Grappa

Words by Simon Difford

Grappa image 1

Grappa is an Italian marc brandy made from the fermented skins, pips and stalks (known as pomace, marc or vinaccia in Italian) left after grapes have been pressed to extract juice for wine making. It may be bottled after distillation or matured in oak or other woods. Grappa originated in Italy and, in the E.U. to be termed a grappa, a brandy must be distilled in Italy from Italian grape pomace.

Unsurprisingly, given that it is made from the waste products of another drink, grappa used to have a reputation for being closer to rocket fuel than a subtle taste experience. While there remain many unremarkable grappas, thanks to better production practices, there are now some superb grappas. Many of the best of these are produced in relatively small quantities and are delicate rather than fiery. Modern grappas are also often made from a particular grape variety, the aromas and characteristics of which can still be detected in the finished product.

According to the European Union, grappa must be distilled in Italy and made from Italian marc but this doesn't prevent U.S. distillers from using the term grappa. There are further rules in place according to Italian decree that govern the raw materials and production of grappa. The Italians rightly believe that grape skins contain many aromatic substances that impart flavour to the grappa, hence the Italians rule that the skins must be present in the still.

There are presently some 130 grappa distillers in Italy compared to over 200,000 at the end of the 19th century. Additionally, there are around 500 bottlers who buy grappa from distillers to blend and bottle under their own labels, and these are also legally termed producers. There are also traders who simply own a trademark and sell grappa made by the producers. The term 'farm grappa' is applied to wine growers who have grappa distilled from their own grape marc by a third-party distiller for sale under the same brand as their wines. The pomace may be transported long distances from the winery to the contracted distiller so the name of a recognised and respected winemaker on a Grappa's label is not necessarily a guarantee of quality.

Further grappa reading on Difford's Guide

Grappa based cocktails
Grappa's history
Where does grappa come from & where is it made?
How is Grappa made?
Grappa classifications and styles
How to store and how to serve grappa

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Terreblu Grappa Torbata image

Terreblu Grappa Torbata

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 39.5

Nonino Grappa Monovitigno Picolit Cru NV image

Nonino Grappa Monovitigno Picolit Cru NV

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 50

Luigi Francoli Celebrativa 15 Year Old image

Luigi Francoli Celebrativa 15 Year Old

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 41.5

Luigi Francoli L'Ambra del Moscato image

Luigi Francoli L'Ambra del Moscato

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 42.5

Domus Ruché Grappa image

Domus Ruché Grappa

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 42

Bepi Tosolini Castagno Barrique image

Bepi Tosolini Castagno Barrique

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 40

Selezione Bortolo Nardini Riserva 15 Years Old image

Selezione Bortolo Nardini Riserva 15 Years Old

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 45

Bepi Tosolini Grappa Smoked image

Bepi Tosolini Grappa Smoked

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 40

Marolo Grappa di Moscato Apres 5 Alba image

Marolo Grappa di Moscato Apres 5 Alba

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 42

Luigi Francoli Barrique del Limousin image

Luigi Francoli Barrique del Limousin

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 42.5

Gaja Chardonnay Rossj-Bass image

Gaja Chardonnay Rossj-Bass

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 42

Marolo Le Grandi Riserve Barolo image

Marolo Le Grandi Riserve Barolo

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 50

Marzadro Grappa Le Dice Otto Lune image

Marzadro Grappa Le Dice Otto Lune

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 41

Bruno Pilzer Grappa di Chardonnay image

Bruno Pilzer Grappa di Chardonnay

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 43

Luigi Francoli Moscato in Barrique image

Luigi Francoli Moscato in Barrique

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 41.5

Luigi Francoli Riserva Nebbiolo da Barolo Barrique image

Luigi Francoli Riserva Nebbiolo da Barolo Barrique

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 41.5

88 Barriques Grappa Riserva image

88 Barriques Grappa Riserva

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 42

Bepi Tosolini Grappa di Moscato image

Bepi Tosolini Grappa di Moscato

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 40

Bepi Tosolini Agricola Grappa Friulana image

Bepi Tosolini Agricola Grappa Friulana

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 50

Most da Uva Miste Grappa image

Most da Uva Miste Grappa

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 40

Bepi Tosolini I Legni Rovere image

Bepi Tosolini I Legni Rovere

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 42

Bepi Tosolini Prosecco Grappa image

Bepi Tosolini Prosecco Grappa

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 40

Nardini Bianca 50% image

Nardini Bianca 50%

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 50

Nardini Riserva 15 image

Nardini Riserva 15

Category: Spirits
Sub category: Brandy (eaux-de-vie, cognac, armagnac, rakia etc.)
alc./vol: 50

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