Grappa Totally Explained

Everything about Grappa totally explained

Grappa is a fragrant grape-based pomace brandy of between 38% and 80% alcohol by volume (75 to 160 proof), of Italian origin. Literally "grape stalk", most grappa is made by distilling pomace, grape residue (mainly the skins, but also stems and seeds) left over from winemaking after pressing. It was originally made to prevent waste by using leftovers at the end of the wine season. It quickly became commercialised, mass-produced, and sold worldwide. Some grappa, known as prima uva, is made with the whole grapes. The flavour of grappa, like that of wine, depends on the type and quality of the grape used as well as the specifics of the distillation process.
   Grappa was originally made in the northern Italian town of Bassano del Grappa, and some contend that this is the origin of the name, rather than the vulgar Latin graspa.
   In Italy, grappa is primarily served as a "digestivo" or after-dinner drink. Its main purpose was to aid in the digestion of heavy meals. Grappa may also be added to espresso coffee to create a caffè corretto meaning corrected coffee. Another variation of this is the "ammazza caffè" (literally, "coffee-killer"): the espresso is drunk first, followed by a few ounces of grappa served in its own glass. In the Veneto, there's rasentin: after finishing a cup of espresso with sugar, a few drops of grappa are poured into the nearly empty cup and swirled, and drunk down in one sip.
   Among the most well-known producers of grappa are Nonino, Berta, Sibona, Nardini, Jacopo Poli, Brotto, Domenis and Bepi Tosolini. While these grappas are produced in significant quantities and exported, there are many thousands of smaller local and regional grappas, all with distinct character. Most grappa is clear, indicating that it's an un-aged distillate, though some may retain very faint pigments from their original fruit pomace. Lately, aged grappas have become more common, and these take on a yellow, or red-brown hue from the barrels in which they're stored.

Tasting

The method which thoroughly tried and tested by professional tasters, who distinguish the following four categories of grappa:

young grappas
cask-conditioned grappas
aromatic grappas
aromatized grappas

Grappa tastings invariably begin with "young grappas" and then continue with cask-conditioned and aromatic grappas before finishing with aromatized grappas.
   When the tasting involves more than one grappa from the same category, the examination begins with the grappa that has the lowest alcohol content and concludes with the product richest in alcohol. In the case of the two grappas with the same alcohol content, the tasing begins with the smoother and less markedly flavoured product, which the organizer of the tasting will have selected beforehand.
   After each tasting and before sampling another glass, it's recommended that tasters drink half a glass of fresh, pasteurized milk, swirling the liquid around the mouth thoroughly, in order to refresh the taste receptors on the tongue.
   Another way to "taste" grappa is by rubbing a small amount on the back of the hand and sniffing. If the aroma is pleasant, the grappa is well made. Impurities in grappa come out in the vapor and can be easily distinguished in this way.
   Various other food products can help to prevent the taste characteristics of one grappa being "dragged over" from one tasting to "contaminate" the subsequent grappa. Some of the items that perform this task, and which also provide an agreeable accompaniment to grappa's own flavour, are:
- salted pistacchio nuts - rusks spread with acacia-blossom honey and topped with a flake of mature Montasio or Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese. (Source: Lessons on Discriminating Drinking/Distilleria Domenis)

Glass

With the introduction of "boutique grappas" elaborate flute glasses have been promoted; traditionalists continue to taste grappa in the simple shot glass.

Further Information

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