COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 3 August 2017

on the publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union

of the single document referred to in Article 94(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and of the publication reference of the specification for a name in the wine sector

(Picpoul de Pinet (PDO))

(2017/C 253/05)

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) France has sent an application for protection of the name ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ in accordance with Section 2 of Chapter I of Title II of Part II of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

(2) The name ‘Languedoc Picpoul-de-Pinet’ enjoyed protection up to 2013 under Articles 51 and 54 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999(2) and Article 28 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 753/2002(3). In 2013 the name ‘Languedoc Picpoul-de-Pinet’ was removed from the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 172/2013(4).

(3) In accordance with Article 97(2) of that Regulation, the Commission examined France’s application and found that the conditions laid down in Articles 93 to 96, 97(1), 100, 101 and 102 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 had been met. Although the name ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ contains the term ‘Picpoul’, which is the name of a wine grape variety, it is established that the name has been traditionally used in the territory of the Member State at issue because the application for registration follows the removal of the old name ‘Languedoc Picpoul-de-Pinet’ from the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications. Consequently, the name ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ constitutes a protected designation of origin within the meaning of Article 93(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. The possible registration of the designation of origin ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ as requested will not prevent the use of the name of the ‘Picpoul’ wine grape variety in the labelling of wines produced from the ‘Picpoul’ grape variety but not according to the specifications of ‘Picpoul de Pinet’, because the provisions laid down by Article 100(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 are not met.

(4) In order to allow for the submission of statements of objection in accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the single document referred to in Article 94(1)(d) of that Regulation and the publication reference of the specification made during the national procedure for examining the application for protection of the name ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ should therefore be published in the

Official Journal of the European Union

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The single document established in accordance with Article 94(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and the reference to the publication of the product specification for the name ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ (PDO) are contained in the Annex to this Decision.

In accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the publication of this Decision shall confer the right to object to the protection of the name specified in the first paragraph of this Article within two months from the date of its publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union

Done at Brussels, 3 August 2017.

For the Commission

Phil HOGAN

Member of the Commission

(1)

OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine (

OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1

(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 753/2002 of 29 April 2002 laying down certain rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 as regards the description, designation, presentation and protection of certain wine sector products (

OJ L 118, 4.5.2002, p. 1

(4) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 172/2013 of 26 February 2013 on the removing of certain existing wine names from the register provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 (

OJ L 55, 27.2.2013, p. 20

ANNEX

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘PICPOUL DE PINET’

PDO-FR-N1672

Date of submission of the application: 6.1.2014

1. Name(s) to be registered

Picpoul de Pinet

2. Type of geographical indication

PDO — Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

Picpoul de Pinet

The controlled designation of origin ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ is reserved for still, dry white wines.

The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength per volume of 12 %.

The fermentable sugar content of wines ready to be marketed does not exceed 3 g/l.

Wine with the designation ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ is produced exclusively from white wine from a single variety, the Piquepoul Blanc.

The wines have a shiny golden or pale colour, with green reflections in the case of young wines. Their fine and elegant nose is most often floral (linden, hawthorn) with fruity citrusy notes (grapefruit, lemon) and a mineral hint.

The flavour has a fine and fresh balance and a characteristic acidic edge, which distinguishes these wines from the region’s other whites.

5. Winemaking practices

a.

Essential oenological practices

Oenological practices

Specific oenological practice:

The use of wood chips is forbidden.

It is forbidden to use charcoal, whether alone or mixed in preparations, for oenological purposes.

The wines are obtained by pressing, with or without prior maceration of the entire grape harvest.

The prior maceration of the entire grape harvest is carried out on a harvest protected by inertisation.

Cultivation practice:

The minimal planting density of the vines is 4 400 plants per hectare.

The distance between the rows of vines must not exceed 2,25 m.

The area available for each plant must not exceed 2,25 m

The vines must be trained on espaliers.

b.

Maximum yields

66 hl/ha

6. Demarcated area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and aged on the territory of the following municipalities of the department of Hérault: Castelnau-de-Guers, Florensac, Mèze, Montagnac, Pinet, and Pomerols.

7. Main wine grapes

Piquepoul blanc (B)

8. Description of the link(s)

The geographical area is located next to the Etang de Thau, near the Mediterranean Sea, on both sides of the ‘Via Domitia’, between the municipalities of Agde, Pézenas and Sète.

Geological and soil formations dating back to the Cretaceous and Pliocene form rolling hills sloping gently down to the lagoon and generally facing north-west/south-east. The vineyards are tiered along the banks of the lagoon up to an altitude of 100 m. On the plateau the vineyards are contiguous, whereas in the northern part of the geographical area they are scattered amidst pine forests and garrigues [scrubland].

In the geographical area the annual rainfall is low, especially during the summer. The average annual temperature is high. The water bodies play a decisive role in limiting temperature variations: the proximity of the sea and the Etang de Thau reduces both annual and daily temperature variations, while the sea breeze limits diurnal temperature rises in the summer. The spontaneous vegetation is testimony to this warm maritime environment, with groves of pine, holm oak or kermes oak dotted throughout the countryside.

Remains of Gallo-Roman villas are evidence of vine-growing in the geographical area of the ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ designation since Roman times.

Located close to the ancient ports of Agde and Sète, this is one of the historical vineyards of the Mediterranean coast. Also known as the ‘Marine Vineyard’ or simply ‘The Marine’, its white wines enjoy an age-old reputation.

The Piquepoul B grape variety has been long established in one of its ideal sites and was mentioned by Olivier de Serres in 1608 among the noble vine varieties as ‘Pique-Poule blanc’. It is characterised by its easily removable seeds and, traditionally, trays are placed under the stumps to collect the well-ripened grapes. The decree of 11 December 1945 classified ‘Piquepoul de Pinet’ among the Languedoc whites, and on 26 November 1954, the white wines from this geographical areas received official recognition in the form of the ‘Picpoul de Pinet’‘Appelation d’origine vin délimité de qualité supérieure’[delimited wine of superior quality’ designation of origin]. In 1960 a project combining 15 historical designations of origin for delimited wines of superior quality of the Department of the Hérault and Aude, obtained recognition as the ‘Coteaux du Languedoc’ designation of origin for delimited wine of superior quality. The name ‘Languedoc’ itself now upholds the historical and cultural values of this thousand-year old vine-growing activity.

The producers of the ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ designation of origin for delimited wine of superior quality joined this project in 1984. When the ‘Coteaux du Languedoc’ controlled designation of origin was recognised in 1985, the use of the name ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ was kept, with the possibility of adding the complementary geographical designation ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ (white wines produced solely from the Piquepoul B variety) to the name of the controlled designation of origin.

The wine-growing know-how is shown by the location of the vineyard on gently sloping parcels with good irrigation and drainage and no hindrance to the rooting process.

It is also shown in the choice of the training systems. Short pruning is preferred to make the variety stronger and limit production, with a traditional open-centre or Royat cordon vine training system, production control with moderate return on planting, plant density of over 4 400 vines per hectare and a high level of ripeness of the grapes in line with traditional practices.

Lastly, the wine-growing expertise can be seen in the strict arrangements established in order to ensure the quality of this thin-skinned variety during transport as well as in the pressing of a harvest that is protected so as to preserve the aromatic delicacy and the balance of wines.

With a view to safeguarding the diverse heritage of this iconic variety of the geographical area, producers have built a clone conservatory used as the basis for selecting plants.

‘Picpoul de Pinet’ is a white wine produced solely from the Piquepoul B variety, which is perfectly adapted to the local natural environment. The area has low rainfall levels, but the deep well-draining soil, combined with a humid maritime climate, favour the optimal ripening of this Picpoul late-budding variety. This explains its floral and fruity aromas, citrusy notes and mineral hint, combined with an acidic edge, which distinguishes ‘Picpoul de Pinet’ from the region’s other whites.

The wine growers’ expertise is evidenced both in the selected location of the vineyards and in the choice of the training systems used for this robust variety, favouring a traditional vine training method and production control, which ensure an optimal ripeness of the grapes in line with traditional practices.

Lastly, producers guarantee and preserve the fine aromas and balance of the wines by taking the utmost possible care during the harvest transport and pressing phases.

9. Essential further conditions

Complementary geographical name

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

Wines having the controlled designation of origin may specify on their labels the broader geographical unit ‘Languedoc’. The size of the letters for this broader geographical unit must not be larger, either in height or width, than half of the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

The size of the letters of all optional terms whose use, under Community provisions, may be regulated by the Member States, must not be larger, either in height or width, than half of the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

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 the making, development and ageing of the wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities of the Department of the Hérault: Agde and Marseillan.

Reference to publication of the specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-b0a39007-4c88-4090-8523-f19de64abead