30.6.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 230/209
Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to a 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 (2023/C 230/17)
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
‘Coteaux du Layon’ PDO-FR-A0826-AM03 Date of communication: 31.3.2023 DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT 1.
Official Geographic Code The municipalities making up the geographical area and the area in immediate proximity have been updated in line with the Official Geographic Code.
The demarcated geographical area itself remains unchanged Points 6 and 9 of the single document have been amended.
2.
Distance between vines The minimum distance between vines in the same row has been reduced from 1 m to 0,90 m.
This enables planting density to be increased without changing the distance between rows.
A special provision has also been added for vines located on slopes where the gradient is greater than 10 %, where the authorised minimum distance between vines is 0,80 m.
This is to take account of the particular case of vines grown on steep slopes, where planting has to be done differently (planting parallel to the slope rather than perpendicular to it).
Point 5 of the single document has been amended.
3.
Pruning The pruning rules for designations of the Anjou Saumur area in the Loire Valley have been harmonised.
This is to improve operators’ knowledge and simplify checks.
This amendment allows winegrowers to adapt to increasingly late frosts.
Point 5 of the single document has been amended.
4.
Maturity The minimum sugar content of the grapes has been increased from 221 grams to 238 grams per litre for the ‘Coteaux du Layon’ designation and from 238 grams to 255 grams per litre where the designation is followed by the name of the municipality from which the grapes originate.
The minimum sugar content has been increased to improve the quality of the wines, which contain residual sugars.
In order to take account of the difficulty of fermenting musts with the highest sugar content, the actual alcoholic strength by volume is no longer subject to a ceiling in the case of wines with a natural alcoholic strength by volume of 18 % or more.
Point 4 of the single document has been amended.
(1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.