What is grappa?
Grappa is a spirit which is produced from pomace. Pomace is the term for the solid rests which accumulate during the pressing of plants. During the production of wine, grape pomace is left over, which has been made into brandy for many centuries. While Zivania is from Cyprus, Chacha is from Georgia and Tsipuoro is from Greece, pomace brandy with the name grappa was invented in Italy.
The grape varieties that are used to produce grappa are just as Italian as the origin of the spirit. The most popular varieties are called Moscato, Barbera, Traminer and Mavasia. Often, you can find the grape varieties that are used on the label of the bottle or even in the name of the spirit. Sometimes instead of the grape variety, the origin of the wine is provided; this is the case with Grappa di Amarone or Grappa di Barolo, for example.
The history of grappa
Although the technique of distillation came to Italy as early as the 11th century, it took until the 15th century for it to spread to the rest of the country. The first mention of grappa in a document is from 1451: A monk from the Piedmont bequested a distillation apparatus with a large amount of grappa. However, it took until 1600 before grappa became more widely known.
What types of grappa are there?
In general, there are two main ways in which grappas differ from each other. One is the composition of the pomace, and the other one is the type and length of storage.
The composition of the pomace
First, there is a difference between single-variety grappa, which is made from only one grape variety, and cuvées, which are made from a variety of grapes. Single-variety grappa can often be recognized by the term Monovitigno – for cuvée grappa there are usually no identifying terms. Instead, you will often have to rely on information from the producer’s website or from online shops like ours.
Opinions differ on the question of whether single-variety grappa or cuvée grappa is “better”. While cuvées can sometimes have a more diverse and complex taste due to the different grape varieties, single-variety grappa is often more special and unique.
The storage of grappa
Storage plays a big role when it comes to categorising grappa. It’s important to know that non-aged grappa is always clear (transparent). The grape varieties that are used have nothing to do with the colour of the spirit; instead, the type and length of maturation are responsible for the tint. Depending on the type of wood, size of the casks and the storage time, the grappa takes on colour and aromatic particles, which can be both seen and tasted.
A matured grappa can usually be recognized by the term “riserva”, although terms like “stravecchia” or “invecchiata” are common as well. Indeed, there are no rules about which terms have to be used in which situations. That’s why it’s a good idea to study the label and look for information on the type and length of the maturation.
Popular grappa brands
The grappa market is very diverse and large with many small family distillers. The most popular brands include Paesanella, Poli, Nonino, Berta, Marolo and Sibona. In our shop you will find additional grappa brands from traditional family distilleries from all over Italy. Take a look at our selection now and discover your new favourite grappa!
