Description
The Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia Geographical Indication is reserved exclusively for the plum spirit (Prunus domestica L.) obtained from Italian raw materials and distilled in establishments located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Production Area
The production area of Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia GI is within the entire territory of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Production Method
Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia GI is obtained through the distillation of plums or plum must, with or without the stone, either directly with water vapour or after the water has been added to the alembic still. The batch distillation of the plums or plum must has to be carried out at less than 86% ABV, so that the distilled product preserves the original aroma and taste of the raw material. The obtained product can only be redistilled within this limit. During the production process of Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia Friulano GI, the addition of sugars is permitted up to a maximum of 20 g per litre, expressed as invert sugar.
Product Characteristics
The fruit spirit Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia GI is obtained exclusively through the alcoholic fermentation and distillation of fleshy plums and plum must, with or without the stone. It has a minimum alcohol content of 40% ABV. If the spirit is distilled with the stones, it has a maximum hydrogen cyanide content of 7 g/hectolitre of absolute alcohol. The addition of ethyl alcohol (pure or diluted) is not permitted and it is not aromatised. Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia GI can be aged in unvarnished, uncoated wooden barrels, vats or other wooden recipients for a period of no less than 12 months, subjected to rigorous controls, in establishments located within the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Link with the territory
In the past, plum spirit was one of the most widely produced distillates in Carnia and, in particular, in the municipality of Arta (formerly Arta Terme), where the cultivation of plums in Friuli originates, as evidenced by numerous texts. The first distillation of plum spirit was carried out with a native plum variety, at the time known as Brundul di Cjabie, the characteristics of which were determined by the pedoclimatic conditions in the area. Since then, this fruit has been eaten fresh, transformed into jams and used for distillation. Documents show that there were already 12 licensed distillers in the municipality of Arta Terme in the early 20th century. This spirit is now diffused across the Friuli region, and the same distillation and production methods have remained unchanged.
Legislative information
The Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia Geographical Indication is registered in Annex III of Regulation (EC) No. 110/2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and protection of Geographical Indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1576/89 (published in the OJEU L. 39 of 13.02.2008), as modified by EC Reg. 1067/2016 and Reg. 674/2019. Notwithstanding the entry into force of the new EU Reg. 787/2019, which repeals Reg. 110/2008 and – as far as GIs are concerned – has been applied since 8 June 2019, Annex III will continue to apply until the creation of the GI Register referred to in art. 33 of the new regulation. Generally, article 24, paragraph 1 of Regulation 787/2019 states that for every single Geographical Indication a technical file containing the requirements set out in the same article must be presented to the European Commission. The technical file for Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia GI is contained in the decree issued by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies on 31 July 2014 (published in the Italian Official Journal no. 185 of 11.08.2014).
