#52026XC02476EU publication of amendments to the Cassis PDO wine specification
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This notice confirms approved changes to the product rules for Cassis PDO wines from France. The main practical change gives white wine producers more flexibility: Marsanne B can now make up 20% to 80% of the blend, instead of the previous 30% to 80%. The change responds to lower juice yields linked to heat and water stress affecting that grape variety. It also records that Cassis rosé wines may be made by direct pressing or the saignée method, reflecting existing traditional practice. The notice updates control-body information and confirms that checks must be carried out under an approved control plan by an independent third party. Cassis PDO producers, certifiers, and businesses marketing these wines should use the updated specification.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- The minimum share of Marsanne B in Cassis PDO white wine blends is reduced from 30% to 20%, while the maximum remains 80%.
- The single document now states that Cassis rosé wines may be made by direct pressing or the saignée method.
- Control-body details are updated, and compliance checks must follow an approved control plan carried out by an independent third-party body.
Obligations
What this law requires
For Cassis PDO white wines, Marsanne B must constitute at least 20% and no more than 80% of the blend.
Cassis PDO rosé wines must be produced using direct pressing or the saignée method.
The use of wood chips is prohibited in the production of Cassis PDO wines.
For Cassis PDO rosé production, oenological carbon may be used only on press musts and new wines still in fermentation, and must not exceed 10% of the volume of rosé wines made by a winegrower from a specific harvest or 60 grams per hectolitre.
Vineyard planting density for Cassis PDO production must ensure that each plant occupies no more than 2.5 m²; row spacing must not exceed 2.50 metres, and spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 0.80 metres.