Description
The Williams Friulano or Williams del Friuli Geographical Indication is reserved exclusively for the Williams pear spirit (Pyrus communis L. cultivar Williams) obtained from Italian raw materials, and distilled in establishments situated in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Production Area
The production area of Williams Friulano GI or Williams del Friuli GI is within the entire territory of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Production Method
The fruit spirit Williams Friulano GI or Williams del Friuli GI is obtained through the distillation of Williams pears or the must of Williams pears, directly with water vapour or after water has been added to the alembic still. The batch distillation of Williams pears or the must of Williams pears must be carried out at less than 86% ABV so that the distilled product maintains the aroma and taste of the raw materials. The obtained product can only be redistilled within this limit. The addition of sugars, up to a maximum of 20 g per litre, expressed as invert sugar, is permitted during the production process of Williams Friulano GI or Williams del Friuli GI.
Product Characteristics
The fruit spirit Williams Friulano GI or Williams del Friuli GI is obtained exclusively through the alcoholic fermentation and distillation of fleshy or fermented William pears. It has a minimum alcohol content of 40% ABV. The addition of ethyl alcohol (pure or diluted) is not permitted and it is not aromatised. It can be aged in unvarnished, uncoated wooden barrels, vats or other wooden recipients, subjected to rigorous controls, for a period of no less than 12 months, in establishments located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Link with the territory
In the past, Williams pear distillate was one of the most widely produced distillates in Carnia and the rest of Friuli, as documented in numerous texts. The oldest references to its production, and that of other fruit spirits, date back to the time of the Republic of Venice, and are found in documents in the Carnian municipality of Arta (formerly Arta Terme). In the early 20th century, there were 12 licensed distillers in the municipality of Arta Terme. Since then, this fruit spirit has spread throughout Friuli, alongside the cultivation this variety of pear, with the distillation and production methods remaining unchanged (cisterns and equipment for grinding and storing the fermenting pulp, copper distillation stills, fiduciary warehouses, and bottling in glass).
Legislative information
The Williams Friulano or Williams 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 Williams Friulano GI or Williams del Friuli 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).
