A clear brandy distilled from vinaccia, the skins and pips left after pressing grapes for wine. The Nardini distillery at Bassano del Grappa has been running since 1779, and the spirit ranges from raw and fiery to barrel-aged and soft.
Distilling is illegal without a licence, and pomace in particular yields methanol that only a correct cut removes.
What goes into it
- grape pomace — skins, pips and sometimes stems
- water
- oak, for the aged styles
How it is made
The pomace is distilled soon after pressing, before it oxidises, usually in a bagnomaria still where steam passes through the solid mass rather than a liquid mash — a distinctive part of the method. The distiller cuts away the head and tail and keeps the heart. Young grappa is bottled clear; the aged styles rest in wood for a year or more.
How long it takes: distilled after the vintage; the aged styles spend one to several years in wood
How it is eaten
In a small tulip glass after dinner, or poured into the coffee cup as a caffè corretto.
History
Distilled from vinaccia, the skins and pips left after pressing; the Nardini distillery at Bassano del Grappa has operated since 1779.
Frequently asked questions
What is Grappa?
Grappa is a wine & spirit from Italy: clear brandy distilled from the pomace left after winemaking. Distilled from vinaccia, the skins and pips left after pressing; the Nardini distillery at Bassano del Grappa has operated since 1779.
How is Grappa made?
The pomace is distilled soon after pressing, before it oxidises, usually in a bagnomaria still where steam passes through the solid mass rather than a liquid mash — a distinctive part of the method. The distiller cuts away the head and tail and keeps the heart. Young grappa is bottled clear; the aged styles rest in wood for a year or more. It takes distilled after the vintage; the aged styles spend one to several years in wood.
Can I make Grappa at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. Distilling is illegal without a licence, and pomace in particular yields methanol that only a correct cut removes.
What goes into Grappa?
Grape pomace — skins, pips and sometimes stems, water, oak, for the aged styles.
How is Grappa eaten?
In a small tulip glass after dinner, or poured into the coffee cup as a caffè corretto.
