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: 2025-06-13
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, red wine, rosé wine, still wine, white wine








C_202503215EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/3215


13.6.2025






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/2025/3215)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

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



                     ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’
                  


PDO-FR-A0664-AM08 – 19.3.2025
                  

1.   Name of product


               ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’
            
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

France
5.   National authority communicating the standard amendment

Syndicat Général des vignerons réunis des Côtes du Rhône (Côtes du Rhône winegrowers’ association)
6.   Qualification as standard amendment

The French authorities consider the application to meet the requirements of Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013 and (EU) 2024/1143. The amendments to the specification are standard amendments as defined in Article 24(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, i.e. they are not Union amendments within the meaning of Article 24(3) of that Regulation. Specifically, the amendments: (a) do not include a change in the name or in the use of the name, or in the products or categories of products designated by the geographical indication; (b) do not risk voiding the link to the geographical area referred to in the single document; (c) do not entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product.
7.   Description of the approved standard amendment(s)

1.   Deletion of the smaller geographical unit ‘Laudun’
                           

The ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ PDO product specification has been amended to delete the smaller geographical unit ‘Laudun’, for which an application for recognition as a PDO has been submitted.
The following sections of the specification have been amended:






—


Chapter I, Section II – Additional place names










—


Chapter I, Section III – Colour and types of product










—


Chapter I, Section IV – Geographically defined areas.




The smaller geographical unit ‘Laudun’ has also been deleted in the ‘Further conditions – Additional place names’ section of the single document.
2.   Geographical area and area in immediate proximity

In Chapter I, Section IV ‘Areas and places in which various operations are carried out’ of the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ PDO specification, points 1 ‘Geographical area’ and 3 ‘Area in immediate proximity’ have, without further change, been supplemented by adding a reference to the 2023 Official Geographic Code.
This amended wording allows the geographical area to be identified with reference to the 2023 version of the Official Geographic Code issued by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), giving the definition of the geographical area legal certainty.
The reference to the Official Geographic Code allows the names of municipalities to be verified. For example, in the department of Gard, the name Laudun has been replaced by Laudun-l’Ardoise, without any change to the delimitation of the geographical area.
In the department of Drôme, with respect to the area in immediate proximity, the name La Voulte has been replaced by La Voulte-sur-Rhône, the names Mercurol and Veaunes have been replaced by Mercurol-Veaunes, and the name La-Motte-de-Galaure has been replaced by Saint-Jean-de-Galaure, without any change to the delimitation of the geographical area.
This reference to the Official Geographic Code has been added to the single document in the sections ‘Geographical area’ and ‘Further conditions – area in immediate proximity’, updating the names of the municipalities without further change.
3.   Vine varieties

In Chapter I, Section V ‘Vine varieties’ of the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ PDO specification, the varieties ‘Clairette rose RS’ and ‘Grenache gris G’ have been added as secondary varieties for the production of white wines. They were already included in the specification as secondary varieties for the production of red and rosé wines.
Both varieties have been traditionally grown in the vineyards of the designation and are used in blends; in the composition of white wines they help prevent oxidation.
This amendment does not affect the single document because the varieties were already included in the list of wine grape varieties with respect to red and rosé wines.
4.   Extension of the colour intensity and total polyphenol index criteria to bulk wines

In Chapter I, Section IX ‘Processing, development, ageing, packaging and storage’ of the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ PDO specification, point (c) on analytical standards has been amended to extend the colour intensity and total polyphenols index criteria to wines at the time of packaging and sale in bulk. Extending the provision allows a minimum quality level to be set for wines of the designation that is subject to checks at all stages of production.
The same amendment has been made in the ‘Description of the wine(s)’ section of the single document.
5.   Transitional measure relating to planting density

In Chapter I, Section XI ‘Transitional measures’ of the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ PDO specification, point 3(a) on planting density has been amended to take account, for the transitional measure, of parcels registered with the management body that were planted between 1996 and 2009 and do not meet the requirements regarding maximum area per plant and maximum spacing between rows. These parcels keep the right to use the designation for a reduced volume, calculated by multiplying the authorised yield by a coefficient of 0,90 if the maximum area per vine is less than 2,8 m2 and by 0,80 if it is greater.
This amendment does not affect the single document.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
1.   Name(s)

Côtes du Rhône Villages
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)


Red, rosé and white wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The wines are still dry red, rosé and white wines.
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 meet the following analytical criteria:






1.


Minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume: 12 %;










2.


Maximum total alcoholic strength by volume after enrichment: 14,5 %;










3.


A fermentable sugar (glucose + fructose) content not exceeding 3 g/l where the natural alcoholic strength by volume is less than 14 %;










4.


A fermentable sugar (glucose + fructose) content not exceeding 4 g/l where the natural alcoholic strength by volume is more than 14 %.










5.


Red wines: a malic acid content not exceeding 0,4 g/l; a colour intensity (OD 420 + 520 + 620 nm) of at least 7 at the time of bulk sale or packaging; and a total polyphenols index (OD 280 nm) of at least 45 at the time of bulk sale or packaging.




The other analytical criteria must comply with the values established in EU legislation.
General analytical characteristics:






—


Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): —










—


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.   Winemaking 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 %.










—


When making rosé wines, winemakers may use oenological charcoal exclusively for press-musts, in a proportion not exceeding 20 % of the volume of rosé wine produced by the winemaker concerned for a given 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 two 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 controlled 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, based on the 2023 Official Geographic Code:






—


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-l’Ardoise, 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)

Bourboulenc B – Doucillon blanc
Brun argenté N – Vaccarèse
Carignan N
Carignan blanc B
Cinsaut N – Cinsault
Clairette B
Clairette rose Rs
Counoise N
Floreal B
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
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 controlled 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 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’ controlled 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’ designation.
In 2010 some 350 000 hectolitres, including 5 000 hectolitres of white wine, were produced.
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 controlled designation of origin may be followed by one of the supplementary geographical names listed below if the wines meet the production requirements laid down in the product specification for these names:






—



                        ‘Chusclan’
                     










—



                        ‘Gadagne’
                     










—



                        ‘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 larger geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ may be indicated on the labels of wines bearing the controlled designation of origin ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages’ 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.

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 and developing the wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities, based on the 2023 Official Geographic Code:






—


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, Étables, Félines, Flaviac, Gilhac-et-Bruzac, Glun, Gras, Guilherand-Granges, La Voulte-sur-Rhône, Labastide-de-Virac, Le Pouzin, Lemps, Limony, Mauves, Ozon, Peaugres; Peyraud, Plats, Quintenas, Rompon, Saint-Barthélemy-le-Plain, Saint-Cierge-la-Serre, Saint-Cyr, Saint-Désirat, Saint-Étienne-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-Romainde-Lerps, Saint-Symphorien-sous-Chomérac, Saint-Vincent-de-Durfort, Sarras, Savas, Sécheras, Serrières, Soyons, Talencieux, Thorrenc, Toulaud, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Vernosc-lès-Annonay, Vinzieux, Vion;










—


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-Veaunes, Montjoux, Montoison, Montaulieu, Montségur-sur-Lauzon, 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-Jean-de-Galaure, 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;










—


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;










—


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;










—


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, 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/boagri/document_administratif-4d6e5152-08b2-47c6-adf7-4578a78bfe78



(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/2025/3215/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)