Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to a product specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33

(2022/C 75/06)

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

‘Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese’

PDO-IT-A1187-AM02

Date of communication: 22 November 2021

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Addition of the terms Riserva, Vigna and Riserva Vigna

Description:

The terms Riserva, Vigna and Riserva Vigna have been added for the ‘Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese’ Rosso [red] type, which is already included.

Reasons:

The term Riserva has been added to breathe new life into this designation of origin, giving prominence to the ‘refined and mature’ version of the wine that had an excellent reputation in the past. Moreover, analysis has highlighted the rich structure and ageing potential of this variety.

Parts affected by the amendment: all the articles of the product specification; the ‘Description of the wines’, ‘Maximum yields’ and ‘Link with the geographical area’ sections of the single document.

2. Amendment of the variety mix

Description:

The provision has been changed from ‘Grignolino: minimum 90 %; Freisa: maximum 10 %’, to ‘Grignolino: minimum 95 %; Freisa and Barbera, alone or in combination: maximum 5 %’.

Reasons:

For several years, it has been standard practice for vineyards to contain a single vine variety. This trend also applies to the Grignolino variety, which accounts for 100 % of vines in almost all vineyards. However, given the incidence of diseases such as Esca and Flavescence dorée, which cause a number of plants to die each year, small percentages of Barbera and/or Freisa can be found in vineyards, accounting for not more than 5 % in total, as they are better able to compete with adult plants, but above all because they are well suited to being blended with Grignolino grapes to make wine.

Parts affected by the amendment: Article 2 of the product specification; the ‘Link with the geographical area’ section of the single document.

3. Change to the area of production

Description:

The production area has been expanded slightly as a result of the municipality of Cuccaro Monferrato merging with another municipality and changing its name to Lu e Cuccaro Monferrato.

Reasons:

With effect from 1 February 2019, the municipalities of Lu Monferrato and Cuccaro Monferrato merged into a single municipality called Lu e Cuccaro Monferrato.

There does not appear to have been any good reason for not including the municipality of Lu Monferrato, at the south-eastern boundaries of the area, in the DOC production area when it was established in 1974, since the territory is not only adjacent to the rest of the area but is also the same as it in all respects: geomorphological, lithological and climatic. Grignolino grapes and wines have traditionally been produced in Lu Monferrato and this is amply supported by historical data. It was therefore decided to use the new municipality name to make up for the absence of Lu Monferrato in the previous version of the product specification. It is a small territory with soil characteristics that are similar to those of the production area.

Parts affected by the amendment: Article 3 of the product specification; the ‘Demarcated geographical area’ section of the single document.

4. Revision and implementation of yields and minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume

Description:

The yield and the minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume for Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese have been revised.

Reasons:

Having considered the production data and the analyses of the products for the last 5 years, the amendment is deemed necessary, taking into account also the changes in weather conditions causing a natural increase in the sugar content. The grape yield per hectare is also very low, and the combination of the yield per hectare and the processing yield means that Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese produces 4 500 litres of wine per hectare, which is not only the lowest by far in Piedmont but does not reflect the reality of production. Given that the soils of Monferrato Casalese are, apart from everything else, not subject to water stress due to their higher silt and clay content, the actual production per hectare and grape-to-wine yield can certainly not be any lower than those proposed by the amendment to the specification, hence the proposed adjustment.

Parts affected by the amendment: Article 4 of the product specification; the ‘Wine-making practices - Maximum yields’ section of the single document.

5. Wine-growing and wine-making standards

Description:

The growing conditions in the vineyards (soil, position, exposure, planting density, training systems and pruning methods) have been specified in more detail.

Reasons:

The way the specification is organised as a whole has been revised in order to bring it into line with the way new specifications are drafted. No changes have been made to what was already included in the original version. The wine-making standards have been specified also for the new types, and the organisation of the existing ones has been improved.

Parts affected by the amendment: Articles 4 and 5 of the product specification.

6. Expansion of wine-making, processing and ageing area

Description:

The wine-making, processing and ageing area has been expanded to include the following municipalities in the province of Asti: Viarigi, Montemagno, Casorzo, Grazzano Badoglio, Moncalvo, Penango, Calliano, Tonco, Scandeluzza e Montiglio Monferrato and Robella d’Asti.

Reasons:

The territory of Basso Monferrato [Low Monferrato] covers the northern part of the current provinces of Alessandria and Asti and can be regarded as a homogeneous territory. The province of Alessandria formerly comprised a large part of the municipalities to the north of Asti, until 1935 when the province of Asti was established by Royal Decree (the Diocese of Casale Monferrato still includes the area of Asti forming part of Basso Monferrato). A homogeneous zone was effectively divided into two by an administrative boundary, leading to holdings running their operations from municipalities in the province of Asti and having vineyards in the province of Alessandria, or vice versa, and effectively obliging them to use the corresponding names. The purpose of this amendment is to include in the wine-making area a group of municipalities in the province of Asti, making it possible for holdings located over the Alessandria border to make wine from grapes produced in the production area.

Parts affected by the amendment: Article 5 of the product specification; the ‘Further conditions’ section of the single document.

7. Amendment to the characteristics on consumption of ‘Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese’

Description:

The characteristics on consumption for the ‘Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese’ type have been amended and descriptors have been added for the new Riserva and Vigna types.

Reasons:

Analysis of the wines over the last 5 years has shown that it is necessary to make changes to the parameters regarding release for consumption and, in particular, to increase the minimum total alcoholic strength by volume from 11,00 % to 12,00 %, and to reduce the minimum total acidity from 5,5 g/l to 4,5 g/l. Some of the parameters are more restrictive for the Riserva and Vigna types.

Parts affected by the amendment: Article 6 of the product specification; the ‘Description of the wine(s)’ section of the single document.

8. Packaging and labelling

Description:

Some labelling provisions have been laid down, and packaging methods and sealing systems have been added.

Reasons:

The provisions on packaging were missing from the previous version of the product specification. These have now been drawn up and included in this amendment.

Parts affected by the amendment: Article 7 of the specification.

9. Link with the environment

Description:

The article on the link with the environment has been updated.

Reasons:

A paragraph has been revised based on the amendments made.

Parts affected by the amendment: Article 8 of the product specification; the ‘Link with the environment’ section of the single document.

10. Updating of the article on the inspection body

Description:

The article on the inspection body has been updated.

Reasons:

Some legal references have been adjusted.

Parts affected by the amendment: Article 10 of the specification.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name of the product

Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese

2. Geographical indication type

PDO - Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine product

Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

1. Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese

CONCISE TEXTUAL DESCRIPTION

Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese wine is a red wine obtained from the vinification of Grignolino grapes. This variety is native to the Monferrato Casalese area, where it has found the ideal habitat for the best expression of its characteristics. The colour of the wine is ruby red of varying intensity, tending to orange. It has a delicate aroma and dry, slightly tannic and pleasantly bitter taste, with a distinctive aftertaste.

Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 12,00 %

Minimum sugar-free extract: 18,00 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
Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)
Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)
Minimum total acidity	4,5 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid
Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)
Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

2. Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese Riserva

CONCISE TEXTUAL DESCRIPTION

The colour of the wine is a ruby red-garnet, tending to orange. Its distinctive and delicate aroma contains spicy notes. On the palate it has a dry, slightly tannic and pleasantly bitter taste, with a distinctive aftertaste.

Minimum total alcoholic strength by volume: 12,50 %

Minimum sugar-free extract: 22,00 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
Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume)
Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume)
Minimum total acidity	4,5 grams per litre expressed as tartaric acid
Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre)
Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

5. Wine-making practices

5.1. Specific oenological practices

—

5.2. Maximum yields:

1.	Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese

8 000 kilograms of grapes per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

The production area for grapes that may be used to produce wines under the ‘Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese’ PDO comprises the following municipalities of the province of Alessandria:

Alfiano Natta, Altavilla Monferrato, Camagna Monferrato, Camino, Casale Monferrato (excluding the part on the left bank of the Po), Castelletto Merli, Cella Monte, Cereseto, Cerrina Monferrato, Coniolo (excluding the part on the left bank of the Po), Conzano, Frassinello Monferrato, Gabiano, Lu e Cuccaro Monferrato, Mombello Monferrato, Moncestino, Murisengo, Odalengo Grande, Odalengo Piccolo, Olivola, Ottiglio, Ozzano Monferrato, Pontestura, Ponzano Monferrato, Rosignano Monferrato, Sala Monferrato, San Giorgio Monferrato, Serralunga di Crea, Solonghello, Terruggia, Treville, Vignale Monferrato, Villadeati and Villamiroglio.

7. Main wine grape variety(ies)

Barbera N.

Freisa N.

Grignolino N.

8. Description of the link(s)

8.1. DOC Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese

Monferrato Casalese, or Basso Monferrato [low Monferrato], is an area of hills of between 120 and 350 metres above sea level in which the wine of this designation of origin is produced. The Alps and the sea (approximately 130 and 90 km away respectively) influence the climate of Monferrato and make it ideal for growing vines. The Monferrato soils and the underlying rock from which they originate are derived from marine sediment of varying depth. In addition to Grignolino, the variety mix may also include Freisa and/or Barbera grapes (up to 5 %).

The characteristics of the soil, and thus of the wine of this designation, are linked to this alkaline limestone matrix, which is rather poor in nutrients. The wine is rich in fruity notes, which are obtained from this particular ‘terroir’.

8.2. DOC Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese Riserva

Monferrato Casalese, or Basso Monferrato [low Monferrato], is an area of hills of between 120 and 350 metres above sea level in which the wine of this designation of origin is produced. The Alps and the sea (approximately 130 and 90 km away respectively) influence the climate of Monferrato and make it ideal for growing vines. In addition to Grignolino, the variety mix may also include Freisa and/or Barbera grapes (up to 5 %). Grignolino can be defined as the native variety of Monferrato par excellence. Documents dating back to 1248 bear witness to the presence and significance of this variety in the area. Over the centuries, winegrowers in Monferrato have always chosen the best locations and most suitable soils to grow Grignolino vines.

The characteristics of the soil and thus of the wine of this designation are linked to the rather nutrient-poor alkaline limestone matrix of the land in Monferrato. In the Riserva wines, the fruity notes characteristic of the particular terroir are enhanced by ageing.

Until the 70s, the wines under this designation of origin consisted of Grignolino that had been aged around 4 years and was intended for a loyal customer base of sophisticated consumers. It was only later that younger and fresher wines began to be produced, in order to adapt to market requirements. With the addition of the Riserva type, the link with the production tradition has now been restored, as has the possibility of enhancing the organoleptic characteristics, which can only be done through ageing.

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

Derogation from production in the demarcated geographical area

Legal framework:

EU legislation

Type of further condition:

Derogation from production in the demarcated geographical area

Description of the condition:

Wine-making, processing and ageing operations for wines of the Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese PDO must take place within the administrative territory of the municipalities in the demarcated geographical area. However, these operations may be carried out anywhere in the province of Alessandria and in the municipalities of Viarigi, Montemagno, Casorzo, Grazzano Badoglio, Moncalvo, Penango, Calliano, Tonco, Montiglio Monferrato and Robella d’Asti in the province of Asti.

Link to the product specification

https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/17388

(1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.