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: 2026-05-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: France, Loire Region, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, still wine, white wine








C_202602581EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/2581


8.5.2026






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/2026/2581)

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

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


‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’


EU reference number: PDO-FR-A0149-AM05 – 9.2.2026
                  

1.   Name of product

‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’
2.   Geographical indication type







☑


PDO










☐


PGI










☐


GI




3.   Sector







☐


Agricultural products










☑


Wines










☐


Spirit drinks




4.   Country to which the geographical area belongs

France
5.   Member State authority communicating the standard amendment


Name

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Directorate-General for the Economic and Environmental Performance of Enterprises
6.   Qualification as standard amendment

The French authorities consider that the application meets the requirements of Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013 and (EU) 2024/1143.
The amendments to this product specification are standard amendments as defined in Article 24(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143.
The application for amendment to the ‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’ PDO does not involve any of the three situations constituting a Union amendment; specifically, it does not:






(a)


include a change in the name or in the use of the name, or in the category of product or products designated by the geographical indication;










(b)


risk voiding the link to the geographical area;










(c)


entail further restrictions on the marketing of the product.




The French authorities therefore consider that the application is for a standard amendment.
7.   Description of the approved standard amendment(s)


Title

Labelling

Description

The producer group for the designation Coteaux de l’Aubance has decided to use a larger geographical unit to designate the wines, opting for the term ‘Vin de Loire’ instead of ‘Val de Loire’.
This change follows the communication guidelines adopted by Loire wine producers.
The aim is to make the identity clearer and align it more closely with the reality of the wines made by producers in the Loire basin.






☑


The amendment affects the single document.




SINGLE DOCUMENT

Designations of origin and geographical indications of wines


‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’


EU reference number: PDO-FR-A0149-AM05 – 9.2.2026
                  

1.   Name(s)

‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’
2.   Geographical indication type







☑


PDO










☐


PGI










☐


GI




3.   Country to which the demarcated geographical area belongs

France
4.   Classification of the agricultural product in accordance with the Combined Nomenclature heading and code, as referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143


               2204  – Wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines; grape must other than that of heading 2009
5.   Categories of grapevine products as listed in Part II of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013







1.


Wine




6.   Description of the wine(s)


Grapevine product

White wines

Organoleptic characteristics


Visual appearance

The wines are still white wines with fermentable sugars.

Aroma

They are fully harmonious wines. Harmonious on the nose, they frequently have aromas of white and citrus fruit blended with floral scents, combined with late-harvesting aromas such as dried or candied fruit.

Taste

The same harmony is also found in the mouth with the richness in sugar, the acidity and the structure.
Ageing, which can last for several decades, heightens the finesse and complexity of these wines.

Additional information regarding organoleptic characteristics

—

Analytical characteristics







Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume):


—




Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume):


—




Minimum total acidity:


—




Minimum total acidity unit:


—




Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre):


25




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre):


—





Additional information regarding analytical characteristics

They have: a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 14 %; in order to be eligible for the term ‘sélection de grains nobles’, a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 19 %; a fermentable sugar (glucose and fructose) content after fermentation greater than or equal to 34 g/l. The total acid and total sulphur dioxide content are those set out in EU legislation. After fermentation, wines with a natural alcoholic strength by volume below 18 % have a minimum actual alcoholic strength by volume of 11 %.






☑


Any analytical characteristics not indicated in this section are within the limits laid down in the applicable EU legislation.




7.   Winemaking practices

7.1.   Specific oenological practices used to make the wine or wines, relevant restrictions on making them


Winemaking practice

—
Type of oenological practice:
Specific oenological practice
Description:
Enrichment is permitted according to the rules set out in the specification. The use of wood chips is forbidden. The wines are aged according to the conditions laid down in the specification. 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.

Winemaking practice

Density
Type of oenological practice:
Growing method
Description:
The minimum vine planting density is 4 000 plants per hectare. Spacing between vine rows must not exceed 2,50 metres, and spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 0,90 metres. Grape harvests are eligible for the protected designation of origin if they come from vineyard parcels with spacing of at least 0,80 metres but less than 0,90 metres between plants in the same row, where they are on slopes of more than 10 %. In the case of vineyard parcels where the planting density is at least 3 300 but less than 4 000 plants per hectare, the harvests are eligible for the protected designation of origin provided that they comply with the rules on trellising and foliage height laid down in this specification. The spacing between the rows of the vines must not exceed 3 metres, and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 1 metre.

Winemaking practice

Vine pruning and trellising
Type of oenological practice:
Growing method
Description:
The vines are pruned with a maximum of 12 buds per plant, regardless of whether spur pruning, cane pruning or mixed pruning is used. At the phenological stage corresponding to 11 or 12 leaves (separate buds), the number of fruit-bearing branches for the year per plant must not exceed 12. The height of the foliage when trellised is at least 0,6 times the spacing between the rows. This height is measured from the lowest point of the foliage, set at a minimum of 0,40 metres above the ground, to the highest part of the canopy, set at a minimum of 0,20 metres above the height of the upper trellising wire. In the case of vineyard parcels where the planting density is at least 3 300 but less than 4 000 plants per hectare, the following trellising rules apply: the minimum height of the trellising posts above the ground is 1,90 metres; there are 4 levels of trellising wires; the minimum height of the highest wire is 1,85 metres above the ground.

Winemaking practice

Irrigation
Type of oenological practice:
Growing method
Description:
Irrigation is prohibited.

Winemaking practice

Harvesting
Type of oenological practice:
Growing method
Description:
The wines are made from grapes that are harvested late. A feature of wines eligible to bear the term ‘sélection de grains nobles’ is the further concentration on the vinestock due to the action of noble rot. The grapes are harvested by hand in multiple passes.
7.2.   Maximum yields


All wines / category / variety / type

White wines
Maximum yield:






Maximum yield:


40




Maximum yield unit:


hectolitres per hectare




8.   Indication of the wine grape variety or varieties from which the wine or wines are produced







—


Chenin B




9.   Concise definition of the demarcated geographical area

All stages of production take place in the geographical area, which encompasses the municipalities of the Maine-et-Loire department named below, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code of 2023: Brissac Loire Aubance (only for the territory of the delegated municipalities of Brissac-Quincé, Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire and Vauchrétien), Denée, Les Garennes sur Loire, Mozé-sur-Louet, Mûrs-Erigné, Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance and Soulaines-sur-Aubance.
Maps showing the geographical area can be viewed on the website of the National Institute of Origin and Quality.
10.   Link with the geographical area


Categories of grapevine product







1.


Wine





Summary of the link

1.   Information on the geographical area

(a)   Description of the natural factors relevant to the link
The geographical area is characterised by a landscape of numerous low and gentle slopes of varying orientations. Altitudes range between 50 and 90 metres to the south-west of the city of Angers. As of 2021, the geographical area extends across seven municipalities. It is bordered to the west by the confluence of the River Aubance with the Loire; to the east by a Cretaceous plateau at the edge of the Paris basin; to the north by the course of the Loire; and at the southern edge by the forests of Brissac and Beaulieu. The Aubance is a small tributary of the Loire, emblematic of this geographical area. It flows northwards from its source to the municipality of Brissac-Quincé, which is famous for its sixteenth century castle. The Aubance then takes a north-west course as far as the municipality of Mûrs-Erigné, from where it flows parallel to the Loire to a point south-west of the city of Angers. The soils developed on the schist, or schist and sandstone, substratum of the Armorican Massif, which forms a plateau tilting slightly towards the Loire. Usually shallow with good thermal performance, the soils are characterised by limited water reserves. The western part of the geographical area is studded with subvolcanic rocks formed of igneous rocks of an acidic (rhyolite) or basaltic (spilite) nature producing very stony soils. A foundation of schist and slate formations is a characteristic of the municipalities in the north of the geographical area. For centuries these were used to build the walls of houses, to construct roofs, to lay floors and even to make fixtures such as sinks, tables or staircases. All of this demonstrates the unique nature of this land. These elements are very apparent in the landscape and contribute to vineyard identity. The geographical area is an enclave with limited irrigation, benefiting from a foehn effect, sheltered from maritime mists by the higher slopes of Choletais and Mauges. Annual rainfall is around 585 millimetres, compared with 800 millimetres in Choletais. The figures recorded in Brissac-Quincé are the lowest among the meteorological stations in the department of Maine-et-Loire. Similarly, during the growing cycle, there is a difference in rainfall levels of around 100 millimetres compared with the rest of the department. The average annual temperatures are relatively high, around 12 °C, which is 1 °C higher than for the department of Maine-et-Loire as a whole. The characteristic mesoclimate of this area is evident in the Mediterranean nature of the vegetation, which includes holm oak and umbrella pine.
(b)   Description of the human factors relevant to the link
Some of the emblematic properties of the ‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’ vineyards are of ancient origin, dating back to the end of the sixteenth century. The vineyards themselves were first identified at the close of the nineteenth century, immediately following the phylloxera crisis that destroyed over three quarters of the vineyards of Anjou. Winegrowers in the neighbouring Layon region were looking for free parcels away from their own vineyards, and they planted the traditional Chenin B variety. In 1922, the name ‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’ was mentioned for the first time in a harvest declaration. In 1925, the Syndicat des viticulteurs (wine-growers’ union) of Coteaux de l’Aubance was founded. The stated aim in the union’s statutes is: ‘to bring to the attention of the whole world wines renowned for their terroir but nevertheless unknown further afield’. The proximity of the city of Angers plays an important role in vineyard development. The Aubance area has become an important source of supplies for beverage retailers in the surrounding municipalities, especially in Mûrs-Erigné and Saint-Mélaine-sur-Aubance. Historically, grapes were harvested when ripe to make dry or semi-dry wines. However, the practices of the neighbouring Layon region were quickly adopted, i.e. late harvesting and multiple passes producing a concentrated harvest for making semi-sweet wine. The controlled designation of origin ‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’ was recognised by a Decree of 18 February 1950 as a white wine made from grapes harvested late with multiple passes. In 2009, vineyards covered 200 hectares.
2.   Information on the quality and characteristics of the product

The wines are still white wines with fermentable sugars. They are fully harmonious wines. Harmonious on the nose, they frequently have aromas of white and citrus fruit blended with floral scents, combined with late-harvesting aromas such as dried or candied fruit. The same harmony is also found in the mouth with the richness in sugar, the acidity and the structure. Ageing, which can last for several decades, heightens the finesse and complexity of these wines.
3.   Causal interactions

The vineyards are planted in shallow, stony soils on clearly demarcated land parcels that demonstrate the methods in use. The topography is hilly with gentle slopes, and the nearby rivers, the Loire and the Aubance, provide atmospheric moisture that encourages the noble rot. All of these factors combine in the geographical area to produce favourable conditions for the late harvesting of grapes naturally concentrated on the vine, with or without the noble rot. They account for the characteristics of a product for which people have learned to adapt their techniques. The late harvest with hand-picked multiple passes is proof of the concern for quality.
11.   Further applicable requirements


Title of the requirement/derogation

Labelling: traditional term ‘Sélection de grains nobles’

Legal framework

EU legislation

Type of further requirement/derogation

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the requirement/derogation

The protected designation of origin ‘Coteaux de l’Aubance’ may be supplemented by the traditional term ‘sélection de grains nobles’, in accordance with the provisions laid down in the specification. Wines eligible to bear the term ‘sélection de grains nobles’ must also state the vintage.

Title of the requirement/derogation

Labelling: optional terms

Legal framework

National legislation

Type of further requirement/derogation

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the requirement/derogation

Under EU rules, the use of optional terms may be regulated by the Member States. On the labels, the size of the letters used for such terms must not be larger, either in height, width or thickness, than double the size of the letters forming the name of the protected designation of origin.

Title of the requirement/derogation

Labelling: geographical designation ‘Vin de Loire’

Legal framework

National legislation

Type of further requirement/derogation

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the requirement/derogation

The name of the protected designation of origin may be followed by the geographical designation ‘Vin de Loire’, in accordance with the rules laid down in the specification regarding use of this geographical designation. The size of the letters of the geographical designation ‘Vin de Loire’ must not be larger, either in height or width, than two thirds of the size of the letters forming the name of the protected designation of origin.

Title of the requirement/derogation

Labelling: specifying a smaller geographical entity

Legal framework

National legislation

Type of further requirement/derogation

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the requirement/derogation

Wines with the protected designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical unit on their label, provided that: – it is a place name listed in the land registry; – it appears on the harvest declaration. The place name must be printed in letters no larger, either in height or in width, than half the size of the letters forming the name of the protected designation of origin.

Title of the requirement/derogation

Area in immediate proximity

Legal framework

EU legislation

Type of further requirement/derogation

Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area

Description of the requirement/derogation

The area in immediate proximity, defined by derogation for wine-growing, production and ageing, comprises the territory of the following municipalities of the department of Maine-et-Loire, on the basis of the Official Geographic Code of 2021: Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Bellevigne-en-Layon, Blaison-Saint-Sulpice, Bouchemaine, Brissac Loire Aubance (only for the territory of the delegated municipalities of Alleuds, Charcé-Saint-Ellier-sur-Aubance, Chemellier, Coutures, Luigné, Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne and Saulgé-l’Hôpital), Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chemillé-en-Anjou (only for the territory of the delegated municipalities of Chanzeaux and Valanjou), Doué-en-Anjou (only for the territory of the delegated municipality of Brigné), Gennes-Valde-Loire (only for the territory of the delegated municipalities of Chênehutte-Trêves-Cunault, Gennes, Grézillé, Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies and Le Thoureil), Lys-Haut-Layon (only for the territory of the delegated municipality of Tigné), Parnay, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, Savennières, Terranjou, Tuffalun and Val-du-Layon.
In accordance with Article 5(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33, the area in immediate proximity corresponds to an area in the immediate proximity of the demarcated area in question.

Electronic (URL) reference to publication of the product specification


https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/boagri/document_administratif-852ea5c9-1fb2-4f58-9c32-e5171af70cdb



(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/2026/2581/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)