Grappa

Grappa is an Italian beverage that’s produced by distilling the pomace leftovers from the wine making process. Pomace is nothing more than just a blend of grape seeds, stems and stalks. It’s a beautiful example of a zero-waste product. As a result, you get a clear liquor of 35% to 60% alcohol. 

Grappa production started a long time ago as a mix-and-match approach. a blend of pomace from a variety of grapes. In the late 1960s, producers began taking a lot more interest in the product. Instead of a mix of grapes, a lot of them started using a single grape in order to achieve a higher quality drink. Some have also started to add sugar to make the flavour a notch less intense. As a result of all the effort, over the last few decades, the spirit’s spread around the world quite rapidly. 

Grappa is also protected by European laws. In order to put “Grappa” on the label, the liquor has to be produced in Italy and made from pomace. On top of that, it has to follow a very specific distillation method!

It can be both dry and sweet, usually depending on the distillery. It’s similar to wine, but can be 3-5 times stronger. Since it’s a digestive, more and more bartenders look for ways to incorporate the spirit into cocktails. The concept is excellent. Grappa is a perfect addition to the entire meal experience.

How does one drink grappa? In Italy, it’s served in tiny classes of one to two ounces as a digestif after dinner. It’s also popular to be mixed with a shot of espresso or, as the Italians call it, “corrected coffee.” Some people also get creative and use it in cocktails and even when cooking!

If you are interested in trying this unique liquor from beautiful Italy, buy grappa in our liquor store in Calgary, Alberta, Canada or shop online at ZYN.ca!