🥃 Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Friulian plum spirit) is an EU-protected name for a distillate of fermented plums grown in Italy and distilled in licensed distilleries of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in the north-east of the country. The strength is at least 40% ABV, while the general EU limit is 37.5%. The spirit is clear, with a pronounced and long plum flavour.

Rules. Plums or plum mash, with or without stones, are distilled by steam or with water added to the still, below 80% ABV, to keep the fruit aroma. There must be at least 250 g of volatile substances per hectolitre of pure alcohol. Up to 20 g of sugar per litre may be added, and the spirit may be aged in unpainted wooden casks for at least 12 months within the region.

Carnia. According to the technical file, plum distilling has long been practised in the mountainous Carnia area, especially in the village of Cabia in the municipality of Arta Terme, from where plum growing spread through Friuli. The first records date from the late 17th century, in the time of the Republic of Venice; the craft is said to have been brought by an officer who had learned distilling in the Balkans. The local plum was called 'brundul di Cjabie'.

From village to region. In the early 20th century, twelve licensed distillers worked in Arta Terme. The spirit later spread throughout Friuli, and fruit began to be brought in from other areas of north-east Italy and from Emilia-Romagna.

Why this matters to you. The name guarantees Italian plums and distillation in Friuli, but not the absence of sugar: up to 20 g per litre is allowed. It is a strong distillate of at least 40% ABV. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.