Description
The Grappa Friulana or Grappa del Friuli Geographical Indication is reserved exclusively for grape marc spirits obtained from raw materials deriving from grapes produced and vinified in Friuli Venezia Giulia, and distilled and bottled in establishments located in the region.
Production Area
The production area of Grappa Friulana GI or Grappa del Friuli GI is within the entire territory of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Production Method
Grappa Friulana GI or Grappa del Friuli GI is obtained through the distillation of fermented or semi-fermented grape marc, either directly with water vapour or after water has been added to the alembic still. The use of natural liquid wine lees is permitted up to a maximum of 25 kg per 100 kg of grape marc. The quantity of alcohol derived from the lees can be no higher than 35% of the total quantity of alcohol in the finished product. The natural liquid wine lees can be used in the following ways: by adding them to the grape marc before distillation; by removing the alcohol from both the grape marc and lees at the same time and then distilling the mixture of the two phlegms, or alcohol vapours; by removing the alcohol from the grape marc and lees separately and then immediately distilling the mixture of the two phlegms. These operations must take place in the same distillery the grappa is produced in. The distillation of the fermented or semi-fermented grape marc, whether batch or continuous, must be carried out at less than 86% ABV. The obtained product can only be redistilled within this limit. The following ingredients can be added during the production process of Grappa Friulana GI or Grappa del Friuli GI: - aromatic plants or fruit (or parts of them) required by traditional production methods; - sugars, up to a maximum of 20 g per litre, expressed in invert sugar; - caramel, only for grappas that have been aged for at least 12 months, according to current European and national regulations. Grappa Friulana GI or Grappa del Friuli GI can be aged in wooden barrels, vats or other wooden recipients. The terms Vecchia or Invecchiata can be used in the presentation and promotion of grappas which have been aged in unvarnished, uncoated wooden barrels, vats or other wooden recipients for a minimum of 12 months, subjected to rigorous controls, in establishments situated within the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, while the terms Riserva or Stravecchia can only be used for Grappa Friulana GI or Grappa del Friuli GI aged at least 18 months.
Additional specifications
The Grappa Friulana or Grappa del Friuli Geographical Indication may be completed with a reference to: – the name of a grape variety if it has been obtained through the distillation of raw materials deriving entirely, in terms of weight, from the vinification of grapes belonging to said variety (other grape varieties can make up a maximum of 15% of the weight); – the names of no more than two grape varieties if it has been obtained through the distillation of raw materials deriving entirely from the vinification of grapes belonging to said varieties (however, varieties that make up less than 15% of the weight cannot be specified); – the name of a PDO or PGI (DOC, DOCG, IGT) wine if the raw materials derive from the grapes used to produce said wine (however, the use of the PDO or PGI, or DOC, DOCG, IGT, symbols or lettering, in either abbreviated or full form, is not permitted); – the distillation method, continuous or batch, and type of alembic still used.
Product Characteristics
Grappa Friulana GI or Grappa del Friuli GI is obtained exclusively through the distillation of fermented or semi-fermented grape marc, either directly with water vapour or after water has been added to the alembic still. It can be aged in unvarnished, uncoated wooden recipients and can only be released for consumption with a minimum alcohol content of 40% ABV.
Link with the territory
The first evidence of grape marc being processed to produce alcoholic beverages in Friuli dates back to the 6th century AD, when a Burgundian settlement in the Cividale area adapted the technique for fermenting apples to ferment grape marc. Documents from 1451 reveal the existence of a metal device (alembic still) that was used to produce spirits in Cividale del Friuli, and numerous documents from the 16th century onwards show that there was a thriving trade in spirits. In 1744, the Empress Maria Teresa of Austria established a law that permitted domestic distillation. In 1909, a document published by the Udine Chamber of Commerce attests to the existence of 42 controlled distilleries and 70 small agricultural distilleries, which mainly used grape marc rather than other raw materials. The term Grappa started to be used in this area to refer to grape marc spirit at the turn of the 20th century, replacing the slang terms used in the previous centuries. With EEC Regulation No. 1576/89, Grappa Friulana GI or Grappa del Friuli GI was registered for the first in Annex II of the European Geographical Designations for spirits.
Legislative information
The Grappa Friulana or Grappa del Friuli 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 Grappa Friulana GI or Grappa del Friuli GI is contained in the decree issued by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies on 24 November 2014 (published in the Italian Official Journal no. 280 of 02.12.2014).
