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

(2008/C 244/09)

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.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘ZNOJEMSKÉ PIVO’

EC No: CZ-PGI-005/0376-14.10.2004

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

This summary sets out the main elements of the product specification for information purposes.

1.   Responsible department in the Member State:

2.   Group:

This application derogates from Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on account of the fact that there is only one producer in the area. The requirements laid down in Article 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1898/2006 are fulfilled since the applicant is the only producer in the defined area and ‘Znojemské pivo’ is produced in the defined area according to the method described below, from raw materials possessing the properties and quality prescribed and using local water sources, which lends ‘Znojemské pivo’ its specific characteristics and sets it apart from beers produced in the surrounding areas. The unique character of the production derives from the town's centuries-old brewing tradition in the defined area. The indication ‘Znojemské pivo’ is traditionally and exclusively linked only with the area in question.

3.   Type of product:

Class 2.1 — Beer

4.   Specification:

(Summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1.   Name: ‘Znojemské pivo’

4.2.   Description: ‘Znojemské pivo’ is produced in a number of basic categories: light draught, dark draught, lagers.

Raw materials used in production:

Malt — a malt produced from spring two-row barley is used. The properties of the malt must comply with the following values:

Water — water from the town's supply system is used.

Hops — hops of the Žatecký poloraný červeňák and Magnum Hallertau varieties are used, in granulated and extract form; the varieties used give ‘Znojemské pivo’ its characteristic hint of bitterness.

Description of individual products:

Light draught

original gravity (% extract): 8-10 %,

alcohol content (% by volume): 3,2-4,0,

bitterness (EBC units): 17-25,

colour (EBC units): 8-12,

CO2 content (mg/l): 4,8-5,5,

draught beer, more highly fermented, with a hint of bitterness, hoppy aroma, good head and harmonious flavour, medium-strong sharpness.

Dark draught

original gravity (% extract): 9-10 %,

alcohol content (% by volume): 3,8-4,0,

bitterness (EBC units): 18-25,

colour (EBC units): 35-90,

CO2 content (mg/l): 4,4-5,5,

garnet-coloured dark beer with a less pronounced bitterness, an agreeable malty caramel flavour and aroma, and a medium sharpness.

Lagers

original gravity (% extract): 11-12 %,

alcohol content (% by volume): 4,5-5,0,

bitterness (EBC units): 23-30,

colour (EBC units): 11-14,

CO2 content (mg/l): 4,4-5,5,

medium fermented beer with a fuller taste, medium to pronounced bitterness and clean aroma with balanced taste properties, medium body with a stronger sharpness and good head.

4.3.   Geographical area: Znojmo area

4.4.   Proof of origin: The producer has records covering the suppliers of all the raw materials, the purchasers of the finished products and the system of checks performed in the course of production. The checks performed in the course of production and the specification checks are carried out by the Státní zemědělská a potravinářská inspekce (Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority), which is based in Brno. In keeping with the legislation, each product gives details of the producer. Checks on the origin of the Czech hops are carried out regularly by the Výzkumný ústav chmelařský (Hop Research Institute) based in Žatec, which certifies the purity of the hop variety.

4.5.   Method of production: Three basic ingredients are used to produce ‘Znojemské pivo’ — good quality malt with the above-mentioned properties made from spring two-row barley, hops of the Žatecký poloraný červeňák and Magnum Hallertau varieties and drinking water drawn from the town's supply system without further treatment. Production of the beer begins in the brewhouse, where the malt is milled and mixed with water. The next stage is the classic two-mash decoction process, which is used to achieve the optimum temperature for the extraction of substances from the malt. The most important technical step lies in the boiling of the beer, when the wort (malt extract mixed with water) is boiled with the hops to produce the final product, namely hopped wort. The hot wort is separated from the spent grain and cooled, after which it can be fermented. In Znojmo primary fermentation takes place in a typical fermentation room, where the cooled wort is aerated, pitched with yeast and fermented in open vats for about seven days. During this period the yeast converts the malt sugars to alcohol, producing carbon dioxide as a by-product. The yeasts used are of the variety Saccharomyces cerevisiae uvarum, a bottom-fermenting yeast. When primary fermentation is complete, the vat is chilled, the yeast sinks to the bottom (hence the description ‘bottom-fermenting’) and the green beer is transferred to the lagering cellar to mature. Maturation of the beer takes between 30 and 90 days, depending on the variety, and it is important that temperature levels remain around 2 °C during this period. The purpose of maturing the beer is to optimise its organoleptic properties, allow it to reach its CO2 saturation point and clarify it. Before being transferred to barrels or bottles, the green beer must be filtered to remove the yeast. It is then stabilised and pasteurised in order to increase its colloidal and microbiological shelf life. The beer matures in lagering cellars which are linked to the historic area of tunnels below the town of Znojmo. The beer is transferred to bottles or kegs for transport on the racking lines and dispatched to customers.

4.6.   Link: The earliest documentary evidence of brewing in Znojmo dates from 1278. The ‘Losunková kniha’ (1363), which has survived from the era of Charles IV, identifies a number of houses and townspeople having the right to brew beer, including the brewer Hostan (whose name has become the symbol of ‘Znojemské pivo’ and of the Znojmo brewery). In 1629 there were two independent breweries in the town. In 1924 the two town breweries merged and Znojmo became the centre of beer production in the lower Podyjí region. Following privatisation in 1993, the town's brewing tradition was carried on by HOSTAN, s.r.o. In 2002 this company merged with STAROBRNO, a.s., who, as the successor company, has continued to brew the traditional Znojmo beer, production of which dates back to the 13th century.

‘Znojemské pivo’ is produced in the defined area by the method described above, from raw materials possessing the prescribed properties and quality and using local water sources, which lends ‘Znojemské pivo’ its specific characteristics. The unique character of the production derives from the town's centuries-old brewing tradition in the defined area.

In the Czech Republic's most prestigious competition, which takes place at the PIVEX trade fair, ‘Znojemské pivo’ has won prizes in three of the four categories (in 1997 and 1998). In the Cena českých sládků (Czech Brewers' Prize) competition, 12 % Premium — světlý ležák, a variety of ‘Znojemské pivo’, was classed as third-best beer of the year in 1997.

In 1999, at the PIVEX trade fair, ‘Znojemské pivo’ won first prize for 12 % Hostan Premium and second prize for 10 % Hostan Granát; at the Cena českých sládků competition ‘Znojemské pivo’ won first prize for 11 % Hradní — světlý ležák. In 2000 ‘Znojemské pivo’ won first prize in the Naše pivko (Our Jar) competition organised by the editorial staff of the periodical ‘Pivní kurýr’ (Beer Courier). The most successful year to date for ‘Znojemské pivo’ was 2001, when it retained first prize in the Naše pivko competition and Hostan — Naše pivko, a variety of ‘Znojemské pivo’, was declared best draught beer in the České pivo competition, the most prestigious of this type in the Czech Republic; Hostan — Hradní, another variety of ‘Znojemské pivo’, was placed third in the lager category. A further success was scored in the same year when ‘Znojemské pivo’ won second prize in the Cena českých sládků competition for Hostan Hradní. In 2003 and 2004 Hostan — Naše pivko was awarded a quality certificate in the Zlatý pohár PIVEXU (PIVEX Gold Cup) competition.

Irrespective of the trademark under which ‘Znojemské pivo’ is sold, consumers are in no doubt that it is a ‘Znojemské pivo’ produced exclusively in the defined area.

The designation of origin ‘Znojemské pivo’ was registered under No 186 in the Czech Republic in 2002.

4.7.   Inspection body:

4.8.   Labelling: —

(1)  OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.