Grappa

Grappa is the most famous drink or the many types of 'pommace' brandy made in wine producing countries. Like Marc from France and Orujo from Spain it is made using the residue left over from the grapes after wine making. In Italy it is a fine art with careful consideration given to keeping the pommace fresh and making sure safe distillation is practised. The pommace is traditionally steamed in a bain marie type contraption to avoid any burning then very carefully distilled to ensure that no methanol is produced from the woody grape stems. Ageing is optional but not essenatial and is usually carried out is used wine barrels. Grappa is very much misunderstood and can be an acquired taste, but it makes one hell of an after dinner tipple.