COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 22 February 2019

on the publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union

of an application for amendment of a specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(‘Contea di Sclafani’ (PDO))

(2019/C 76/04)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (1), and in particular Article 97(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Italy has sent an application for amendment of the specification for the name ‘Contea di Sclafani’ in accordance with Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. The changes include a change of name from ‘Contea di Sclafani’ to ‘Contea di Sclafani’/‘Valledolmo — Contea di Sclafani’.

(2) The Commission has examined the application and concluded that the conditions laid down in Articles 93 to 96, Article 97(1), and Articles 100, 101 and 102 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 have been met.

(3) In order to allow for the presentation of statements of opposition in accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the application for amendment of the specification for the name ‘Contea di Sclafani’ should be published in the

Official Journal of the European Union

,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The application for amendment of the specification for the name ‘Contea di Sclafani’ (PDO), in accordance with Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, is contained in the Annex to this Decision.

In accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the publication of this Decision confers the right to oppose the amendment of the specification referred to in the first paragraph of this Article within two months of the date of its publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union

.

Done at Brussels, 22 February 2019.

For the Commission

Phil HOGAN

Member of the Commission

(1)  

OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671

.

ANNEX

‘CONTEA DI SCLAFANI’

PDO-IT-A0775-AM04

Date of application: 21.12.2016

REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO THE PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

1.   

Rules Applicable to the Amendment

Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 — Non-minor amendment

2.   

Description and reasons for the amendment

2.1.   

Amendment to the name of the designation (a) and to the Product Specification/Single Document (b)

a)

Amendment to the name: A reference to the municipality of Valledolmo has been added to the name of the current designation ‘Contea di Sclafani’. The name can therefore be given as either ‘Contea di Sclafani’ or as ‘Valledolmo — Contea di Sclafani’.

The name of the designation has been amended in order to better emphasise the link with the territory, i.e. the ‘defined geographical area’ as provided for by EU legislation (Article 93(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013). The name Valledolmo is in fact already widely mentioned in Article 9 of the Product Specification, which describes the geographical link. This municipality, in the province of Palermo, is located in the centre of the defined geographical area and can be found on modern maps. Adding the name of the municipality therefore makes it easier to identify the exact location of the production area.

b)

The list of authorised types has been reduced from 21 to 6, with only the Bianco and Rosso types, and their respective Vendemmia Tardiva (late harvest) and Riserva indications, being retained.

The ‘Sicilia’ registered designation of origin (DOC (PDO)) covers a wide range of regional vine varieties, including many of those provided for under the current ‘Contea di Sclafani’ DOC (PDO) specification, and, even though they are traditional, they cannot be considered to be exclusive to the more limited area. The intention is therefore to further promote the specificity of the DOC (PDO) wines in question, by retaining only the types produced using the vine varieties that best represent the link with the defined geographical area. Thus, even where the wines are produced from native varieties that were already part of the combination of vine varieties used for the white, red and single-variety wines, they are now generically referred to as white or red wines in order to give greater emphasis to the name of the designation and to the link with the ‘terroir’ where the wine is produced.

2.2.   

Article 2 of the Product Specification — combination of vine varieties

This change concerns Article 2 of the Product Specification and the relevant section 7 of the Single Document on Main Wine Grapes. The increase in the percentages of native grape varieties such as Catarratto for white wines and Perricone and Nero d’Avola for red wines, which are already produced as single-variety types, allows better characterisation of the wines concerned and higher quality. The combination of vine varieties has been limited in order to keep only those types of wine that are able to bring out the specificity of the DOC (PDO) wines in question.

a)

The Insolia and Grecanico vine varieties have been deleted from the combination of varieties for the white wine and the Riserva indication has been added. For the white wines only the Catarratto grape variety, which must make up at least 95 % of the base, is still allowed as, more than any other variety, it reflects the particular suitability of the territory.

b)

The percentages indicated in the current Product Specification for the varieties in the combination of vine varieties for the red wine have been amended and the Vendemmia Tardiva indication has been added. For the red wines only the traditional Perricone and Nero d’Avola grape varieties are allowed, either individually or combined in percentages of between 0 and 100 %; no other varieties may be added.

c)

No other varieties, even if they are authorised in the Sicily region, may be used to produce either the white or red wines. The varieties mentioned above, grown in the vineyards of almost all local producers, create, in this region of high hills, wines with a specific and distinctive organoleptic quality that distinguishes them from wines made in other parts of the region, as demonstrated in the description of the geographical link.

d)

Rosé wine and single-variety wines made from varieties that are no longer included have been removed.

2.3.   

Article 3 of the Product Specification — production area

This change concerns Article 3 of the Product Specification and the relevant section 6 of the Single Document on Demarcated area.

Only formal changes have been made in the description of the production area in Article 3 of the Product Specification, and the name of the municipality Montemaggiore has been corrected (previously shown incorrectly as Montemmagiore).

2.4.   

Article 4 of the Product Specification — winegrowing standards

This change concerns only the Product Specification and not the Single Document.

a)

The phrase ‘not later than the onset of ripening’ has been deleted in relation to the period in which emergency irrigation may be carried out.

An obvious inconsistency has been deleted as emergency irrigation is necessary above all at the end of summer, and often after ripening.

b)

The types that are no longer included have been removed from the table of yields and the indications ‘Vendemmia Tardiva’ for the red wine and ‘Riserva’ for the white wine have been added;

The natural minimum alcoholic strength by volume has been increased from 11 % to 12 % for the red wine, and from 10,5 % to 11,5 % for the white wine;

The indications ‘Vendemmia Tardiva’ for the white wine and ‘Riserva’ for the red wine have been added to the same table, both of which were included in Article 5 of the previous Product Specification.

In order to provide a better overview, the quality parameters (maximum yield of grapes per hectare and minimum natural alcoholic strength) have been included in a single table in Article 4 of the Product Specification, whereas previously they were also listed in Article 5 thereof;

The increase in the natural minimum alcoholic strength of the grapes (sugar content) should improve the quality of the corresponding wine and further enhance the specificity of the DOC (PDO).

2.5.   

Article 5 of the Product Specification — winemaking standards

This change concerns only the Product Specification and not the Single Document.

Formal changes have been made, such as adding winemaking standards for the new wine types and removing standards for types that are no longer included or shown in other Articles of the Product Specification.

These amendments are necessary in order to bring the Article into line with the provisions of previous Articles.

(Paragraph 9) Enrichment procedures are not permitted for the Vendemmia Tardiva types (Cat. 1 Wine) in order to better reflect the quality level of the wines.

2.6.   

Article 6 of the Product Specification — characteristics on consumption

This change concerns the Product Specification and the relevant section 4 of the Single Document on Description of the wines.

a)

Types of wine such as those indicating a grape variety which is no longer included have been removed and remaining types have been redefined.

The characteristics of types of wine no longer included have been removed, those of newly introduced types such as Bianco Riserva and Rosso Vendemmia Tardiva have been described and those of already included types have been reviewed, to ensure a more precise description of the chemical, physical and organoleptic characteristics.

b)

Paragraph 3 of the Article on the Ministry’s power to issue a Decree amending the total acidity and the minimum sugar-free extract has been deleted.

While amending the Product Specification the opportunity was taken to delete the final paragraph of Article 6 of the Product Specification, as it no longer complies with the EU provisions relating to amendments requiring changes to the Single Document.

c)

Hints of wood have been added as a possible aroma as a result of storing the wines in wooden containers. This was necessary as producers often store and age the wine in wooden containers.

2.7.   

Article 7 of the Product Specification — labelling

This change concerns only the Product Specification and not the Single Document.

The text of the whole Article of the Product Specification has been replaced and the subsequent Articles have been renumbered.

The characteristics on consumption for all types included in the specification are now all described in the preceding Article 6 of the Product Specification, whereas the rules for the designation and presentation of the products are described in Article 7 of the Product Specification.

a)

The possibility of using additional topographical indications referring to the vineyard has been included;

The reference to the holding is to better characterise the wine by indicating on the label that the wine originates exclusively from a particular vineyard, in accordance with Article 31(10) of law No 238/2016 and Article 120(1)(g) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

b)

The name ‘Sicilia’ as a larger geographical unit may be indicated in the labelling and presentation of DOC (PDO) ‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ wines.

The indication of the name of the larger geographical unit ‘Sicilia’ allows more information to be provided to the consumer on the geographical location of the DOC (PDO) in question, pursuant to law No 238/2016 and Article 120(1)(g) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

c)

References to types no longer included and provisions on containers that may be used have been removed.

The provisions on containers that may be used are now contained in Article 8 of the Product Specification — Packaging.

2.8.   

Article 8 of the Product Specification — packaging

This change concerns the Product Specification and the relevant section 9 of the Single Document on Essential further conditions.

It has been laid down that only glass bottles may be used for all volumes allowed by national and EU rules. It has been specified that only cork stoppers of the flanged stopper type are used as the sparkling wine is no longer included in the specification; the use of a t-top stopper is permitted for types with the ‘Vendemmia Tardiva’ indication.

The name is to be identified on the market only by wine packaged in glass bottles and chosen according to the high-quality characteristics and technical parameters set out throughout the Product Specification.

2.9.   

Article 9 of the Product Specification — link with the area

This change concerns the Product Specification and the relevant section 8 of the Single Document on Description of the link(s).

This Article 9 of the Product Specification has been updated with the reference to the new name of the DOC (PDO) ‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’.

Moreover, in the context of the description of the link with the geographical environment, in paragraphs A) and C) of this Article 9, references to varietal typologies and categories of wines (sparkling wine and quality sparkling wine), that are not provided for in the new Product Specification, have been eliminated.

Consequently, said amendments to the Production Specification have been included in the relevant section 8 of the Single Document, on the description of the link with the geographical environment.

The change in question is due to the change in the name of the DOC (PDO), with the addition of the name of the Municipality of Valledolmo, which is located in the centre of the defined geographical area.

Therefore, with this change we tend to identify more the denomination with the territory and to strengthen the link with the geographical environment of the relative wine production.

Furthermore, as a consequence of the exclusion from the Product Specification of some types and categories of products, in this Article 9 of the Product Specification, the link with the geographical environment was better described for the remaining types of wines, produced with grapes of the vines that are most representative of the territory (Catarratto, Perricone and Nero d’Avola).

In particular, the interaction between natural and anthropic factors and the qualitative and specific characteristics of wines essentially attributable to the geographical environment was highlighted.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1.   

Name to be registered

Contea di Sclafani

Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani

2.   

Geographical indication type

PDO — Protected Designation of Origin

3.   

Categories of grapevine products

1.

Wine

4.   

Description of the wine(s)

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Rosso

Colour: ruby red of varying intensity, possibly with hints of purple;

Aroma: fine, distinctive, fruity/sometimes spicy;

Taste: dry, harmonious, with good structure;

Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 12 %;

Minimum sugar-free extract: 23 g/l.

Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.

General analytical characteristics

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Rosso Riserva

Colour: from deep ruby red to garnet as the wine ages;

Aroma: intense, fruity, sometimes spicy;

Taste: dry, distinctive, with good structure;

Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 12,5 %;

Minimum sugar-free extract: 24 g/l.

Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.

General analytical characteristics

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Rosso Vendemmia Tardiva

Colour: from deep ruby red to garnet as the wine ages;

Aroma: distinctive, long-lasting, fine;

Taste: from dry to sweet, distinctive, harmonious;

Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 13 %;

Minimum sugar-free extract: 28 g/l.

Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.

General analytical characteristics

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Bianco

Colour: straw yellow of varying intensity, occasionally with hints of pale green;

Aroma: fine, distinctive, long-lasting;

Taste: dry, harmonious, flavourful;

Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 11,5 %;

Minimum sugar-free extract: 17 g/l.

Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.

General analytical characteristics

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Bianco Riserva

Colour: straw yellow of varying intensity, occasionally with hints of pale green;

Aroma: pleasant, fine, elegant;

Taste: harmonious, distinctive, flavourful;

Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 12 %;

Minimum total acidity: 4,5 g/l;

Minimum sugar-free extract: 20 g/l.

Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.

General analytical characteristics

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Bianco Vendemmia Tardiva

Colour: from straw yellow to golden yellow;

Aroma: distinctive, long-lasting;

Taste: from dry to sweet, distinctive, harmonious;

Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 13 %;

Minimum sugar-free extract: 26 g/l.

Any analytical parameters not shown in the table below comply with the limits laid down in national and EU legislation.

General analytical characteristics

5.   

Wine-making practices

a.   

Essential oenological practices

b.   

Maximum yields

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Rosso including Riserva

10 000 kg of grapes per hectare

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Rosso including Riserva

70 hectolitres per hectare

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Bianco including Riserva

12 000 kg of grapes per hectare

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Bianco including Riserva

84 hectolitres per hectare

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Rosso and Bianco Vendemmia Tardiva

8 000 kg of grapes per hectare

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’ Rosso and Bianco Vendemmia Tardiva

48 hectolitres per hectare

6.   

Demarcated area

The area of production is situated in the Sicily Region and includes, in the province of Palermo, the whole of the territory of the municipalities of Valledolmo, Caltavuturo, Alia and Sclafani Bagni; part of the territory of the municipalities of Petralia Sottana, Castellana Sicula, Castronovo di Sicilia, Cerda, Aliminusa, Montemaggiore Belsito and Polizzi Generosa; in the Province of Caltanissetta, the whole of the territory of the municipalities of Vallelunga Pratameno and Villalba; and, in the province of Agrigento, part of the territory of the municipality of Cammarata. The boundaries of this area are defined as follows:

Starting from the 14 + 800 km mark of national road No 120, the boundary follows this road as far as the Cerda — Aliminusa crossroads where it joins provincial road No 7 at the 0 + 000 km mark, following it to 17 + 750 km. From there it follows the border of the municipality of Alia westwards until it intersects the border of the municipality of Castronuovo di Sicilia, which it follows in a south-westerly direction until it intersects national road No 189 at the 4 + 700 km mark. The boundary runs along this national road as far as the 14 + 600 km mark where it continues in a southerly direction along the Platani river until it meets the Vallone Crasto Venturo and it follows that valley south-eastwards until it intersects with provincial road No 39 (former private road Soria — Casalicchio) at the 5 + 900 km mark, which it follows up to the 0 + 000 km mark where it joins provincial road No 25 (Tumarrano — Mussomeli) and follows this southwards for 9 km until it meets the border of the municipality of Cammarata. Following this border in an easterly direction it then meets the border of the municipality of Villalba and runs along it in an easterly direction as far as the border of the municipality of Petralia Sottana; following that border to the east and then northeast, the boundary comes to provincial road No 72 (Ciolino) at Portella dell’Inferno and follows it for approximately 2,7 km. Travelling north, it then comes to Portella del Morto where it re-joins the border of the municipality of Petralia Sottana in a northerly direction until it comes to the Vallone San Giorgio and it follows this valley north-eastwards until it meets national road No 120 at the 48 + 200 km mark. It follows national road No 120 as far as 48 + 400 km where it meets the border of Polizzi Generosa, which it follows north-west as far as the San Filippo river; following this river, still in a north-westerly direction, it intersects the border of the municipality of Caltavuturo. Running along this border north-westwards, it comes to the border of the municipality of Sclafani Bagni and follows this until it meets the border of the municipality of Cerda; from here it runs north-westwards and intersects national road No 120 at 14 + 800 km.

7.   

Main wine grapes

 

Catarratto bianco lucido B.

 

Catarratto bianco comune B.

 

Perricone N.

 

Nero d’Avola N. synonym of: Calabrese N.

8.   

Description of the link(s)

‘Contea di Sclafani’ or ‘Valledolmo-Contea di Sclafani’

The link with the defined geographical area is demonstrated by the interaction between the particular environmental features (hilly area, soil structure, warm temperate climate, range of temperatures); the historical tradition (first records of vine cultivation dating back to 1300; many hectares of vineyards planted in around 1570 in the fiefdom of Valle dell’Olmo); human factors (grape varieties, vine training methods and traditional farming systems); and the wine processing methods, which are well-established in the area and make it possible to obtain the specific qualities exhibited by the types of wine provided for in the Product Specification.

In particular, the average altitude of the area, which is approximately 600 m above sea level, and the general distribution of mainly clayey soils with a sandy component or mainly sandy soils with a clayey component mean that no soil in the production area is either too wet or too acidic or too alkaline, which are all factors affecting the quantity and, above all, the quality of the vine product.

These factors combine perfectly both with the native red grape varieties Perricone and Nero d’Avola, to produce a still red wine with very distinct characteristics as a result of its marked floral and spicy fragrances, its elegance and its longevity due to the tannic component which makes it possible to age the wine even for long periods (these wines are identified by the Riserva indication), and with the native white grape variety Catarratto, which is closely linked to the tradition of viticulture in Sicily and in particular to that of Valle d’Olmo-Contea di Sclafani where white wine is obtained from only Catarratto grapes and has unique and easily identifiable characteristics. Due to its high polyphenol content and optimal acidity levels, this white wine is suitable for ageing and therefore for the use of the Riserva indication.

The grapes are harvested from mid-September and throughout the month of October. As they ripen about 20 days later than in other wine-growing areas of Sicily, grapes in this area obtain a perfect balance of acidity and sugar content. This delay in ripening, in addition to typifying the end product, allows grapes to be harvested that have ripened in a balanced way away from the summer heat and which have balanced analytical values, i.e. with good acidity and without excess sugars.

Wine produced from the Nero d’Avola and Perricone grape varieties does not just go well with the typical Sicilian cuisine, but also, due to its specific characteristics, with more international dishes and drinking habits, thus contributing to the recognition of its quality. Wine obtained from the Catarratto grape variety on the other hand goes well with all fish dishes, from purely Mediterranean to Asian.

Furthermore, in particularly good years both red and white grape varieties have traditionally been left on the plant for a very long time, almost until the end of October, in order to harvest very mature grapes which can be made into wines with the Vendemmia Tardiva indication.

9.   

Essential further conditions

Packaging

Legal framework:

National and EU legislation

Type of further condition:

Only glass bottles may be used for all volumes allowed by national and EU rules. Only the cork stoppers of the flanged stopper type are used as the sparkling wine is no longer included in the Product Specification; the use of a t-top stopper is permitted for types with the ‘Vendemmia Tardiva’ indication.

Description of the condition:

The name is to be identified on the market only by wine packaged in glass bottles and chosen according to the high-quality characteristics and technical parameters set out throughout the Product Specification.

Link to the product specification

https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/12905