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

‘Châtillon-en-Diois’

PDO-FR-A0177-AM04

Date of communication: 21.10.2024

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1.   Labelling

In Section XII ‘Rules on presentation and labelling’ of Chapter I of the product specification, point 2 ‘Special provisions’ has been supplemented to include the labelling rules for referring to the broader geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’, as set out in the agreement signed between the protection and management bodies concerned. This information must appear in the same visual field as all the mandatory details and must be printed in the same font and colour as the designation, provided that it is no bigger than two thirds of the size of the designation.

This amendment has been added to the single document, under the heading ‘Further conditions’.

2.   Geographical area

In Section IV ‘Areas and places in which the various operations are conducted’ of Chapter I of the product specification, point 1 ‘Geographical area’ has been supplemented to update and correct the names of the municipalities, without amending the geographical area.

The municipalities of Aix-en-Diois and Molière-Glandaz were deleted and the municipality of Solaure en Diois was added.

This correction to the names of the municipalities has been added to the single document, under the heading ‘Demarcated geographical area’.

3.   Reference to the inspection body

Section II ‘Reference to the inspection body’ of Chapter III of the product specification has been updated to specify that checks on compliance with the product specification must be carried out on the basis of an approved inspection plan and by a third-party body offering guarantees of competence, impartiality and independence delegated by the National Institute of Origin and Quality.

This update does not affect the single document.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1.   Name(s)

Châtillon-en-Diois

2.   Geographical indication type

PDO - protected designation of origin

3.   Categories of grapevine product

1.

Wine

3.1.   Combined Nomenclature code

—	22 - BEVERAGES, SPIRITS AND VINEGAR 2204 – Wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines; grape must other than that of heading 2009

4.   Description of the wine(s)

1.    ‘Châtillon-en-Diois’ controlled designation of origin: red, rosé and white wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

The ‘Châtillon-en-Diois’ designation of origin covers still red, rosé and white wines.

General analytical characteristics

—	Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): 12,5

—	Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) —

—	Minimum total acidity in milliequivalents per litre

—	Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) —

—	Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) —

2.    ‘Châtillon-en-Diois’ controlled designation of origin: white wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

The white wines are produced from the Aligoté B and Chardonnay B varieties.

The minimum sugar content of the grapes is 170 g/l of must.

The wines have a natural alcoholic strength by volume of 10,5 %.

The white wines have a fermentable sugar content not exceeding the total acidity expressed in grams per litre of tartaric acid plus two, up to a maximum of 6 g/l of sugar.

The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.

The white wines, produced from the Aligoté B and Chardonnay B varieties, are dry and fresh, with general aromas of white flowers and citrus fruit.

General analytical characteristics

—	Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): —

—	Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) —

—	Minimum total acidity in milliequivalents per litre

—	Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) —

—	Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) —

3.    ‘Châtillon-en-Diois’ controlled designation of origin: red and rosé wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

The red and rosé wines are produced from the Gamay variety (main variety), with Pinot Noir and Syrah serving as secondary varieties. The wines are made by blending grapes or wine in which the main variety accounts for at least 60 %.

The minimum sugar content of the grapes is 170 g/l of must for the rosé wines and 171 g/l for the red wines.

The wines have a natural alcoholic strength by volume of 10,5 %.

At the packaging stage, the red wines have a malic acid content of not more than 0,4 g/l and a fermentable sugar content of not more than 3 g/l. The rosé wines have a fermentable sugar content not exceeding the total acidity expressed in grams per litre of tartaric acid plus two, up to a maximum of 6 g/l of sugar. The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.

The red wines, produced mainly from the Gamay variety, have a particular character. Although always very fruity, other more plant-based notes (e.g. garrigue) may be expressed. The customary roundness of the wines is supplemented by a more tannic structure and a minerality on the palate produced by blending the Gamay N variety with other varieties (Pinot Noir N, sometimes also Syrah N).

The rosé wines are generally salmon pink in colour, with aromas of red fruit and a very characteristic freshness on the palate.

General analytical characteristics

—	Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume): —

—	Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) —

—	Minimum total acidity in milliequivalents per litre

—	Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) —

—	Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre) —

5.   Wine-making practices

5.1.   Specific oenological practices

Specific oenological practice

When making rosé wines, the use of oenological charcoal is forbidden, whether alone or mixed in preparations.

In addition to the above provision, all winemaking practices followed must also comply with the requirements laid down at EU level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.

Cultivation method

The area available for each plant must not exceed 2,20 m2. This area is calculated by multiplying the distance between rows by the distance between plants.

The distance between rows must not exceed 2,50 m.

The distance between plants in the same row must be at least 0.80 m and not more than 1,5 m.

The vines are either Guyot trained or spur pruned (cordon de Royat training), with a maximum of 12 buds per plant.

Irrigation may be authorised.

5.2.   Maximum yields

60 hectolitres per hectare

6.   Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made and developed in the following municipalities in the department of Drôme: Barnave, Châtillon-en-Diois, Laval-d’Aix, Luc-en-Diois, Menglon, Montlaur-en-Diois, Montmaur-en-Diois, Poyols, Recoubeau-Jansac, Saint-Roman, Solaure en Diois.

7.   Wine grape variety(ies)

Aligoté B

Chardonnay B

Gamay N

Pinot Noir N

8.   Description of the link(s):

The geographical area is located on the hillsides of the Vercors Regional Natural Park, between the Alpine foothills of the Drôme and Provence. It lies south-east of Die, in the north part of the southern sub-Alpine belt known as the ‘Haut-Diois’, at the confluence of the Bez and the Drôme. The area is bounded to the north by the Montagne du Glandasse (Vercors cliffs), while ‘le Claps’ (a giant limestone rockfall) and Luc-en-Diois form the southern boundary.

The geographical area spans the territory of 12 municipalities. Within this geographical area, the mountain vineyards occupy only 36 ha and are located on clay-limestone hillsides at an altitude typically between 500 m and 650 m. They are protected from the northerly wind by the Vercors cliffs.

The temperate, semi-Mediterranean climate is directly linked to this altitude and to the proximity of the Vercors Massif.

The most emblematic and significant vineyards in production can be found in the municipality of Châtillon-en-Diois, nestled against the Glandasse Massif (2 000 m altitude) and overlooking the Bez valley, a fast-flowing tributary of the Drôme. The hillside, with an average altitude of 550 m, enjoys excellent southern exposure. This offers the vineyards a particular mesoclimate which is very well suited to winegrowing, earning them an excellent reputation.

The ‘Châtillon-en-Diois’ controlled designation of origin comprises red, white and, to a lesser degree, rosé wines. On account of the varieties cultivated, the vineyards resemble those in the north, i.e., the vineyards of Burgundy, home to the Gamay N, Pinot Noir N, Aligoté B and Chardonnay B varieties, and the vineyards of the ‘Côtes du Rhône septentrionales’ [northern Côtes du Rhône] controlled designations of origin, with the Syrah N variety which is cultivated occasionally in Diois.

These varieties were selected due to their compatibility with the well-draining marly and limestone soils found on the serres (a term used locally to denote the landforms and slopes) and the well-exposed hillsides. Winegrowers have been planting vines around Luc-en-Diois, in the Bez valley, as in all parts of the Drôme valley, since Roman times.

In those valleys, it was necessary to find the best parcels on the serres or terraces, sometimes at altitudes of up to 650 m, as in the municipality of Laval-d’Aix.

From the main connecting road running deep below the vineyards, the vines seem barely visible in the landscape. Higher up, the mountain vineyards appear, dotted with winegrowers’ cabins and sheds, evidence of winegrowing activity and very numerous in places, e.g. Châtillon-en-Diois, where there are no less than eighty.

Parcels are carefully selected on the basis of their natural qualities and local customs, meaning that grapes may be harvested for the production of white wines in all municipalities in the geographical area, while for red wines, harvesting is limited to the municipalities of Châtillon-en-Diois and Menglon. These wines were recognised under the ‘Châtillon-en-Diois’ controlled designation of origin by Decree of 3 March 1975.

As a consequence, winegrowing grew rapidly and a local community centred around the product was formed.

The mountain mesoclimate of the hillsides brings out fruity aromas in the wines, accompanying the characteristic freshness of the rosé and white wines and the roundness of the red wines.

Although there is evidence of vines and wine dating back to Roman Gaul, the reputation of the wine was initially confined to the nearby mountains due to poor transportation links.

After the tanning and textile industries died out at the start of the 20th century, the ‘Châtillon-en-Diois’ controlled designation of origin, like all wines from Diois with a controlled designation of origin, became the economic mainstay of the valley.

Since 1960, a wine festival has been organised each year in Châtillon-en-Diois to promote the wines. In 1995, it became known as the ‘Festival Arts et Vigne’ [Art and Vine Festival], spreading the reputation of the winegrowing area more widely.

9.   Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

a)	All optional terms are marked on the labels in letters that must not be larger, either in height or width, than double the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

b)

Wines bearing the controlled designation of origin may display the name of a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that: — it is a registered location; — it appears on the harvest declaration. The name of the registered location must appear immediately after the controlled designation of origin, and must be printed in lettering no larger, in height or in width, than half the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

c)	The labels of wines bearing the controlled designation of origin may specify the broader geographical unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’ under the conditions set out in the agreement signed between the protection and management bodies concerned.

This information must appear in the same visual field as all the mandatory details and must be printed in the same font and colour as the designation, provided that it is no bigger than two thirds of the size of the designation.

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 and development of the wines, is made up of the territory of the following municipalities in the department of Drôme: Aubenasson, Aurel, Barsac, Chamaloc, Chastel-Arnaud, La Chaudière, Die, Espenel, Eygluy-Escoulin, Marignac-en-Diois, Ponet-Saint-Auban, Pontaix, Rimon-et-Savel, Romeyer, Saillans, Saint-Andéol, Saint-Benoit-en-Diois, Sainte-Croix, Saint-Julien-en-Quint, Saint-Sauveur-en-Diois, Vachères-en-quint, vercheny, véronne.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-a92477d7-4838-4aa9-a88a-b571322adec6

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(1)   OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.