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ANNEX VIIU.K. DEFINITIONS, DESIGNATIONS AND SALES DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 78

PART IIU.K. Categories of grapevine products

(1)WineU.K.

"Wine" means the product obtained exclusively from the total or partial alcoholic fermentation of fresh grapes, whether or not crushed, or of grape must.

Wine shall:

(a)

have, whether or not following application of the processes specified in Section B of Part I of Annex VIII, an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 8,5 % volume provided that the wine derives exclusively from grapes harvested in wine-growing zones A and B referred to in Appendix I to this Annex, and of not less than 9 % volume in other wine-growing zones;

(b)

have, by way of derogation from the otherwise applicable minimum actual alcoholic strength, where it has a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication, whether or not following application of the processes specified in Section B of Part I of Annex VIII, an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 4,5 % volume;

(c)

have a total alcoholic strength of not more than 15 % volume. However, by way of derogation:

  • the upper limit for the total alcoholic strength may reach up to 20 % volume for wines which have been produced without any enrichment from certain wine-growing areas of the Union, to be determined by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to Article 75(2),

  • the upper limit for the total alcoholic strength may exceed 15 % volume for wines with a protected designation of origin which have been produced without enrichment;

(d)

have, subject to derogations which may be adopted by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to Article 75(2), a total acidity content, expressed as tartaric acid, of not less than 3,5 grams per litre or 46,6 milliequivalents per litre.

"Retsina" means wine produced exclusively in the geographical territory of Greece using grape must treated with resin from the Aleppo pine. The use of Aleppo pine resin is permitted solely for the purpose of obtaining "Retsina" wine under the conditions laid down in Greece's applicable provision.

By way of derogation from point (b) of the second subparagraph "Tokaji eszencia" and "Tokajská esencia" are considered to be wine.

However, Member States may allow the use of the term "wine" if:

(a)

it is accompanied by the name of a fruit in the form of a composite name to market products obtained by the fermentation of fruit other than grapes; or

(b)

it is part of a composite name.

Any confusion with products corresponding to the wine categories in this Annex shall be avoided.

(2)New wine still in fermentationU.K.

"New wine still in fermentation" means the product in which the alcoholic fermentation is not yet complete and which is not yet separated from its lees.

(3)Liqueur wineU.K.

"Liqueur wine" means the product:

(a)

which has an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 15 % volume and not more than 22 % volume;

(b)

which has a total alcoholic strength of not less than 17,5 % volume, except for certain liqueur wines with a designation of origin or with a geographical indication appearing on a list to be drawn up by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to Article 75(2);

(c)

which is obtained from:

  • grape must in fermentation,

  • wine,

  • a combination of the above products, or

  • grape must or a mixture thereof with wine for certain liqueur wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication, to be determined by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to Article 75(2);

(d)

which has an initial natural alcoholic strength of not less than 12 % volume, except for certain liqueur wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication appearing on a list to be drawn up by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to Article 75(2);

(e)

to which the following has been added:

(i)

individually or in combination:

  • neutral alcohol of vine origin, including alcohol produced from the distillation of dried grapes, having an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 96 % volume,

  • wine or dried grape distillate, having an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 52 % volume and not more than 86 % volume;

(ii)

together with one or more of the following products where appropriate:

  • concentrated grape must,

  • a combination of one of the products referred to in point (e)(i) with a grape must referred to in the first and fourth indent of point (c);

(f)

to which, by way of derogation from point (e), has been added, in so far as certain liqueur wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication are concerned which appear on a list to be drawn up by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to Article 75(2):

(i)

either of products listed in point (e)(i) individually or in combination; or

(ii)

one or more of the following products:

  • wine alcohol or dried grape alcohol with an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 95 % volume and not more than 96 % volume,

  • spirits distilled from wine or from grape marc, with an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 52 % volume and not more than 86 % volume,

  • spirits distilled from dried grapes, with an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 52 % volume and of less than 94,5 % volume; and

(iii)

one or more of the following products, where appropriate:

  • partially fermented grape must obtained from raisined grapes,

  • concentrated grape must obtained by the action of direct heat, complying, with the exception of this operation, with the definition of concentrated grape must,

  • concentrated grape must,

  • a combination of one of the products listed in point (f)(ii) with a grape must referred to in the first and fourth indents of point (c).

(4)Sparkling wineU.K.

"Sparkling wine" means the product:

(a)

which is obtained by first or second alcoholic fermentation:

  • from fresh grapes,

  • from grape must, or

  • from wine;

(b)

which, when the container is opened, releases carbon dioxide derived exclusively from fermentation;

(c)

which has an excess pressure, due to carbon dioxide in solution, of not less than 3 bar when kept at a temperature of 20 °C in closed containers; and

(d)

for which the total alcoholic strength of the cuvées intended for their preparation shall not be less than 8,5 % volume.

(5)Quality sparkling wineU.K.

"Quality sparkling wine" means the product:

(a)

which is obtained by first or second alcoholic fermentation:

  • from fresh grapes,

  • from grape must, or

  • from wine;

(b)

which, when the container is opened, releases carbon dioxide derived exclusively from fermentation;

(c)

which has an excess pressure, due to carbon dioxide in solution, of not less than 3,5 bar when kept at a temperature of 20 °C in closed containers; and

(d)

for which the total alcoholic strength of the cuvées intended for their preparation shall not be less than 9 % volume.

(6)Quality aromatic sparkling wineU.K.

"Quality aromatic sparkling wine" means the quality sparkling wine:

(a)

which is obtained only by making use, when constituting the cuvée, of grape must or grape must in fermentation which is derived from specific wine grape varieties on a list to be drawn up by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to Article 75(2).

Quality aromatic sparkling wines traditionally produced using wines when constituting the cuvée shall be determined by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to in Article 75(2);

(b)

which has an excess pressure, due to carbon dioxide in solution, of not less than 3 bar when kept at a temperature of 20°C in closed containers;

(c)

of which the actual alcoholic strength may not be less than 6 % volume; and

(d)

of which the total alcoholic strength may not be less than 10 % volume.

(7)Aerated sparkling wineU.K.

"Aerated sparkling wine" means the product which:

(a)

is obtained from wine without a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication;

(b)

releases, when the container is opened, carbon dioxide derived wholly or partially from an addition of that gas; and

(c)

has an excess pressure, due to carbon dioxide in solution, of not less than 3 bar when kept at a temperature of 20 °C in closed containers.

(8)Semi-sparkling wineU.K.

"Semi-sparkling wine" means the product which:

(a)

obtained from wine, new wine still in fermentation, grape must or grape must in fermentation in so far as these products have a total alcohol strength of at least 9 % vol;

(b)

has an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 7 % volume;

(c)

has an excess pressure, due to endogenous carbon dioxide in solution of not less than 1 bar and not more than 2,5 bar when kept at a temperature of 20 °C in closed containers; and

(d)

is placed in containers of 60 litres or less.

(9)Aerated semi-sparkling wineU.K.

"Aerated semi-sparkling wine" means the product which:

(a)

obtained from wine, new wine still in fermentation, grape must or grape must in fermentation;

(b)

has an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 7 % volume and a total alcoholic strength of not less than 9 % volume;

(c)

has an excess pressure of not less than 1 bar and not more than 2,5 bar when kept at a temperature of 20 °C in closed containers due to carbon dioxide in solution which has been wholly or partially added; and

(d)

is placed in containers of 60 litres or less.

(10)Grape mustU.K.

"Grape must" means the liquid product obtained naturally or by physical processes from fresh grapes. An actual alcoholic strength of the grape must of not more than 1 % volume is permissible.

(11)Partially fermented grape mustU.K.

"Grape must in fermentation" means the product obtained from the fermentation of grape must which has an actual alcoholic strength of more than 1 % volume but less than three fifths of its total alcoholic strength by volume.

(12)Partially fermented grape must extracted from raisined grapesU.K.

"Grape must in fermentation extracted from raisined grapes" means the product obtained from the partial fermentation of grape must obtained from raisined grapes, the total sugar content of which before fermentation is at least 272 grams per litre and the natural and actual alcoholic strength of which shall not be less than 8 % volume. However, certain wines, to be determined by the Commission by means of delegated acts pursuant to Article 75(2), that meet these requirements shall not be considered to be grape must in fermentation extracted from raisined grapes.

(13)Concentrated grape mustU.K.

"Concentrated grape must" means uncaramelised grape must which is obtained by partial dehydration of grape must carried out by any authorised method other than by direct heat in such a way that the figure indicated by a refractometer used in accordance with a method to be prescribed in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 80(5) and point (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 91 at a temperature of 20 °C is not less than 50,9 %.

An actual alcoholic strength of the concentrated grape must of not more than 1 % volume is permissible.

(14)Rectified concentrated grape mustU.K.

"Rectified concentrated grape must" means:

(a)

the liquid uncaramelised product which:

(i)

is obtained by partial dehydration of grape must carried out by any authorised method other than direct heat in such a way that the figure indicated by a refractometer used according to a method to be prescribed in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 80(5) and point (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 91 at a temperature of 20 °C is not less than 61,7 %;

(ii)

has undergone authorised treatment for de-acidification and elimination of constituents other than sugar;

(iii)

has the following characteristics:

  • a pH of not more than 5 at 25 Brix,

  • an optical density at 425 nm for a thickness of 1 cm of not more than 0,100 in grape must concentrated at 25 Brix,

  • a sucrose content undetectable by a method of analysis to be defined,

  • a Folin-Ciocalteu index of not more than 6,00 at 25 Brix,

  • a titratable acidity of not more than 15 millequivalents per kilogram of total sugars,

  • a sulphur dioxide content of not more than 25 milligrams per kilogram of total sugars,

  • a total cation content of not more than 8 milliequivalents per kilogram of total sugars,

  • a conductivity at 25 Brix and 20°C of not more than 120 micro-Siemens/cm,

  • a hydroxymethylfurfural content of not more than 25 milligrams per kilogram of total sugars,

  • presence of mesoinositol.

(b)

the solid uncaramelised product which:

(i)

is obtained by crystallisation of liquid rectified concentrated grape must without the use of solvents;

(ii)

has undergone authorised treatment for de-acidification and elimination of constituents other than sugar;

(iii)

has the following characteristics after dilution in a solution at 25 Brix:

  • a pH of not more than 7,5,

  • an optical density at 425 nm for a thickness of 1 cm of not more than 0,100,

  • a sucrose content undetectable by a method of analysis to be defined,

  • a Folin-Ciocalteu index of not more than 6,00,

  • a titratable acidity of not more than 15 millequivalents per kilogram of total sugars,

  • a sulphur dioxide content of not more than 10 milligrams per kilogram of total sugars,

  • a total cation content of not more than 8 millequivalents per kilogram of total sugars,

  • a conductivity at 20 °C of not more than 120 micro-Siemens/cm,

  • a hydroxymethylfurfural content of not more than 25 milligrams per kilogram of total sugars,

  • presence of mesoinositol.

An actual alcoholic strength of the rectified concentrated grape must of not more than 1 % volume is permissible.

(15)Wine from raisined grapesU.K.

"Wine from raisined grapes" means the product which:

(a)

is produced without enrichment, from grapes left in the sun or shade for partial dehydration;

(b)

has a total alcoholic strength of at least 16 % volume and an actual alcoholic strength of at least 9 % volume; and

(c)

has a natural alcoholic strength of a least 16 % volume (or 272 grams sugar/litre).

(16)Wine of overripe grapesU.K.

"Wine of overripe grapes" means the product which:

(a)

is produced without enrichment;

(b)

has a natural alcoholic strength of more than 15 % volume; and

(c)

has a total alcoholic strength of not less than 15 % volume and an actual alcoholic strength of not less than 12 % volume.

Member States may prescribe a period of ageing for this product.

(17)Wine vinegarU.K.

"Wine vinegar" means vinegar which:

(a)

is obtained exclusively by acetous fermentation of wine; and

(b)

has a total acidity of not less than 60 grams per litre expressed as acetic acid.