Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to the 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: 2025-01-15
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, red wine, still wine








C_202500439EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/439


15.1.2025






Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to the 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/2025/439)

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


                     ‘Cornas’
                  


PDO-FR-A0697-AM02


Date of communication: 16.10.2024
                  


DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Growing methods

Chapter I, Section VI ‘Vineyard layout’ of the product specification for the ‘Cornas’ designation has been supplemented to add an agro-environmental rule on preserving the characteristics of the physical and biological environment of the terroir:






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Weed control, other than mechanical weeding, is prohibited on headlands and slopes.




The provision has been added to the single document in the ‘Winemaking practices’ section.
2.   Trellising rules

Chapter I, Section XI ‘Transitional measures’ of the product specification for the ‘Cornas’ designation has been amended to remove a transitional provision, now outdated, providing that the rules on trellising, foliage height and stake height were to apply to vineyard parcels in place as at 31 July 2009 from the 2016 harvest.
This amendment does not affect the single document.
3.   Labelling

Chapter I, Section XII ‘Presentation and labelling rules’ of the product specification for the ‘Cornas’ designation has been supplemented under point 2 ‘Special provisions’ to include labelling rules for references to the broader geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ as set out in the agreement between the relevant protection and management bodies. This information must appear in the same visual field as all the mandatory details and must be printed in characters of the same graphic design and colour as those of the designation, provided that it is no bigger than two thirds of the size of the designation.
The amendment has been added to the single document in the ‘Additional conditions – Labelling’ section.
4.   Declaration requirements

Chapter II of the product specification for the ‘Cornas’ designation has been updated: the obligations for operators to make declarations to the protection and management body have been brought into line with the inspection plan for the designation.
This update does not affect the single document.
5.   Reference to the inspection body

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

Cornas
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)

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The ‘Cornas’ designation of origin can only be used for still red wines.
The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 10,5 %.
At the packing stage, the wines have a malic acid content not exceeding 0,4 grams per litre.
The wines’ fermentable sugar (glucose and fructose) content at the packing stage must not exceed:






—


3 grams per litre for wines whose natural alcoholic strength by volume is less than or equal to 13,5 %;










—


4 grams per litre for wines whose natural alcoholic strength by volume is greater than 13,5 %.




After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume must not exceed 13,5 %.
Their total acidity, volatile acidity where not specified and total sulphur dioxide content are those laid down in EU legislation.
The wines are exclusively red wines. Among all the wines with a protected designation from the northern Rhône Valley, known as ‘Côtes du Rhône septentrionales’, ‘Cornas’ is the only one produced exclusively from the Syrah N grape variety.
The wines have a very dark colour ranging from garnet red to nearly black, tending towards amber tints with ageing. Vigorous and full-bodied, the wines reach their peak after a long period of ageing. Due to their robust structure they are often referred to as ‘virile’.
General analytical characteristics






—


Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) —










—


Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume): —










—


Minimum total acidity —










—


Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre): —










—


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




5.   Winemaking practices

5.1.   Specific oenological practices

1.   Growing method






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The minimum vine planting density is 4 400 plants per hectare.










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The maximum area available for each plant is 2,30 square metres. This area is calculated by multiplying the distance between rows and the space between plants in the same row.










—


The spacing between rows must not exceed 2,50 metres.




The vines are pruned with a maximum of eight buds per plant, using the following techniques:






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Spur pruning (goblet, Royat with one or two arms);










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Single or double Guyot.




The maximum height of the cordon is 0,60 metres, measured from the ground up to the lower part of the wooden frame.






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The wines are made from grapes harvested manually. The grape bunches are transported whole to the winemaking location.




As of 1 January 2020, all plant material used for vine plantings and replantings must have undergone hot water treatment or any other treatment against flavescence dorée recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture.






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From 1 September to 1 February, naturally occurring vegetation must be managed either by turning the soil or by using equipment that enables treatment products to target precise locations.










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Plastic mulching is prohibited.










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Weed control, other than mechanical weeding, is prohibited on headlands and slopes.




2.   Specific oenological practice






—


Any heat treatment of the grape harvest at a temperature above 40 °C is prohibited.










—


The use of wood chips is prohibited.




In addition to the above provisions, the oenological practices concerning these wines must meet the requirements laid down at EU level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.
5.2.   Maximum yields









1.


46 hectolitres per hectare




6.   Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made and developed in the municipality of Cornas, department of Ardèche, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code as at 1 January 2019.
7.   Wine grape variety(ies)

Syrah N - Shiraz
8.   Description of the link(s)

In the system of Rhône valley controlled designations of origin, ‘Cornas’ belongs to the ‘Crus des Côtes du Rhône’ class of wines.
A controlled designation of origin from the northern Rhône valley, ‘Cornas’ is the southernmost designation in the ‘Côtes du Rhône’ area for the production of red wines.
The vineyards are located on the right bank of the Rhône River, facing the city of Valence, between the geographical areas of the ‘Saint-Péray’ and ‘Saint-Joseph’ designations.
The municipality of Cornas in the department of Ardèche makes up the entire geographical area.
The ‘Cornas’ geographical area is an amphitheatre-shaped valley with essentially granitic soils. It is well exposed, warm and protected from the winds, with terraced slopes supported by low walls patiently built over the years by a wine-growing community that continues to maintain them in order to preserve both the production potential of their vineyards and the vine landscape itself.
The tradition of harvesting grapes by hand, still upheld by ‘Cornas’ winegrowers today, helps preserve the originality and characteristics of these hillside vineyards.

               ‘Cornas’, the name of the municipality as well as of the wine, means ‘burnt land’ in Celtic and may be linked to its mesoclimate. The climate conditions are clement, allowing the grapes to mature early. This explains why the ‘Cornas’ grape harvest often starts 1 week earlier than for the ‘Hermitage’ designation of origin although it is situated just 12 kilometres further south.
These natural conditions, taken together, have allowed the Syrah N variety to thrive here and to become emblematic of this territory, even though it has spread into other regions. The grapes, which are grown on well-defined parcels, ripen early and produce virile wines characterised by their black colour, abundant but soft tannins, powerful aromas and a structure making them suited to ageing. Their quality is recognised worldwide and has earned them praise over the centuries, as evidenced by numerous historical documents.
The ‘Cornas’ controlled designation of origin has built its reputation solely on red wine, in parallel with ‘Saint-Péray’, a neighbouring designation of origin that covers white wine only.
Apart from its organoleptic characteristics, the small size of the wine-growing area and the climate, ‘Cornas’ wine also owes its identity and originality to a certain uniformity (a single municipality, a single vine variety growing on essentially granitic soils).
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)


Labelling

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:






(a)


The labelling of wines with the ‘Cornas’ designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical entity, provided that:






—


it is a registered location;










—


it appears on the harvest declaration.














(b)


The labelling of wines with the ‘Cornas’ designation of origin may specify the larger geographical unit ‘Cru des Côtes du Rhône’ or ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’. The conditions for using the larger geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ are set out in the agreement signed between the various protection and management bodies concerned. This information must appear in the same visual field as all the mandatory details and must be printed in characters of the same graphic design and colour as those of the designation, provided that it is no bigger than two thirds of the size of the designation.





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 making the wines comprises the territory of the following municipalities, based on the Official Geographic Code as at 1 January 2019:






—


Department of Ardèche: Alboussière, Andance, Ardoix, Arlebosc, Arras-sur-Rhône, Boffres, Bogy, Champagne, Champis, Charmes-sur-Rhône, Charnas, Châteaubourg, Cheminas, Colombier-le-Cardinal, Eclassan, Etables, Félines, Gilhac-et-Bruzac, Glun, Guilherand-Granges, Lemps, Limony, Mauves, Ozon, Peaugres, Peyraud, Plats, Quintenas, Saint-Barthélemy-le-Plain, Saint-Cyr, Saint-Georges-les-Bains, Saint-Romain-d’Ay, Saint-Romain-de-Lerps, Sarras, Sécheras, Serrières, Saint-Désirat, Saint-Etienne-de-Valoux, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, Saint-Péray, Soyons, Talencieux, Thorrenc, Toulaud, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Vernosc-lès-Annonay, Vinzieux, Vion;










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Department of Drôme: Albon, Andancette, Beaumont-Monteux, Beausemblant, Bourg-lès-Valence, Chanos-Curson, Chantemerle-les-Blés, Châteauneuf-sur-Isère, Chavannes, Clérieux, Crozes-Hermitage, Erôme, Gervans, Granges-les-Beaumont, Larnage, Laveyron, Mercurol-Veaunes, La Motte-de-Galaure, Ponsas, Pont-de-l’Isère, La Roche-de-Glun, Saint-Barthélemy-de-Vals, Saint-Donat-sur-l’Herbasse, Saint-Rambert-d’Albon, Saint-Uze, Saint-Vallier, Serves-sur-Rhône, Tain-l’Hermitage, Triors, Valence;





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 Isère: Chonas-l’Amballan, 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;










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










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





Link to the product specification


https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-82bbd754-fa64-4042-a458-948a4465737b



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


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/439/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)