;










—


The area available for each plant is up to 2,50 m2, calculated by multiplying the distance between rows and the space between plants in the same row;










—


The spacing between plants in the same row is between 0,80 m and 1,25 m.




3.   Pruning – General provisions
Growing method






—


The vines are spur pruned (using the Gobelet or Cordon de Royat method), with a maximum of six spurs per plant. Each spur has a maximum of two buds;










—


The period for establishing the cordon is limited to 2 years. During this period, single or double Guyot pruning is allowed as defined below for the Viognier B variety.




4.   Pruning – Special provision
Growing method
The Viognier B variety may be pruned:






—


either using the single Guyot method, with a maximum of eight buds on the cane and one or two spurs with a maximum of two buds on each spur;










—


or using the double Guyot method, with a maximum of six buds on each cane and one or two spurs with a maximum of two buds on each spur.




5.   Irrigation
Growing method
Irrigation may be permitted.
6.   Growing methods to preserve the characteristics of the physical and biological environment
Growing method
To preserve the characteristics of the physical and biological environment which is a fundamental part of the terroir:






—


chemical weed control is prohibited on headlands;










—


chemical weed control on more than 50 % of the vineyard surface, headlands not included, is prohibited.










—


Plastic mulching is prohibited;










—


No substantial alterations may be made to the shape and contours of the landscape or the natural pedological sequence of parcels intended for production of wine bearing the registered designation of origin.




5.2.   Maximum yields







1.


 
50 hectolitres per hectare




6.   Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines are made and developed in the following municipalities:






—


Department of Ardèche: Bourg-Saint-Andéol, Saint-Just-d’Ardèche, Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche, Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche;










—


Department of Drôme: Bouchet, Mérindol-les-Oliviers, Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, Mollans-sur-Ouvèze, Montbrison, Nyons, (Le) Pègue, Piégon, Rochegude, Rousset-les-Vignes, Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues, Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes, Suze-la-Rousse, Taulignan, Tulette, Venterol, Vinsobres;










—


Department of Gard: Aiguèze, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Castillon-du-Gard, Cavillargues, Chusclan, Codolet, Comps, Cornillon, Domazan, Estézargues, Fournès, Gaujac, Laudun, Montfrin, Orsan, Pont-Saint-Esprit, Pujaut, Rochefort-du-Gard, Sabran, Saint-Alexandre, Saint-Etienne-des-Sorts, Saint-Gervais, Saint-Hilaire-d’Ozilhan, Saint-Marcel-de-Careiret, Saint-Michel-d’Euzet, Saint-Nazaire, Saint-Pons-la-Calm, Saint-Victor-la-Coste, Sauveterre, Saze, Tresques, Valliguières, Vénéjan;










—


Department of Vaucluse: Beaumes-de-Venise, Bédarrides, Bollène, Buisson, Cairanne, Camaret-sur-Aigues, Caumont-sur-Durance, Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne, Courthézon, Faucon, Grillon, Jonquières, La Roque-Alric, Lafare, Lagarde-Paréol, Mondragon, Morières-lès-Avignon, Orange, Piolenc, Puyméras, Rasteau, Richerenches, Roaix, Sablet, Saint-Marcellin-lès-Vaison, Saint-Romain-en-Viennois, Saint-Roman-de-Malegarde, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon, Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, Séguret, Sérignan-du-Comtat, Sorgues, Suzette, Travaillan, Uchaux, Vaison-la-Romaine, Valréas, Vedène, Villedieu, Violès, Visan.




7.   Wine grape variety(ies)

Carignan N
Carignan blanc B
Clairette B
Clairette rose Rs
Counoise N
Floreal B
Grenache N
Grenache blanc B
Grenache gris G
Marsanne B
Muscardin N
Piquepoul blanc B
Piquepoul noir N
Roussanne B
Terret noir N
Vermentino B - Rolle
Vidoc N
Viognier B
8.   Description of the link(s)

The geographical area extends between Montélimar and Avignon, across four departments in the southern part of the Rhône valley. The river Rhône runs right through the area, providing an essential link to the outside world.
During the Tertiary era, the Rhône valley was a Mediterranean ‘fjord’ extending as far as Vienne. As the sea receded, during the Quaternary era, the landscape acquired its current features through the effect of erosion (rain, winds, fluvial erosion). As a result, the landscape is dominated by slopes and terraces. The types of soil vary greatly and include river terraces, marns and soft limestone as well as soils created by erosion (marns, sand, sandstone or molasse).
The climate of the southern Rhône valley is Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and low annual rainfall. It rains mainly in autumn and in late winter. The climate is also strongly influenced by the Mistral, a dry and often violent northerly wind. The Mistral blows for 120 days a year on average, clearing the sky and ensuring plenty of sunshine. The mountains and hills framing the valley create a corridor effect that reinforces wind speeds (Rhône corridor Venturi effect).
The vineyards of the Rhône valley came into their own during the 18th century, and in the late 18th and the 19th century winegrowing expanded along the left river bank. In 1864, Napoleon III commissioned Jules Guyot, an agronomist, to write a report on the state and future of French vineyards. Guyot used the term ‘Côtes du Rhône’ (in the plural) to describe the vineyards extending from Saint-Gilles to Tournon via Beaucaire. The proximity of the Rhône meant that the wines had good access to markets.
Winegrowing became a major source of income. This position of strength led to recognition of ‘Côtes du Rhône’ as a registered designation of origin as from 1937.
Following on from this, producers expressed a wish to be able to promote their best wines using specific geographical names. This led to the recognition, in 1966, of the possibility of combining the ‘Côtes du Rhône’ designation of origin with the names of a number of municipalities to specify the origin of the grapes, reflecting the reputation the wines had acquired. Then, in 1967, the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ registered designation of origin was recognised. These efforts to organise production in a ‘pyramid’ structure encouraged the recognition of geographical units to complement the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ registered designation of origin.
Some 350 000 hectolitres, including 5 000 hectolitres of white wine, were produced in 2010.
The wines are still and dry. Reds and rosés account for the bulk of production. The wines are round and generous with good colour intensity. They are suited to ageing for varying lengths of time depending on the soil type (sandy or sandy-loamy soils give lighter wines and stony or clayey soils richer, tannic wines) and on the blend of varieties, as determined by producers based on their expertise.
The wines are produced by blending the Grenache N variety with Syrah N or Mourvèdre N. At least 66 % of the blend is made up of these three main varieties. The white wines (accounting for 2 % of production) are round in the mouth, sometimes with notes of spices and vanilla.
The wines are made from grapes grown on carefully selected parcels in the ‘Côtes du Rhône’ production area. They are a particular and genuine expression of the natural and human potential associated with wines from the Rhône valley.
The wines produced thus bear witness to and are the result of a ‘unique diversity’ that producers have been able to harness, adapting the variety mix and selecting the best plots to take advantage of the favourable climate and the presence of the Rhône.
The Rhône valley has a climate well suited to growing vines, due both to the ‘cleansing’ effect of the Mistral, the violent, cold and dry wind that protects the vines from fungal diseases, and to the good ripening conditions for the grapes, also linked to the frequent Mistral winds, of abundant sunshine and just the right level and concentration of rainfall.
Since the time of Greek colonisation the Rhône valley has provided a major maritime and later rail and land route for the wine trade, thus allowing a proud winegrowing tradition to be upheld for more than two millennia.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)


Supplementary geographical names

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
The name of the registered designation of origin may be followed by one of the complementary geographical names listed below if the wines meet the production requirements laid down in the product specification for these names:






—



                        ‘Chusclan’
                     










—



                        ‘Gadagne’
                     










—



                        ‘Laudun’
                     










—



                        ‘Massif d’Uchaux’
                     










—



                        ‘Nyons’
                     










—



                        ‘Plan de Dieu’
                     










—



                        ‘Puyméras’
                     










—



                        ‘Roaix’
                     










—



                        ‘Rochegude’
                     










—



                        ‘Rousset-les-Vignes’
                     










—



                        ‘Sablet’
                     










—



                        ‘Saint-Andéol’
                     










—



                        ‘Saint-Gervais’
                     










—



                        ‘Saint-Maurice’
                     










—



                        ‘Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes’
                     










—



                        ‘Sainte-Cécile’
                     










—



                        ‘Séguret’
                     










—



                        ‘Signargues’
                     










—



                        ‘Suze-la-Rousse’
                     










—



                        ‘Vaison-la-Romaine’
                     










—



                        ‘Valréas’
                     










—



                        ‘Visan’.





Larger geographical unit

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
The labels of wines bearing the registered designation of origin ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ may specify the larger geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ under the conditions set out in the agreement signed between the protection and management bodies concerned. This information must appear in the same visual field as all the mandatory details and must be printed in the same font and colour as the designation, provided that it is no bigger than two thirds of the size of the designation.
The names of varieties of interest for adaptation purposes may not appear on the labelling.

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 and development of the wines, is made up of the territory of the following municipalities:






—


Department of Ardèche: Alboussière, Andance, Ardoix, Arlebosc, Arras-sur-Rhône, Baix, Beauchastel, Bidon, Boffres, Bogy, Champagne, Champis, Charmes-sur-Rhône, Charnas, Châteaubourg, Cheminas, Colombier-le-Cardinal, Cornas, Eclassan, Etables, Félines, Flaviac, Gilhac-et-Bruzac, Glun, Guilherand-Granges, Gras, Labastide-de-Virac, Lemps, Limony, Mauves, Ozon, Peaugres, Peyraud, Plats, Le Pouzin, Quintenas, Rompon, Saint-Barthélemy-le-Plain, Saint-Cierge-la-Serre, Saint-Cyr, Saint Désirat, Saint Etienne de Valoux, Saint-Georges-les-Bains, Saint-Jean-de Muzols, Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban, Saint-Laurent-du-Pape, Saint-Montan, Saint-Péray, Saint-Remèze, Saint-Romain-d’Ay, Saint-Romain-de-Lerps, Saint-Symphorien-sous-Chomérac, Saint-Vincent-de-Durfort, Sarras, Savas, Sécheras, Serrières, Soyons, Talencieux, Thorrenc, Toulaud, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Vernosc-les-Annonay, Vinzieux, Vion, La Voulte;










—


Department of Drôme: Albon, Aleyrac, Allex, Ambonil, Andancette, Aubres, La Baume-de-Transit, Beaumont-Monteux, Beausemblant, Benivay-Ollon, Bourg-les-Valence, Chamaret, Chanos-Curson, Chantemerle-les-Blés, Chantemerle-les-Grignan, Châteauneuf-de-Bordette, Châteauneuf-sur-Isère, Chavannes, Clansaye, Clérieux, Colonzelle, Condorcet, Crozes-Hermitage, Donzère, Erôme, Etoile-sur-Rhône, La Garde-Adhémar, Gervans, Grane, Granges-les-Beaumont, Les Granges-Gontardes, Grignan, Larnage, La Roche-de-Glun, Laveyron, Livron-sur-Drôme, Loriol-sur-Drôme, Mercurol, Montjoux, Montoison, Montaulieu, Montségur-sur-Lauzon, La Motte-de-Galaure, La Penne-sur-l’Ouvèze, Les Pilles, Pierrelatte, Pierrelongue, Le Poët-Laval, Ponsas, Pont-de-l’Isère, Propiac, Roche-Saint-Secret-Béconne, Roussas, Saint-Barthélemy-de-Vals, Saint-Donat-sur-l’Herbasse, Saint-Gervais-sur-Roubion, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, Saint-Rambert-d’Albon, Saint-Restitut, Saint-Uze, Saint-Vallier, Salles-sous-Bois, Serves-sur-Rhône, Solérieux, Tain-l’Hermitage, Teyssières, Triors, Valaurie, Valence, Veaunes;










—


Department of Gard: Les Angles, Argilliers, Aramon, La Bastide-d’Engras, Beaucaire, Bellegarde, La Capelle-et-Masmolène, Carsan, Collias, Connaux, Flaux, Le Garn, Goudargues, Issirac, Jonquières-Saint-Vincent, Laval-Saint-Roman, Le Pin, Lirac, Meynes, Montfaucon, La Roque-sur-Cèze, Pougnadoresse, Pouzilhac, Remoulins, Roquemaure, Saint-André-d’Olérargues, Saint-André-de-Roquepertuis, Saint-Bonnet-du-Gard, Saint-Christol-de-Rodières, Saint-Geniès-de-Comolas, Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas, Saint-Laurent-de-Carnols, Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, Saint-Laurent-la-Vernède, Saint-Paul-les-Fonts, Saint-Paulet-de-Caisson, Salazac, Sernhac, Tavel, Théziers, Vallabrix, Verfeuil, Vers-Pont-du-Gard, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon;










—


Department of Isère: Chonas-l’Amballan, Les Côtes d’Arey, Le-Péage-de-Roussillon, Reventin-Vaugris, Les Roches-de-Condrieu, Sablons, Saint-Alban-du-Rhône, Saint-Clair-du-Rhône, Saint-Maurice-l’Exil, Salaise-sur-Sanne, Seyssuel, Vienne.





Area in immediate proximity

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:






—


Department of Loire: Bessey, La Chapelle-Villars, Chavanay, Chuyer, Lupe, Maclas, Malleval, Pélussin, Roisey, Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, Saint-Pierre-de-Bœuf, Saint Romain-en-Jarez, Vérin;










—


Department of Rhône: Ampuis, Condrieu, Les Haies, Loire-sur-Rhône, Longes, Sainte-Colombe, Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône, Saint-Romain-en-Gal, Tupin-et-Semons;










—


Department of Vaucluse: Althen-les-Paluds, Aubignan, Avignon, Le Barroux, Beaumont-du-Ventoux, Bédoin, Blauvac, Brantes, Caderousse, Caromb, Carpentras, Cavaillon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Crestet, Crillon-le-Brave, Entraigues-sur-la-Sorgue, Entrechaux, Flassan, Gigondas, Jonquerettes, Lamotte-du-Rhône, Lapalud, Loriol-du-Comtat, Malaucène, Malemort-du-Comtat, Mazan, Méthamis, Modène, Monteux, Mormoiron, Mornas, Pernes-les-Fontaines, Le Pontet, Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron, Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux, Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols, Savoillan, Sarrians, Le Thor, Vacqueyras, Villes-sur-Auzon.





Link to the product specification


https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-2cda91a2-0391-457f-acd5-6a437bb2f5fa



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


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/6316/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)