Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2011/C 108/09

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘TERRE AURUNCHE’

EC No: IT-PDO-005-0571-21.11.2006

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1.   Name:

‘Terre Aurunche’

2.   Member State or third country:

Italy

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1.   Type of product:

3.2.   Description of product to which the name in (1) applies:

‘Terre Aurunche’ extra virgin olive oil must be obtained solely from olive groves of the following local varieties:

The only variety indigenous to the production area is the ‘Sessana’ variety (its name comes from the name of the town of Sessa Aurunca, the biggest municipality in the production area), whereas the other varieties are from neighbouring territories and represent an equally important heritage that has taken on a local character in the course of time.

When released for consumption, ‘Terre Aurunche’ extra virgin olive oil has the following physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics:

3.3.   Raw materials (for processed products only):

—

3.4.   Feed (for products of animal origin only):

—

3.5.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area:

The cultivation, production and pressing of ‘Terre Aurunche’ extra virgin olive oil must take place within the production area specified under point 4.

3.6.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.:

‘Terre Aurunche’ extra virgin olive oil must be released for consumption in containers made of varnished terracotta, glass, tinplate or single-serve packages.

Packaging may take place outside the geographical area provided it is within 20 days of the date of communication of the results of the chemical, physical and organoleptic tests performed by the control body. This ensures for the end consumer that ‘Terre Aurunche’ oil keeps its characteristics, in particular the typical artichoke and almond notes, even after transport.

3.7.   Specific rules concerning labelling:

The packaging must carry on the label the following indications: the name of the ‘Terre Aurunche’ protected designation of origin in distinct, indelible lettering of a colour that strongly contrasts with that of the label itself and so that it can be clearly distinguished from the other information given on the label in compliance with the labelling legislation in force; the logo, which is made up of a circle inside of which the name is accompanied by a bridge framed by natural features that are typical of the Aurunca landscape: the sun and mountains descending to the sea. No other term may be added to the ‘Terre Aurunche’ protected denomination of origin, including the indications ‘tipo’ (type), ‘gusto’ (taste), ‘uso’ (use), ‘selezionato’ (choice), ‘scelto’ (selected) or similar. The use of indications referring to geographical units other than those expressly provided for by the specification is also forbidden. The names of undertakings, holdings and estates, business names and brand names may not have laudatory connotations, nor may they mislead the consumer. The label must mention: the name or business name; the address of the producer and/or packager; and the production year. If the oil has been produced organically or through integrated production methods, reference may be made to this.

The logo is the following:

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area:

The production area of the olives and the production and packaging area of ‘Terre Aurunche’ protected denomination of origin extra virgin olive oil covers all the administrative territories of the following municipalities in the province of Caserta: Caianello, Carinola, Cellole, Conca della Campania, Falciano del Massico, Francolise, Galluccio, Marzano Appio, Mignano Monte Lungo, Mondragone, Rocca D’Evandro, Roccamonfina, San Pietro Infine, Sessa Aurunca, Sparanise, Teano, Tora and Piccilli.

5.   Link with the geographical area:

5.1.   Specificity of the geographical area:

The production area of ‘Terre Aurunche’ extra virgin olive oil was subject in past geological eras to the lava flows, eruptions and volcanic rains of the now extinct Roccamonfina volcano, one of the largest in Europe. This has resulted in practically homogeneous agricultural substrata; furthermore, there has always been significant cultivation of ‘Sessana’ olives in this area.

For this reason, it has been decided to delimit the production area of the ‘Terre Aurunche’ PDO to the land exposed, in the past, to the eruptions of the Roccamonfina volcano and currently used mostly for growing ‘Sessana’ olives.

The geographic production area is characterised by a semi-arid, mild climate that is typical of the Mediterranean area, with rain mainly in the autumn and winter. In the summer and spring, the temperature variations are often great in the areas where the olive groves are mainly located, owing to the proximity of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west-south-west, which brings hot dry weather, and the presence of nearby mountains (Mt. Matese to the east and the Mainarde mountain range to the north-east), which make for cool nights.

The geomorphologic system formed by the now extinct Roccamonfina volcano is still a determining factor for the local pedogenesis insofar as all agricultural land, in particular on the hillsides, was affected by the disruption caused by lava flows and pyroclastic eruptions in the Pleistocene ice age.

The ‘Sessana’ variety is especially widespread in all the ‘Terre Aurunche’ PDO production area. It is also present in neighbouring areas, but less common. The particular way in which it spreads, with a tendency to assurgency if let free to grow without rational pruning, strongly characterises the local landscape. The origin of the ‘Sessana’ variety is so deeply rooted in the territory that it is named after a municipality, Sessa Aurunca, which is the biggest in the production area.

The favourable combination of the special nature of the land of the ‘Terre Aurunche’ PDO production area and the ‘Sessana’ variety means that this oil is particularly specific to the area.

Furthermore, the morphological features of its fruits, with stalks that are short or not excessively developed, make the cultivation and, particularly the olive harvest very specific. As mechanical harvesters leave behind part of the production, manual harvesting is still the only efficient method ensuring a quantitatively significant harvest. As in the past, today the harvest is done when the olives are perfectly ripe and without damaging them, in order to obtain top-quality oil.

5.2.   Specificity of the product:

The ‘Terre Aurunche’ extra virgin olive oil is produced exclusively with local varieties and is extremely representative of the territory because of the prevalence of the ‘Sessana’ variety.

The ‘Terre Aurunche’ extra virgin olive oil is characterised by clear fruity aromas with typical artichoke notes accompanied by a flavour with tasty bitter and spicy tones, balanced out by a hint of almonds, sometimes sweet.

The ‘Terre Aurunche’ extra virgin olive oil also stands out for a high polyphenol content.

5.3.   Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI):

The recognition of the ‘Terre Aurunche’ PDO is justified by the special organoleptic characteristics of the extra virgin olive oil, deriving directly from the distinctive varietal mix dominated by the ‘Sessana’ variety.

These undoubtedly unique characteristics are generated in the production area by the combination of a mild climate, cool night temperatures and volcanic soil, rich in macro and micro-elements that are essential for the production of quality olives and oil.

Thanks to the disruptive pedogenesis of the lava flows and pyroclastic eruptions of the Roccamonfina volcano in the Pleistocene ice age, the soil contains all macro-elements, which are essential for all crops. What is more, the presence of a fairly good mix of micro-elements, in particular manganese (a catalyst of many enzymatic and biochemical processes and a fundamental element in forming vitamins and chlorophyll), magnesium (essential in forming the chlorophyll molecule) and zinc (boosting the plant's efficiency in using nitrogenous compounds to favour cell elongation, i.e. the tendency of the ‘Sessana’ variety to assurgent growth), render the soil of the geographical area particularly suitable for growing the ‘Sessana’ variety.

The products derived from this variety are especially prestigious and rich in polyphenols, thanks also to the particular climate. Indeed, it is a well-known fact that a high polyphenol content in olive oil is due to efficient photosynthesis and protein synthesis. Hence, the micro-elements in the soil where the ‘Sessana’ olive variety is grown make this variety the richest in polyphenols of all those found in the area and the Province of Caserta.

The unique composition of the volcanic soil of the area, which favours the main enzymatic and biochemical processes of the plant, together with the mild climate and the temperature variations, brings about, in the ‘Terre Aurunche’ oil, the almond aroma and more or less intense fruity notes enhanced as hints of artichoke.

Reference to publication of the specification:

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

The Ministry launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposal for recognising ‘Terre Aurunche’ as a protected designation of origin in Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 262 of 10 November 2005. The full text of the product specification is available on the following website:

(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.

(2)  CVr % no more than 20.