C 230/228
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
30.6.2023
The ‘Pays d’Hérault’ PGI covers red, white and rosé wines, with a majority of reds (50 % of production), a clear rising trend for rosés and also some whites.
‘Pays d’Hérault’ PGI wines are typically blends of the region’s traditional grape varieties, including Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre.
Thanks to the planting of vine varieties from other French wine regions, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay, a more varied range of wines – including of the single-variety type – can be produced while maintaining the quality for which ‘Pays d’Hérault’ wines are known.
Under the influence of the hot, dry Mediterranean climate, grapes generally become fully ripe in all areas, irrespective of the grape variety.
These ripening conditions and the resulting production yields, adapted to the limestone plains and plateaus where the vines are mainly grown, justify the maximum grape yields provided for in the product specification, in particular for high-yield grape varieties such as Grenache or Carignan.
Together, these conditions also lead to relatively early harvests.
The wines produced are therefore characterised by fruity aromas that are always present, although their intensity and nature vary depending on the grape varieties and wine-making methods used.
For the red wines, the methods of extraction produce smooth structures with ripe and soft tannins.
For the white and rosé wines, they lead to an excellent balance and preserve the wine’s freshness and fruitiness.
The wines are mainly intended to be consumed young.
Some 900 000 hectolitres of ‘Pays d’Hérault’ PGI wine is produced annually across the department of Hérault and is then widely distributed throughout France.
8.3.
Causal link between the specificity of the geographical area and the specificity of the product The development and economic viability of the region’s wine-growing sector is, and always has been, closely linked to its soil and climate and the interaction between them, in an environment highly favourable to growing vines.
Vine cultivation and wine production are thus a mainstay of three quarters of Hérault’s rural villages.
At the heart of this historic and extensive wine-growing area, the expertise developed around the art of cultivating vines and producing wine led to the establishment of a significant network of scientific and technical research centres dedicated to the sector, including internationally renowned technology hubs such as Béziers and Montpellier (nine Joint University Research Units and the Institute for Higher Education in Vine and Wine Sciences (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Vigne et du Vin)).
In turn, the research carried out and the network of innovative companies have given a boost to ‘Pays d’Hérault’ PGI wines.
For over 40 years, the winegrowers’ expertise, the planting of vine varieties from other wine-growing regions alongside the traditional varieties, the development of a sector of traders and commercial operators and the establishment of research and promotion structures have helped adapt the quality of the wines to the changing market.
As a result, the wines have a sensory and aromatic profile that is easily appreciated by consumers, and the wines are sought after in particular by tourists visiting the region.
Together these factors have helped sustain the reputation of Hérault as a wine-growing region with a history spanning centuries, and of the wines marketed under the ‘Pays d’Hérault’ designation.
This reputation is also celebrated through international commercial events organised at regional level (SITEVI, VINISUD), and through festivals and events organised in several towns, at a pace reflecting the vine cultivation and wine production cycle.
These events create a community spirit and strengthen social cohesion, while also promoting tourism in this Mediterranean region.
In the context of restructuring vineyards, winegrowers have taken measures to improve and promote the region’s vineyard landscape architecture and stimulate wine tourism, which in turn helps boost the reputation of ‘Pays d’Hérault’ PGI.
9.
Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements) Additional labelling information Legal framework: National legislation Type of further condition: Additional provisions relating to labelling Description of the condition: The ‘Pays d’Hérault’ PGI may be supplemented by the name of one or more grape varieties.