Publication of the communication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a geographical indication in accordance with Article 5(4) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/27
Date: 2025-06-06
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Austria, Burgenland, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, wine








C_202503141EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/3141


6.6.2025






Publication of the communication of an approved standard amendment to a product specification of a geographical indication in accordance with Article 5(4) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/27 (1)

(C/2025/3141)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

(Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143)



                     ‘Eisenberg’
                  


PDO-AT-A0215-AM02 – 14.3.2025
                  

1.   Name of product


               ‘Eisenberg’
            
2.   Geographical indication type







☒


Protected designation of origin (PDO)










☐


Protected geographical indication (PGI)










☐


Geographical indication (GI)




3.   Sector







☐


Agricultural products










☒


Wines










☐


Spirit drinks




4.   Country to which the geographical area belongs

Austria
5.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment

Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft [Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Regions and Water Management]
6.   Description of the approved standard amendment(s)

1.   Addition of grape varieties

Up to now, only the Blaufränkisch variety could be used to make Eisenberg PDO wine. The amendment to the specification means that the Welschriesling variety may now also be used (but only in the case of wines bearing the name of a Ried [a legally defined single vineyard]).
Adding the Welschriesling variety affects neither the name nor the category of the Eisenberg PDO. The link with the area is also as before, since this variety has been grown in the Eisenberg PDO area for a long time. Moreover, no restrictions have been imposed on the marketing of Eisenberg PDO wine. The amendment to the specification is therefore a standard amendment.
The single document should also be amended, as it sets out the varieties that may be used to make Eisenberg PDO wine.
2.   Definition of smaller places of origin

The amendment to the specification makes it possible to refer to geographical units smaller than the area underlying the Eisenberg PDO, thereby making use of the possibilities provided for in Article 55 of Regulation (EU) 2019/33. As this does not come under any of the criteria set out in Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, the amendment is a standard amendment. The names of the geographical units are listed in the specification and should also be included in the single document under point 9 – ‘Further essential conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)’.
3.   Additional labelling rules

The amendment to the specification lays down rules on the font size of the particulars on the label (variety, PDO, traditional terms, etc.). As this does not come under any of the criteria set out in Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, the amendment is a standard amendment. The rules should be included in the single document under point 9 – ‘Further essential conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)’.
4.   Clarification of the provisions on bottling and production

Production: Under the Austrian Wine Act, it is usually possible to produce PDO wines outside the winegrowing area, meaning that Austria generally makes use of the derogation provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/33. The specification for the Eisenberg PDO has been amended to now also stipulate that production outside the winegrowing area must be notified to the Burgenland Regional Wine Committee and approved by the Federal Viticulture Office.
Bottling: No restrictions have been established. Bottling outside the winegrowing area must be notified to the Burgenland Regional Wine Committee and approved by the Federal Viticulture Office.
These notification requirements do not restrict the marketing of Eisenberg PDO wine and are therefore a standard amendment. They should be included in the single document under point 9 – ‘Further essential conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)’.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name(s)

Eisenberg
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)

Eisenberg wine not labelled with a geographical unit smaller than the Eisenberg winegrowing area (i.e. Gebietswein [regional wine]) must be made entirely from the Blaufränkisch grape variety; any blending with other varieties is prohibited.
Eisenberg wine bearing the name of a Ried [a legally defined single vineyard] (i.e. Riedenwein) must have been made entirely from the Blaufränkisch variety or the Welschriesling variety.
Eisenberg PDO wine made from the Blaufränkisch variety has the pronounced fruitiness, minerality and spiciness characteristic of the variety. The wines are delicate, mineral and elegantly spicy. Typical aromas are of dark berries, white pepper and herbs. Eisenberg wines made from the Blaufränkisch variety are characterised by an elegant structure, lively acidity and fine, ripe tannins. Large wooden barrels are traditionally used for ageing.
Eisenberg wine made from the Welschriesling variety is noted for its elegance, character, structure and length. The wines have a typically spicy minerality, freshness and exceptional potential for ageing.
General analytical characteristics:






—


Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): 15










—


Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume): 9










—


Minimum total acidity: 4 grams per litre, expressed as tartaric acid










—


Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre): 20










—


Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre): 200




5.   Winemaking practices

5.1.   Specific oenological practices

Relevant restrictions on making the wines
All oenological practices provided for in Regulations (EU) 2019/934 and 2019/935 for wine bearing a protected designation of origin are authorised for the ‘Eisenberg’ PDO, except for treatment with potassium sorbate or dimethyl dicarbonate. Acidification and deacidification of the wines is possible in accordance with those Regulations.
The juice of the grapes must have a minimum must weight of 15 °KMW on the Klosterneuburg Must Weight Scale (= 9,5 % vol.). The natural alcoholic strength may be increased by up to max. 2,0 % vol. (or 2,5 % vol. in the event of unfavourable weather conditions and following authorisation by the Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Regions and Water Management) by adding sucrose, concentrated grape must or rectified concentrated grape must or by partial concentration.
The unfermented sugar content must not exceed 4,0 g/l.
5.2.   Maximum yields


                  10 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare
6.   Demarcated geographical area

The ‘Eisenberg’ PDO covers the political districts of Oberwart, Güssing and Jennersdorf in Burgenland.
7.   Wine grape variety/ies

Blaufränkisch – Frankovka
Welschriesling
8.   Description of the link(s)

In the hilly region of Eisenberg, the substrate consists of heavy, iron-rich loam and basalt soils. These soil characteristics, particularly the high iron content and the significant level of minerals such as potassium, calcium, sodium and phosphorus, combined with the special Pannonian-Illyrian climate with its marked differences in temperature between day and night, shape the character of these wines. This influence of the crystalline bedrock results in a pronounced fruitiness, a lean extract structure and a dominant minerality, which are typical of Eisenberg wines.
The production structure in the Eisenberg winegrowing area is characterised by family-run winemaking businesses, which mainly process grapes from their own production and, in many cases, also sell directly from their farms. There is a strong link between the high level of tourism and the wine industry. The vines are trained almost exclusively using the Hochkultur [high culture] training system, on wire frames.
Moreover, the predominantly family-run nature of the winemaking businesses means that the traditional style of winemaking is passed from generation to generation, which adds to the distinctive character of Eisenberg wines.
9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
Under the Austrian Wine Act, ‘Eisenberg’ PDO wine may be marketed only if it has an official quality check number [staatliche Prüfnummer]. In order to obtain an official quality check number, a sample of each wine to be marketed with the ‘Eisenberg’ PDO must undergo analytical and organoleptic testing (systematic check). Parties intending to apply for an official quality check number must inform the Burgenland Regional Wine Committee in writing each year. In the context of issuing an official quality check number, the wine is deemed to have the necessary organoleptic characteristics if at least five of the six tasters agree that it can be marketed under the designation ‘Eisenberg DAC’. The panel tasting for the purposes of issuing an official quality check number must take place at the Federal Viticulture Office in Eisenstadt. All tasters on the official tasting panel must have been trained by the Burgenland Regional Wine Committee in assessing the typical taste profile of ‘Eisenberg DAC’ wine.
Applications for an official quality check number for Gebietswein cannot be submitted before 1 June in the year following the harvest. The wine must not be made available to consumers before 1 September in the year following the harvest.

Riedenwein made from the Blaufränkisch variety must not be made available to consumers before 1 September in the second year following the harvest; applications for an official quality check number may be submitted from 1 June in the second year following the harvest.

Riedenwein made from the Welschriesling variety must not be made available to consumers before 1 March in the second year following the harvest; applications for an official quality check number may be submitted from 1 December in the year following the harvest.
The designation ‘DAC’ or ‘Districtus Austriae Controllatus’ must appear on the label, replacing the term ‘PDO’ or ‘protected designation of origin’, in characters smaller than those used for the name ‘Eisenberg’.
It is mandatory to indicate the winegrowing area ‘Burgenland’ in conjunction with the traditional term ‘Qualitätswein’ [quality wine]. It is not permitted to indicate the winegrowing region ‘Weinland’.
It is not permitted to use additional sales designations, except for ‘Qualitätswein’. The term ‘DAC’ or ‘Districtus Austriae Controllatus’ must appear as a sales designation in conjunction with the name ‘Eisenberg’, but not necessarily on the front label. It must come after the name ‘Eisenberg’.
The vintage must be indicated.
For Eisenberg wine from a particular village or municipality (i.e. Ortswein), only the following location-related indications may be used:






a)


Deutsch Schützen: for wines made from grapes grown in vineyards located in the cadastral municipalities belonging to the municipality of Deutsch Schützen-Eisenberg, with the exception of the cadastral municipality of Eisenberg an der Pinka;










b)


Eisenberg a. d. P.: for wines made from grapes grown in vineyards located in the cadastral municipality of Eisenberg an der Pinka;










c)


Hannersdorf: for wines made from grapes grown in vineyards located in the cadastral municipalities belonging to the municipality of Hannersdorf;










d)


Kohfidisch: for wines made from grapes grown in vineyards located in the cadastral municipalities belonging to the municipality of Kohfidisch;










e)


Rechnitz: for wines made from grapes grown in vineyards located in the cadastral municipalities belonging to the municipalities of Rechnitz and Markt Neuhodis;










f)


Gaas: for wines made from grapes grown in vineyards located in the cadastral municipalities belonging to the municipalities of Eberau and Moschendorf.




These location-related indications may only be used in conjunction with the ‘Eisenberg’ PDO.
Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:
Under the Austrian Wine Act, all PDO wines must be produced in the winegrowing region (PGI region of origin) in which the PDO area is located or in a neighbouring winegrowing region. Thus, Austria generally makes use of the derogation provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/33. For the production of Eisenberg PDO wine, additional conditions have been laid down. Production outside the winegrowing area may be carried out only with the authorisation of the Federal Viticulture Office in Eisenstadt, after consultation of the Burgenland Regional Wine Committee. Such authorisation may be granted, in particular, when the producer’s vineyards are located in the Eisenberg winegrowing area. Invoices, delivery notes and waybills must indicate the place of origin, parcel number and area. Moreover, lease contracts or extracts from the land register must be submitted to the Burgenland Regional Wine Committee as evidence of vineyard cultivation in the Eisenberg winegrowing area.
Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Packaging within the demarcated geographical area
Description of the condition:
The Austrian Wine Act does not lay down general rules on the bottling of PDO wines. In order to ensure the quality and typical characteristics of Eisenberg PDO wine, the following conditions are laid down with regard to its bottling:
Eisenberg wine must be bottled in the Eisenberg winegrowing area. Bottling outside the winegrowing area may be carried out only with the authorisation of the Federal Viticulture Office in Eisenstadt, after consultation of the Burgenland Regional Wine Committee. Such authorisation may be granted, in particular, when the producer’s vineyards are located in the Eisenberg winegrowing area. Invoices, delivery notes and waybills must indicate the place of origin, parcel number and area. Moreover, lease contracts or extracts from the land register must be submitted to the Burgenland Regional Wine Committee as evidence of vineyard cultivation in the Eisenberg winegrowing area.

Link to the product specification


https://info.bml.gv.at/dam/jcr:93568321-4323-437d-ae96-d206eec1339c/Produktspezifikation_Eisenberg.pdf



(1)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/27 of 30 October 2024 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules concerning the registration and the protection of geographical indications, traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms and repealing Delegated Regulation (EU) No 664/2014 (OJ L, 2025/27, 15.1.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2025/27/oj).


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/3141/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)