What started as collaboration with our local winemaking friends, has grown into a line of six very different grappas, distilled from six different varietals. What is grappa? Grappa is the clear brandy distilled from pressed grapes, also called pomace. These pressed skins, stems and seeds of grapes (a winemaker’s leftovers) are shoveled by hand into the pot stills. The clear spirit distilled from this pomace is the grappa. Also called “pomace brandy”, or “marc” in France, grappa is a traditional Italian brandy. It has a reputation as a harsh, macho peasant’s spirit, but if it’s distilled with care, it can be beautiful and complex. Like wine, grappa can vary widely depending on the quality and variety of grape and the techniques used to make it. In Italy it is traditional to serve grappa at the end of a meal where it is thought to aid in digestion. Served with espresso, it is called a “caffe corretto” which translates to “corrected coffee”. Waste not, want not!