TITLE IIIOENOLOGICAL PRACTICES

CHAPTER IEnrichment

Article 28Enrichment of the cuvée for sparkling wines

In accordance with point H(4) and point I(5) of Annex V and point K(11) of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, each Member State may authorise the enrichment of the cuvée at the place of preparation of sparkling wines, provided that:

(a)

none of the constituents of the cuvée has previously undergone enrichment;

(b)

the said constituents are derived solely from grapes harvested in its territory;

(c)

the enrichment is carried out in a single operation;

(d)

the following limits are not exceeded:

(i)

3,5 % vol. for a cuvée comprising constituents from wine-growing zone A, provided that the natural alcoholic strength by volume of each constituent is at least 5 % vol.;

(ii)

2,5 % vol. for a cuvée comprising constituents from wine-growing zone B, provided that the natural alcoholic strength by volume of each constituent is at least 6 % vol.;

(iii)

2 % vol. for a cuvée comprising constituents from wine-growing zones C I a, C I b, C II and C III, provided that the natural alcoholic strength by volume of each constituent is at least 7,5 % vol., 8 % vol., 8,5 % vol. and 9 % vol. respectively;

(e)

the method used is the addition of sucrose, of concentrated grape must or of rectified concentrated grape must.

The limits referred to in point (d) of the first paragraph shall be without prejudice to the application of Article 44(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 to cuvées intended for the preparation of sparkling wines as referred to in point 15 of Annex I to that Regulation.