Description
Geographical Indication Kirsch Friulano or Kirschwasser Friulano is exclusively reserved to the fruit spirit obtained from made-in-Italy cherries, distilled in plants located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.
Production Area
The production area of Kirsch Friulano GI or Kirschwasser Friulano GI is within the entire territory of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.
Production Method
The fruit spirit Kirsch Friulano GI or Kirschwasser Friulano GI is obtained by distilling cherries or their must, with or without the pit, directly with vapor water or after the addition of water in the pot still. The distillation of cherries or of their must - in batch plants - should be carried out at less than 86% by volume. Within this limit the obtained product may be re-distilled.In the production process of the Kirsch Friulano GI or Kirschwasser Friulano GI is allowed the addition of sugars, up to a maximum of 20 grams per liter.
Product Characteristics
The fruit spirit Kirsch Friulano GI or Kirschwasser Friulano GI is exclusively obtained by alcoholic fermentation and distillation of fleshy cherry fruit or must of cherries, with or without the stone. To be released for consumption, the minimum alcoholic strength by volume shall be 40%. If it is distilled with pit, the Kirsch Friulano GI can have a maximum content of hydrogen cyanide to 7 g/hectolitre of alcohol at 100 % by volume. No addition of ethyl alcohol, whether diluted or not, shall take place. Flavoring is not allowed. It can be subjected to the ageing process in wooden containers , under official controls, in plants located in the geographical area.
Link with the territory
As testified by several historical documents, the cherries distillate is one of the spirits produced in the ancient Venice Republic, especially in the municipality called Arta (then Arta Terme). Already in the early XX century, there were 12 licensed distillers in the municipality of Arta Terme. Since then, this fruit spirit spread throughout Friuli – together with the cultivation of the cherry fruit- but keeping unchanged the methods of distillation and production (cisterns and equipment for the grinding as well as the conservation of the minced product).
Legislative information
Geographical Indication Kirsch Friulano or Kirschwasser Friulano is registered in the Annex III of Regulation (EC) n. 110/2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of Geographical Indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 (published in the Official Journal of the EU of 13 February 2008; L. 39) as modified by the Reg. (EC) 1067/2016 and by Reg. 674/2019. Notwithstanding the entry in force of the new Reg. UE 787/2019 which is replacing Reg. 110/2008 and that applies to GIs from 8 june 2019, Annex III still stand until the creation of GI’s Register referred to in article 33 of the new law. Generally, article 24 paragraph 1 of Regulation 787/2019 provides that for every Geographical Indication has to be presented a technical file containing requirements requested by article 24 itself. In Italy the approval and presentation procedure of technical files is defined by the ministerial decree of May 13, 2010. The Kirsch Friulano GI or Kirschwasser Friulano GI technical file is contained in the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies decree of July 31, 2014 (published in the Italian Official Journal n. 185 of August 11, 2014).
