The same eighteen-month grappa from Trentino, but with a different ending: a rest in casks that once matured Port wine gives this edition a sweeter, fruit-driven character.

Expert description

Diciotto Lune Riserva Botte Porto is an Italian Grappa from Trentino, finished in former Port wine casks and bottled at 42% ABV.

The grappa comes from Distilleria Marzadro, a family-run distillery in Nogaredo, Trentino, founded in 1949 by siblings Sabina and Attilio Marzadro. The base spirit is made from fresh pomace of marzemino, teroldego, merlot, moscato and chardonnay, distilled in a water bath and rested for 18 months in small casks of cherry, ash, oak and locust wood - the maturation that gives the range its name, Le Diciotto Lune, eighteen moons.

For the Botte Porto edition, a selected batch is transferred to casks that previously aged Port wine. The extra time in these casks draws sweetness and fruit character from the old wood and leaves the grappa with a trace of dried fruit and spice that the unfinished base grappa doesn't have.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers ripe cherries and dried fruit, sweetly spiced with cinnamon and a touch of vanilla from the Port casks.

Palate

The palate is soft and harmonious, with fruity sweetness and a round, full structure, where the character of the Port casks sits like a warm layer beneath the grape spirit.

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering, with a last hint of dried figs and herbs.

Specifications

Name: Diciotto Lune Botte Porto
Distillery: Distilleria Marzadro
Region/Country: Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 42%
Size: 50 cl
Cask type: Cherry, ash, oak and locust wood casks, finished in Port wine casks
EAN no.: 8004009000032
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature in a grappa glass, ideally as a digestif

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Spiced · Soft · Round

Did you know?

Did you know that the Port casks used to finish this grappa have often already held Port wine for decades, giving them a deeper, sweeter wood structure than new casks?

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Eighteen moons give this Trentino grappa its name, but the Botte Whisky edition doesn't stop there. A further rest in used Scottish whisky casks lays a trace of peat and smoke over the soft fruit at its core.

Expert description

Diciotto Lune Riserva Botte Whisky is an Italian Grappa from Trentino, finished in former whisky casks and bottled at 42% ABV.

The bottle comes from Distilleria Marzadro, a family-run distillery in Nogaredo, Trentino, founded in 1949 by siblings Sabina and Attilio Marzadro. The base grappa is distilled from fresh pomace of five local grape varieties - marzemino, teroldego, merlot, moscato and chardonnay - using a water-bath still, then aged for 18 months in small casks of cherry, ash, oak and locust wood. That maturation period gave the range its name: eighteen moons, Le Diciotto Lune.

For the Botte Whisky edition, a selected batch of the grappa is moved into casks that previously held Scottish whisky, both peated and unpeated. The additional ageing sharpens the contrast between the soft grape distillate and the stronger wood, leaving a light smoky undertone that the classic Diciotto Lune doesn't have.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is broad with a light smokiness, built around ripe stone fruit and a touch of warm spice from the wood.

Palate

The palate is round and full, where the grape's sweetness meets a dry, faintly smoky undertone from the whisky casks, carried by vanilla and a hint of honey.

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with a lingering smoky note that slowly gives way to delicate fruit.

Specifications

Name: Diciotto Lune Botte Whisky
Distillery: Distilleria Marzadro
Region/Country: Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 42%
Size: 50 cl
Cask type: Cherry, ash, oak and locust wood casks, finished in Scottish whisky casks
EAN no.: 8004009002180
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature in a grappa glass, ideally as a digestif

Flavour profile

Smoky · Fruity · Round · Spiced · Warm

Did you know?

Did you know that locust wood, one of the woods used for Diciotto Lune's casks, is rarely used for spirits ageing but adds a gentle sweetness and a firmer tannic structure than oak?

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A blue tube with gold print, two signatures and a marc that once was Sassicaia. It is rare for a friendship between a grappa producer and one of the world's most revered wine estates to get its own bottle, yet that is exactly what happened here.

Expert description

Grappa di Sassicaia Jacopo Poli Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario is an Italian Grappa at 40% distilled by Poli Distillerie from the marc of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grown at Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri, Tuscany — the grapes behind the legendary wine Sassicaia.

The partnership between Jacopo Poli and Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta began in 1993, and ever since Poli Distillerie has been allowed to collect marc straight from the cellars in Bolgheri. This release marks 30 years of that partnership and is bottled as a numbered anniversary edition from the 2020 vintage.

After gentle distillation in copper stills, the spirit rests for around four years in the oak barrels that previously aged the Sassicaia wine itself, before being bottled in the slim 50 cl bottle and packaged in a blue gift tube with gold print and the signatures of Jacopo Poli and Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted hazelnuts and peanuts meet dark chocolate, with a whisper of dried Tuscan herbs in the background.

Palate

Full and warm, mirroring the nutty chocolate character of the nose, carried by the soft sweetness drawn from the oak.

Finish

Long and gently smoky, with a lingering toasted-nut note that slowly gives way to a dry, mineral close.

Specifications

Name: Grappa di Sassicaia Jacopo Poli Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario
Distillery: Poli Distillerie
Region/Country: Veneto, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 cl
Cask type: Sassicaia oak barrels
Distillation method: Copper pot still
Edition: 30° Anniversario, 2020 vintage
Serving suggestion: 18-20°C in a tulip-shaped glass

Flavour profile

Toasted nuts · Dark chocolate · Tuscan herbs · Round sweetness · Gently smoky

Did you know?

When Poli Distillerie first sent its driver Bruno to Bolgheri to collect marc, he asked the cellar master to fill two large 54-litre demijohns with the Sassicaia wine itself for his own use — a request the cellar master had to turn down, since the estate did not sell retail.

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A glass can do almost as much for a grappa as the bottle itself. The narrow, funnel-shaped bowl holds onto the aroma and sends it straight toward the nose before the first drop even reaches the tongue.

Expert description

Grappa Glas is a clear glass tumbler shaped to concentrate the aroma of grappa and similar spirits.

The glass has the classic grappa shape: a small, rounded bowl on a slim stem that narrows toward the rim. The shape holds onto the aromas and directs them toward the nose in a thin stream, while the small opening slows the evaporation of alcohol, giving the aroma a rounder character.

The glass is designed for a single serving of grappa or another clear fruit brandy and works well as a simple introduction to the grappa glass shape, before perhaps investing in a handmade crystal glass.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Glas
Material: Glass
Suitable for: Grappa and other clear fruit brandies
Number in set: 1 piece
Size/volume: 9 cl

Did you know?

Did you know that the grappa glass's narrowed rim works much like a cognac glass, holding back the volatile alcohol vapours so it's easier to smell the grappa's fruit and spice rather than just the spirit itself?

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The Chardonnay grape can become both a full-bodied, oak-aged wine and a completely pure, clear grappa. Here it stands alone, without any wood involved, showing only its own aroma.

Expert description

Grappa Nonino Chardonnay Bianco is an Italian Grappa distilled from fresh pomace of the Chardonnay grape and bottled at 41% ABV without any cask ageing.

The Nonino family has distilled in Percoto in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1897 and invented single-varietal grappa in 1973, when Benito and Giannola Nonino distilled the pomace of a single grape variety on its own for the first time. The same principle applies to the house's Chardonnay: the pomace is distilled entirely on its own, separate from the family's other grape varieties, so its character is preserved intact.

The pomace is collected fresh and soft from selected vineyards and ferments under vacuum in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature immediately after pressing. After distillation in copper stills with head and tail cutting, the grappa rests for six months to a year in stainless steel, with no contact with wood, before bottling with no colour added, hence the name "Bianco".

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean and light, with a touch of golden apple and pear, backed by a faint floral finesse.

Palate

Fresh and refined on the palate, with a touch of citrus peel, white flower and a light, almond-like hint at the back of the mouth.

Finish

The finish is short, dry and refreshing, with no vanilla or spice, as the grappa has never met wood.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Nonino Chardonnay Bianco
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: 100% distilled with artisanal method in copper stills
Serving suggestion: At about 12°C in a closed tulip glass

Flavour profile

Clean · Golden apple · Citrus peel · White flower · Fresh

Did you know?

Nonino runs five of its own distilleries with 60 copper stills between them, running around the clock during the harvest so the pomace can be distilled while it is still completely fresh.

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Twelve months in oak is enough to turn a clear, fresh Chardonnay grappa into something quite different: golden, softer, with a depth the unaged version never had.

Expert description

Grappa Nonino Chardonnay in Barriques is an Italian Grappa distilled from fresh pomace of the Chardonnay grape, aged in barriques for a minimum of 12 months, and bottled at 41% ABV.

The Nonino family has distilled in Percoto in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1897 and invented single-varietal grappa in 1973, when Benito and Giannola Nonino distilled the pomace of a single grape variety on its own for the first time. Grappas marked "invecchiata" at Nonino have all undergone a minimum of 12 months of natural ageing in barriques and small casks, under seal and ongoing control by the Italian customs authority.

The Chardonnay pomace is distilled in copper stills with head and tail cutting, then transferred to oak barrels where it matures with no colouring added. Bartender Simone Maion used this exact cask-aged Chardonnay grappa together with Amaro Nonino Quintessentia to create the cocktail "Nonino Fashion", an interpretation of the classic Old Fashioned.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and refined, with golden apple and freshly baked bread, spiced with a touch of vanilla from the cask.

Palate

Smooth and sophisticated on the palate, with chocolate and freshly shelled almonds, carried by a juicy, mouth-filling structure.

Finish

The finish is long and refined, where the cask ageing clearly leaves its mark right to the very end.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Nonino Chardonnay in Barriques
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 cl
Cask type: Barriques
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: 100% distilled with artisanal method in copper stills
EAN no.: 8712838323023
Serving suggestion: At room temperature in a wide balloon glass

Flavour profile

Golden · Vanilla · Chocolate · Almond · Sophisticated

Did you know?

This cask-aged Chardonnay grappa features in the cocktail "Nonino Fashion", created by bartender Simone Maion as an Old Fashioned variation where the grappa meets the house's own Amaro Nonino Quintessentia.

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Merlot gives dark, fruit-laden red wine, but the pomace left behind is distilled crystal clear. In the glass, none of the dark grape's colour remains, only its aroma, preserved in a pure distillate.

Expert description

Grappa Nonino Merlot is an Italian Grappa distilled from fresh pomace of the Merlot grape and bottled at 41% ABV without any cask ageing.

The Nonino family has distilled in Percoto in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1897 and invented single-varietal grappa when Benito and Giannola Nonino distilled the pomace of a single grape variety on its own for the first time on 1 December 1973. The family still personally handles the purchase of pomace and oversees the entire distillation process to preserve the character of each individual grape variety.

The Merlot pomace is collected fresh and soft from selected vineyards and ferments under vacuum in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature immediately after pressing, avoiding the off-flavours a slower fermentation would bring. The grappa then rests for six months to a year in stainless steel before bottling without added colour. Bartender Joerg Meyer used this exact grappa to create the cocktail "Merlot Mojito" for Bar Convent Berlin, an Italian twist on the classic.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and round, with a clear touch of rose petals and the stones of ripe cherries.

Palate

Crystalline and round on the palate, with no sharp edges, showing a fruity freshness reminiscent of freshly pressed must.

Finish

The finish is soft and medium in length, with the scent of rose petals lingering quietly in the background.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Nonino Merlot
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: 100% distilled with artisanal method in copper stills
EAN no.: 80543176
Serving suggestion: At about 12°C in a closed tulip glass

Flavour profile

Round · Rose petals · Cherry stone · Soft · Fruity

Did you know?

Nonino itself recommends pouring a couple of spoonfuls of this grappa over a risotto right after toasting the rice, or into the pan halfway through roasting meat, an old kitchen tradition from Friuli.

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The harvest is caught in the glass before it can become anything but pomace. The Nonino family distils the fresh vinaccia from Pinot and Malvasia grapes straight away, so the character of the whole vintage travels all the way to the bottle.

Expert description

Grappa Nonino Monovitigno Vendemmia Millesimata is an Italian Grappa distilled from fresh pomace of Pinot and Malvasia grapes and bottled at 40% ABV without any cask ageing.

The Nonino family has distilled in Percoto in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1897, when Orazio Nonino settled down after years of travelling with a still mounted on wheels. Today the family runs five of its own distilleries with 60 copper stills between them, and is credited as the inventor of single-varietal grappa: on 1 December 1973, Benito and Giannola Nonino distilled the pomace of a single grape variety on its own for the first time, starting with Picolit, and turned grappa's reputation as a rustic by-product on its head.

The Vendemmia range brings together several of the house's Monovitigno grappas – here Pinot and Malvasia – each distilled separately and then united in one cuvée, its label carrying the year of the harvest. The pomace is collected fresh and soft straight from winemaking and distilled within a few hours, avoiding the long fermentation that would otherwise bring off-flavours and a higher methanol content. The grappa then rests for six months to a year in stainless steel before bottling without any added colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and floral with a touch of pastry, closer to a freshly baked bun than to a traditional, sharp grappa.

Palate

Elegant and fruity on the palate, with notes of apricot, green apple and raisin gliding cleanly across the tongue.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, dry and refreshing, with a light sweetness that points back to the fresh grape.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Nonino Monovitigno Vendemmia Millesimata
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: 100% distilled with artisanal method in copper stills
EAN no.: 8002092015841
Serving suggestion: At about 12°C in a closed tulip glass

Flavour profile

Floral · Apricot · Green apple · Raisin · Soft pastry

Did you know?

Nonino is one of the few grappa producers to clearly state the harvest vintage on the label, a transparency the family has practised since single-varietal grappa was born in 1973.

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The Moscato grape makes one of the most perfumed grappas in the Nonino family's range. Aged in wood, the soft roundness of the barrel settles over the floral scent without smothering it.

Expert description

Grappa Nonino Moscato Barrique is an Italian Grappa distilled from fresh pomace of the Moscato grape, aged in wood, and bottled at 41% ABV.

The Nonino family has distilled in Percoto in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1897 and invented single-varietal grappa in 1973, when Benito and Giannola Nonino distilled the pomace of a single grape variety on its own for the first time. The family's cask-aged grappas follow the same principle as the rest of the house's "invecchiata" range: a minimum of 12 months of natural ageing in barriques and small casks under seal and ongoing control by the Italian customs authority, with no added colouring.

The Moscato pomace is collected fresh and soft from selected vineyards and ferments under vacuum in stainless steel tanks shortly after pressing. After distillation in copper stills, the grappa rests in oak casks, picking up vanilla and roundness from the wood while the Moscato grape's natural perfume of roses, thyme and vanilla is preserved.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intense and perfumed, with roses, dried thyme and a sweet, vanilla-like warmth from the cask.

Palate

Soft and round on the palate, almost sensual, with a fullness the ageing has added without drowning out the floral notes.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with vanilla and a last hint of dried thyme fading quietly away.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Nonino Moscato Barrique
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 cl
Cask type: Barriques and small casks
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: 100% distilled with artisanal method in copper stills
EAN no.: 80664024
Serving suggestion: At about 12°C in a closed tulip glass

Flavour profile

Perfumed · Rose · Thyme · Vanilla · Round

Did you know?

The Nonino family's unaged Moscato grappa lent its name to the cocktail "Giannola 38", created by multi-award-winning bartenders Alex Kratena and Monica Berg in honour of Giannola Nonino at the Nonino Prize 2019.

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For centuries the skins and seeds of the Prosecco grape were treated as cellar waste. At Nonino they become one of the house's sunniest grappas instead, distilled the same day the grapes are pressed.

Expert description

Grappa Nonino Prosecco is an Italian Grappa distilled from fresh pomace of the Glera grape used to make Prosecco wine, bottled at 38% ABV without any cask ageing.

The Nonino family has distilled in Percoto in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1897 and is credited with inventing single-varietal grappa: on 1 December 1973, Benito and Giannola Nonino distilled the pomace of a single grape variety on its own for the first time. The method later spread across the whole grappa industry, but Nonino was first, and the family still personally oversees the purchase of pomace and the entire distillation process.

For this grappa, Nonino collects fresh, soft pomace of Glera grapes from selected vineyards immediately after pressing. The pomace ferments under vacuum in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature and is distilled shortly after, avoiding the off-flavours a longer fermentation would bring. The grappa then rests for six months to a year in stainless steel before bottling without added colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and elegant with a touch of sweetness reminiscent of acacia blossom and ripe, golden apples.

Palate

Fresh and delicate on the palate, almost fragile in its lightness, with a gentle sweetness that never turns cloying.

Finish

The finish is short and clean, with a last hint of blossom that fades quickly and refreshingly.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Nonino Prosecco
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: 100% distilled with artisanal method in copper stills
Serving suggestion: At about 12°C in a closed tulip glass

Flavour profile

Floral · Acacia · Golden apple · Light sweetness · Fresh

Did you know?

The pomace of the Glera grape was historically discarded as waste from Prosecco production, until grappa producers like Nonino began distilling it into an aromatic product in its own right.

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Sauvignon Blanc is known in the glass as wine for its sharp, herbaceous character. Distilled as grappa, the grape shows a different side of itself: softer, yet still carrying the same green, fresh edge.

Expert description

Grappa Nonino Sauvignon Blanc is an Italian Grappa distilled from fresh pomace of the Sauvignon Blanc grape and bottled at 41% ABV without any cask ageing.

The Nonino family has distilled in Percoto in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1897 and invented single-varietal grappa when Benito and Giannola Nonino distilled the pomace of a single grape variety on its own for the first time on 1 December 1973. Ever since, the family has kept to the principle of distilling each grape variety separately, preserving its character all the way to the bottle instead of blending different grapes before distillation.

The Sauvignon Blanc pomace is collected fresh and soft from selected vineyards and ferments under vacuum in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature shortly after pressing. Distillation takes place in copper stills with head and tail cutting, so only the purest part of the distillate, the heart, ends up in the bottle. The grappa then rests for six months to a year in stainless steel before bottling without added colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Aromatic and elegant, with notes of vanilla, freshly baked bread and elder flower.

Palate

A touch of green pepper appears on the palate, cutting through the soft vanilla and giving the grappa a fresh, almost sharp edge.

Finish

The finish is dry and lightly spiced, with the green pepper lingering briefly before fading away completely.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Nonino Sauvignon Blanc
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: 100% distilled with artisanal method in copper stills
Serving suggestion: At about 12°C in a closed tulip glass

Flavour profile

Aromatic · Vanilla · Elder flower · Green pepper · Fresh

Did you know?

Nonino itself recommends this grappa with fish and sushi, an unusual pairing for a spirit, but a good example of how close its flavour lies to the original white wine.

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Some grappas are meant to be drunk fresh, while the pomace can still be traced in the aroma. This one has been left to rest quietly in the dark for more than a year and a half, while oak has slowly given it depth.

Expert description

Grappa Nonino Vendemmia Riserva Annata is an Italian Grappa aged in barriques and small casks for a minimum of 18 months and bottled at 41% ABV.

The Nonino family has distilled in Percoto in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1897 and invented single-varietal grappa in 1973. Vendemmia Riserva is a cuvée in which several of the house's Monovitigno grappas from one specific harvest are each distilled separately and then united into one composed grappa, a further development of the unaged Vendemmia range, where the selected distillates are instead sent on for ageing.

Ageing takes place under seal and ongoing control by the Italian customs authority in Nonino's seven ageing warehouses, which together hold 2,620 barriques and small casks of Nevers, Limousin, Grésigne and ex-sherry oak, as well as acacia, wild cherry, ash and pear wood. This Riserva rests specifically in Limousin oak and ex-sherry casks for a minimum of 18 months, after which it is bottled with no colouring added.

Tasting notes

Nose

Elegant and full, with vanilla, pastry and a hint of spice pointing straight to the cask.

Palate

Rich, velvety and enveloping on the palate, with chocolate and a warm sweetness that spreads slowly.

Finish

The finish is long and harmonious, with chocolate and vanilla fading softly right to the end.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Nonino Vendemmia Riserva Annata
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 cl
Cask type: Limousin and ex-sherry barriques and small casks
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: 100% distilled with artisanal method in copper stills
EAN no.: 8002092015810
Serving suggestion: At room temperature in a wide balloon glass

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Vanilla · Chocolate · Pastry · Velvety

Did you know?

Nonino's seven ageing warehouses together hold more than 2,600 barriques and small casks of Nevers, Limousin and Grésigne oak among others, plus acacia, wild cherry, ash and pear wood, where the family's aged grappas mature under the constant supervision of the customs authority.

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In the hills south of San Gimignano, among old vines and olive trees, a family that has tended this land since the 1970s distils this grappa. A quiet, lesser-known acquaintance from Tuscany.

Expert description

Grappa Poderi del Paradiso is an Italian Grappa from Tuscany, bottled at 41% ABV.

The producer is the family-run Poderi del Paradiso estate, which has farmed its vineyard south of San Gimignano since 1973. The Cetti family grows around 30 hectares of vines organically and is best known for its white wines from the vernaccia grape, but the estate's range also includes a grappa, distilled from pomace left over from its own harvest.

Poderi del Paradiso is one of the lesser-known names among Tuscan grappa producers, and the bottle carries the mark of small-scale craft rather than large-scale distillation.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is light and grapey, with a touch of flowers and a dry, mineral undertone.

Palate

The palate is robust and rustic, with clear alcohol warmth and a fruity core reminiscent of the vernaccia grape's tart character.

Finish

The finish is dry and fairly short, with a last hint of almond.

Specifications

Name: Grappa Poderi del Paradiso
Distillery: Poderi del Paradiso
Region/Country: Tuscany, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 cl
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled as a digestif after a meal

Flavour profile

Rustic · Grapey · Dry · Mineral · Robust

Did you know?

Did you know that San Gimignano, home to Poderi del Paradiso, is famous for its medieval towers and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while sitting right in the middle of one of Tuscany's oldest wine areas?

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Some grappa bottles tell a story before a single glass is poured. This one carries a small red heart drawn by Romano Levi's own hand, and a year that marks one of his last decades at the alembic in Neive.

Expert description

Levi Serafino Grappa Aquavite di Vinacce 2003 is an Italian Grappa at 50% ABV, distilled and bottled by Romano Levi at Distilleria Levi Serafino in Neive, Piedmont, in 2003.

The term 'acquavite di vinaccia' is the older, formal Italian name for grappa and was still used on several of Romano Levi's labels well into his career. Bottles from this period typically carried a printed front label bearing the distillery's emblem alongside a handwritten back label, often marked with a small red heart and Romano's own signature and vintage year.

Romano Levi ran the distillery from 1945, when he took over at just 17 following his father's death, until his own death in 2008. He distilled using a direct-fire alembic and was nicknamed the 'angelic grappa maker' by the Italian wine critic Luigi Veronelli. Today the distillery continues on a limited scale under new ownership, while bottles like this one from Romano's own production era are sold with a certificate of authenticity.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is rustic and direct, with notes of pressed grapes, wet stone and a hint of herbs from the Langhe hills where the pomace originates.

Palate

The palate is powerful and full-bodied, with a lightly scorched caramel note from the direct-fire distillation, balanced by a tart freshness from the grape seeds.

Finish

The finish is long, dry and faintly peppery, with a lingering warmth typical of older, unfiltered grappas from this part of Piedmont.

Specifications

Name: Levi Serafino Grappa Aquavite di Vinacce 2003 Romano Levi - Unika flaske 3
Distillery: Levi Serafino
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: Direct-fire alembic
Bottled: 2003
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature in a narrow grappa glass to close a meal.

Flavour profile

Pressed grape · Wet stone · Caramel · Pepper · Dry warmth

Investment potential

Like the distillery's other historic bottles, this vintage also belongs to an era that cannot be recreated, since Romano Levi personally handled both distillation and labelling until his death in 2008. The limited and dwindling number of surviving bottles makes them attractive to collectors of Italian spirits history.

Did you know?

The front label carries an old coat of arms with a white cross and two lions - a motif Romano Levi used on several of his printed labels from the 2000s, before returning to purely handwritten versions.

Some of Romano Levi's bottles carried names that read more like half-finished poems than product descriptions. 'Ciò che sottovoce' - roughly, 'that which is said in a hushed voice' - is one of the most poetic, and its contents date back to 1991, long before the bottle became a rarity.

Expert description

Levi Serafino Grappa Cio che sottovoce 1991 is an Italian Grappa at 51% ABV, distilled and bottled by Romano Levi at Distilleria Levi Serafino in Neive, Piedmont, in 1991.

The name 'Ciò che sottovoce' is typical of Romano Levi's poetic approach to his craft. Rather than technical descriptions, he often gave his grappas evocative, unfinished-sounding titles, which he followed up with handwritten dedications and poems on the back labels of the bottles. This style made him far more than just a distiller in the public eye.

Romano Levi took over the distillery in Neive in 1945 at the age of 17, after his father Serafino had died and his mother had been killed during the war, and ran the business until his own death in 2008. He distilled using a direct-fire alembic, a method now almost extinct in Italy, and was nicknamed the 'angelic grappa maker' by Luigi Veronelli. The distillery continues today on a limited scale under new ownership.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is floral and slightly rustic, with notes of dried herbs, honey cake and a hint of smoke from the direct-fire distillation.

Palate

The palate is full and round with a warm sweetness reminiscent of caramelised grapes, balanced by a lightly bitter, earthy undercurrent.

Finish

The finish is long and gentle, with a lasting warmth and a trace of dried flowers that lingers well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Levi Serafino Grappa Cio che sottovoce 1991 Romano Levi - Unika flaske 5
Distillery: Levi Serafino
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 51%
Size: 75 cl
Distillation method: Direct-fire alembic
Bottled: 1991
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature in a narrow grappa glass, ideally on its own and unhurried.

Flavour profile

Floral · Honey cake · Caramelised grape · Earthy bitterness · Gentle warmth

Investment potential

This bottle belongs to the final decades of production made by Romano Levi's own hand, and since he personally distilled and wrote his poetic labels, no new bottle can ever replace the ones already in existence. That makes vintages like this one sought after among collectors of Italian grappa history.

Did you know?

Romano Levi wrote his final label on the evening of 1 May 2008, shortly before his death, which for many collectors marks the symbolic end of an era in Italian grappa craftsmanship.

In an old farmhouse in Neive, the fire still burns directly beneath the copper still, just as it did when Romano Levi worked the alembic himself. The label is handwritten, the words are his own, and the bottle carries a piece of Italian grappa history that can never be repeated.

Expert description

Levi Serafino Grappa della botte di Acacia 1991 is an Italian Grappa at 53% ABV, distilled and bottled by Romano Levi at Distilleria Levi Serafino in Neive, Piedmont, and matured in an acacia wood cask.

The distillery was founded in 1925 by Serafino Levi, who settled in Neive for its exceptional grape pomace. After Serafino's death in 1933 and the death of his wife Teresina in a wartime bombing in 1945, their son Romano Levi took over the distillery at only 17 years old and ran it until his own death in 2008. Romano used a direct-fire alembic, a distillation method now rare in Italy, and the wine critic Luigi Veronelli nicknamed him the 'angelic grappa maker' for his sensitive approach to the craft.

Romano experimented with several types of wood, including acacia, chestnut, ash and oak, often letting the grappa rest for years before bottling. Every label was written or painted by his own hand, frequently accompanied by a poem or a personal dedication, which makes this particular bottle a genuinely one-of-a-kind piece rather than a numbered item in a series. Today the distillery continues on a limited scale under new ownership, while the historic bottles from Romano's own lifetime are sold with a certificate of authenticity.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers warm acacia wood and beeswax alongside dried figs and a faint trace of smoke from the direct-fire distillation, with ripe grapes from the vineyards around Neive lingering underneath.

Palate

On the palate the grappa is round and slightly oily, with honeyed sweetness from the acacia cask balanced by a gentle bitterness from the grape seeds and skins.

Finish

The finish is long and warming, trailing off with dried fruit, herbal notes and a faint mineral edge from the old-world craftsmanship.

Specifications

Name: Levi Serafino Grappa della botte di Acacia 1991 Romano Levi - Unika flaske 1
Distillery: Levi Serafino
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 53%
Size: 75 cl
Cask type: Acacia wood cask
Distillation method: Direct-fire alembic
Bottled: 1991
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass, ideally to close a meal.

Flavour profile

Acacia wood · Honey · Dried fig · Rustic sweetness · Warming finish

Investment potential

Production from Romano Levi's own lifetime ended with his death in 2008, so the number of surviving bottles from this era is limited and shrinking. Every label is unique and handwritten, which makes the bottles highly sought after among collectors of Italian spirits, and interest in the original vintages continues to grow among grappa connoisseurs.

Did you know?

In the old town of Neive, visitors can today explore a museum dedicated to Romano Levi and his recurring motif, the 'Wild Woman', which appeared on many of his hand-painted labels.

Two different kinds of wood, one grappa. Doppio Fusto is Marolo's answer to what happens when Barbaresco's Nebbiolo grapes are left to mature slowly and thoroughly, instead of being bottled fresh and clear.

Expert description

Marolo Grappa Di Barbaresco Doppio Fusto is an Italian grappa distilled from the pomace of Nebbiolo grapes from Barbaresco in Piedmont and aged in two different types of wooden cask, bottled at 42% ABV in a 50 cl bottle.

"Doppio Fusto" means double cask, and the name reflects that the grappa has rested in both oak and cherry wood barrels. The two woods each contribute their own nuances, and the result is a deeply amber grappa with a far more layered character than the fresh, unaged expression of the same grape and district.

The style grows out of Marolo's ongoing interest in cask ageing, which the distillery has pursued since 1980, when it was among the first in Italy to let grappa rest in wood instead of only steel.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma is deep and amber-toned, with vanilla, almond and a hint of cocoa.

Palate

The palate is full and round, with a fresh fruitiness cutting through the warm cask notes.

Finish

The finish is harmonious and long, with a final trace of spice from the cherry wood.

Specifications

Name: Marolo Grappa Di Barbaresco Doppio Fusto
Distillery: Marolo
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 42%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Oak and cherry wood barrels
Serving suggestion: Serve as a digestif, ideally with dark chocolate or aged cheese

Flavour profile

Cask-driven · Amber · Complex · Rich · Warm

Did you know?

Every bottle of Doppio Fusto is sold in a hexagonal box, setting it physically apart from Marolo's other, more classically packaged grappas on the shelf.

Shop our full range of Marolo Grappa

The Nebbiolo skins from the Barbaresco hills still held the warmth of the 2021 harvest when they reached the still. What comes out the other end is a clear, fragrant grappa with the vintage written straight into the glass.

Expert description

Marolo Grappa Di Barbaresco Vendemmia 2021 is an Italian grappa distilled from the pomace of Nebbiolo grapes from Barbaresco in Piedmont, bottled at 44% ABV.

The grappa comes from a distillery that has specialised since 1977 in distilling pomace from single grape varieties and vineyards rather than blending them together. The pomace from the 2021 harvest is distilled in small bain-marie stills, where the still is heated indirectly through a water bath so the fragile aroma compounds in the skins are not scorched away.

After distillation the grappa rests in stainless steel rather than wood, so it keeps the raw material's pure character without vanilla notes from a barrel. The result is a spirit that clearly smells and tastes of the grape and the vintage it comes from.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma is refined and gently sweet, with notes of red grapes, ripe apples and a touch of black pepper.

Palate

The palate is full and spicy, with hints of dried apricot, citrus peel and a faint bitter, biscuity undertone.

Finish

The finish is long and earthy, with a whisper of green wood and a warm alcoholic glow.

Specifications

Name: Marolo Grappa Di Barbaresco Vendemmia 2021
Distillery: Marolo
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 44%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 2021
Serving suggestion: Serve at 14-16 degrees in a tulip-shaped glass as a digestif after the meal

Flavour profile

Rustic · Peppery · Fresh grape aroma · Earthy · Full-bodied

Did you know?

Marolo distils red and white grape pomace in two entirely separate stills, because the two types of pomace need different heat handling to give the best possible result.

Shop our full range of Marolo Grappa

The Barbera grape is known for its acidity and its juicy, straightforward fruit in wine. The same traits follow when the pomace ends up in Marolo's copper stills.

Expert description

Marolo Grappa Di Barbera Pianpolvere is an Italian grappa distilled from the pomace of Barbera grapes from the Pianpolvere vineyard in Langhe, bottled at 42% ABV in a 50 cl bottle.

Barbera is Piedmont's most widely planted red grape and is known for high acidity and a juicy, direct expression. Marolo sources the pomace from Pianpolvere, a single named vineyard in Langhe, rather than blending pomace from several different sites, which gives the grappa a more precise and recognisable character.

After the gentle bain-marie distillation, the grappa rests in stainless steel, so the young, fresh fruit character of the grape is preserved without any flavour added from wood.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma is lively and outgoing, with notes of red cherries and fresh grapes.

Palate

The palate is dry and precise, with green twigs, a light sweetness and a spicy spirit strength.

Finish

The finish is earthy, with a trace of vanilla and a dry, clean close.

Specifications

Name: Marolo Grappa Di Barbera Pianpolvere
Distillery: Marolo
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 42%
Size: 50 CL
Serving suggestion: Serve at 12-14 degrees as a digestif after the meal

Flavour profile

Fresh · Cherry · Dry · Spicy · Youthful

Did you know?

Barbera is the most widely planted red grape in Piedmont, but it is used far more often for wine than for grappa - most of the region's famous grappas are instead made from Nebbiolo from Barolo or Barbaresco.

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From the hills of Montalcino in Tuscany to a distillery in Piedmont - the pomace from one of Brunello's most respected vineyards travels a long way before it becomes this grappa.

Expert description

Marolo Grappa Di Brunello Valdicava is an Italian grappa distilled from the pomace of Sangiovese grapes from the Valdicava vineyard in the Brunello di Montalcino district of Tuscany, bottled at 44% ABV in a 70 cl bottle.

Although Marolo is based in Piedmont, the distillery also sources pomace from other of Italy's most acclaimed wine districts. Valdicava sits on the Montosoli hill in Montalcino and has been run by the Abbruzzese family since the 1950s, today known for some of the area's most distinctive Brunello wines, made exclusively from Sangiovese Grosso.

The pomace is gently distilled in bain-marie stills and afterwards rests in stainless steel rather than wood, preserving the floral, fresh character the Sangiovese grape is known for.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma is fresh and floral, with raspberry and dried rose petals.

Palate

The palate is soft and elegant, with a touch of ripe fruit gliding easily across the tongue.

Finish

The finish is long and fine, with a faint mineral undertone.

Specifications

Name: Marolo Grappa Di Brunello Valdicava
Distillery: Marolo
Region/Country: Tuscany, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 44%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature as a digestif after the meal

Flavour profile

Floral · Elegant · Fresh · Soft · Aromatic

Did you know?

Valdicava grows exclusively Sangiovese Grosso across roughly 27 hectares around the Montosoli hill and produces only about 6,000 cases of wine a year, making it one of the most exclusive sources in Montalcino.

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Five centilitres are enough to understand why cask-aged grappa from Barolo's Nebbiolo grapes is considered some of the most characterful in the Italian grappa tradition. A small bottle with a big flavour.

Expert description

Marolo Grappa Miniature di Barolo Fadlagret is an Italian grappa distilled from the pomace of Nebbiolo grapes from the Barolo district in Piedmont and aged in oak barrels, bottled at 42% ABV in a 5 cl tasting bottle.

The Barolo grappa is one of the expressions where Marolo's cask-ageing tradition really shows. The spirit rests in small oak barrels, where it gradually takes on colour, sweetness and spice from the wood while keeping the Nebbiolo grape's characteristic perfume from the fresh distillate.

The miniature format lets you get acquainted with a cask-aged Barolo grappa without committing to a full bottle, and works just as well as a small gift or a closing tasting after dinner.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma is amber in character, with vanilla, toasted almonds and a hint of tobacco.

Palate

The palate is full and spiced, with cocoa and a soft, round sweetness from the cask.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with a lingering trace of wood and spice.

Specifications

Name: Marolo Grappa Miniature di Barolo Fadlagret
Distillery: Marolo
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 42%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: Oak barrels
EAN no.: 609750514135
Serving suggestion: Serve as a digestif in a small glass, lightly chilled

Flavour profile

Cask-driven · Warm · Spiced · Round · Vanilla-sweet

Did you know?

When Marolo launched its first cask-aged grappa resting in small acacia wood barrels in 1980, it was one of the earliest examples of cask-aged grappa in Italy and helped change the perception of grappa as a rough farmhouse spirit.

Shop our full range of Marolo Grappa

A drop of Tuscany from a Piedmont distillery. This small bottle packs the same floral Sangiovese character found in its big sister's 70 cl bottle into a format made for tasting your way forward.

Expert description

Marolo Grappa Miniature di Brunello Valdicava is an Italian grappa distilled from the pomace of Sangiovese grapes from the Valdicava vineyard in the Brunello di Montalcino district of Tuscany, bottled at 42% ABV in a 5 cl tasting bottle.

Because Marolo distils grapes from several Italian regions, this miniature is one of the easiest ways to taste a Tuscan grappa from a Piedmont-based distillery without buying a full bottle. The pomace comes from Valdicava, a vineyard on the Montosoli hill in Montalcino that grows exclusively Sangiovese Grosso.

The grappa is gently distilled in bain-marie stills and rests in stainless steel, preserving the fresh, floral character that is typical of the Sangiovese grape.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma offers fresh raspberry and a hint of dried rose petals.

Palate

The palate is soft, round and easy-drinking, with a touch of sweetness.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, clean and fruity.

Specifications

Name: Marolo Grappa Miniature di Brunello Valdicava
Distillery: Marolo
Region/Country: Tuscany, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 42%
Size: 5 CL
EAN no.: 609750514234
Serving suggestion: Serve in a small glass as a digestif or as a tasting ahead of a full-size bottle

Flavour profile

Floral · Light · Fruity · Soft · Fresh

Did you know?

Although Marolo is based in Piedmont, the distillery works with vineyards as far away as Tuscany - this miniature is therefore one of the few ways to taste a single-vineyard Sangiovese grappa from a Piedmont distillery.

Shop our full range of Marolo Grappa

The Moscato grape is so aromatic that it can barely hide its peach-blossom scent - even after pressing, fermentation and distillation. That character is exactly what this small bottle is about.

Expert description

Marolo Grappa Miniature di Moscato is an Italian grappa distilled from the pomace of Moscato grapes used for the popular Moscato d'Asti wine, bottled at 42% ABV in a 5 cl tasting bottle.

Moscato is one of the most recognisable grape varieties when it comes to aroma. The scent of peach blossom and grape follows all the way from the vineyard through fermentation and pressing, and Marolo gently distils the pomace in bain-marie stills to preserve as much of the natural perfume as possible.

The grappa rests in stainless steel and therefore stays clear and uncoloured, which highlights the fresh, floral character rather than adding flavour from wood.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma is intense and floral, with a distinct touch of muscat grape and peach blossom.

Palate

The palate is soft and aromatic, with hints of white chocolate and peach sweetness.

Finish

The finish is short and clean, with a light peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Marolo Grappa Miniature di Moscato
Distillery: Marolo
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 42%
Size: 5 CL
EAN no.: 609750514036
Serving suggestion: Serve cold as an aperitif or alongside light desserts

Flavour profile

Floral · Aromatic · Soft · Peachy · Light

Did you know?

The Moscato grape's aroma is so powerful that it is one of very few varieties where the grape itself is clearly recognisable in the finished grappa - most other grapes lose far more of their original aroma along the way.

Shop our full range of Marolo Grappa

In the hills of Trentino, where the Gewürztraminer grape develops its spiced aroma, the Marzadro family still works the same copper stills they have used for three generations. This grappa is distilled from that very grape, in small batches and with patience.

Expert description

Marzadro Grappa Giare Gewürztraminer is an Italian Grappa at 41% ABV, distilled from the pomace of Gewürztraminer grapes and bottled by the family-run Marzadro distillery in Nogaredo, Trentino.

Marzadro was founded in 1949 by siblings Sabina and Attilio Marzadro and is today run by the third generation of the family. The Giare range consists of single-varietal grappas distilled in a bain-marie using a discontinuous copper alembic and then aged for at least 36 months in small oak barrels, giving them a notably round character compared with Marzadro's younger, unaged grappas.

The name 'Giare' means jars in Italian and refers to the range as a whole rather than the cask type - the grappa is aged in oak, not in clay jars, while Marzadro has a separate range called 'Anfora' that is genuinely matured in terracotta jars. Giare Gewürztraminer has won awards at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is intense and floral, with honeysuckle and a hint of vanilla from the cask ageing, characteristic of the Gewürztraminer grape's aromatic style.

Palate

The palate is soft and gently sweet, with a delicate balance between the grape's spiced aroma and a warm, lightly vanilla-toned finish from the oak.

Finish

The finish is harmonious and medium in length, with a lingering floral sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Marzadro Grappa Giare Gewürztraminer
Distillery: Marzadro
Region/Country: Trentino, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 cl
Cask type: Oak cask
Distillation method: Bain-marie distillation in a discontinuous copper alembic
EAN no.: 8004009000087
Serving suggestion: Serve at 12-14 degrees in a tulip-shaped glass, ideally to close a meal.

Flavour profile

Honeysuckle · Vanilla · Floral sweetness · Oak · Harmonious

Did you know?

The name 'Giare' means jars, yet the range is actually aged in small oak barrels - it is Marzadro's other range, 'Anfora', that is matured in terracotta jars from the Tuscan towns of Montelupo and Impruneta.

Shop our full range of Marzadro

Eighteen full moons pass before Marzadro's signature grappa leaves its barrels. The name 'Dic'Otto Lune' - the eighteen moons - is a poetic way of measuring time in a distillery where patience is part of the recipe.

Expert description

Marzadro Le Dic Otto Lune Grappa Stravecchia is an Italian Grappa at 41% ABV, distilled and bottled by the family-run Marzadro distillery in Nogaredo, Trentino.

'Dic'Otto Lune' means 'eighteen moons' and refers to the at least 18 months of ageing the grappa undergoes, while 'Stravecchia' is the Italian term for an extra-long maturation. The range was developed by Marzadro in 1999 as one of the distillery's first attempts at ageing a grappa in four different types of wood at once - oak, acacia, ash and cherry - to achieve a more complex expression than a single cask type can provide.

Marzadro was founded in 1949 by siblings Sabina and Attilio Marzadro and is today run by the third generation of the family from the distillery's current home in Nogaredo. The grappa is distilled from a blend of pomace from several grape varieties, including Marzemino, Teroldego, Merlot, Moscato and Chardonnay, giving it a broader aromatic spectrum than a single-varietal grappa.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers roasted nuts and ripe cherries, spiced with a hint of vanilla and a subtle, earthy undercurrent of forest floor.

Palate

The palate is soft and harmonious with a warm, gently spiced sweetness, where the different woods combine into a layered, round expression.

Finish

The finish is long and lightly nutty, with a lingering, almost nougat-like sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Marzadro Le Dic Otto Lune Grappa Stravecchia
Distillery: Marzadro
Region/Country: Trentino, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
Age: 18 months
ABV: 41%
Size: 50 cl
Cask type: Oak, acacia, ash and cherry wood casks
EAN no.: 8004009005280
Serving suggestion: Serve at 12-14 degrees in a tulip-shaped glass, ideally to close a meal.

Flavour profile

Roasted nuts · Cherry · Vanilla · Forest floor · Nougat

Did you know?

The range was first launched in 1999 and was Marzadro's first attempt at ageing a single grappa in four different types of wood at the same time - a method the distillery still uses for Dic'Otto Lune today.

Shop our full range of Marzadro

Grapes hung to dry under a roof until December, as the sugar slowly concentrates and a noble mould leaves its mark. It is a laborious route to a grappa, but the result explains why Jacopo Poli still speaks fondly of his old mentor.

Expert description

Poli Amorosa di Dicembre Torcolato Grappa is an Italian Grappa at 40% from Poli Distillerie in Schiavon, Veneto, distilled from the marc of Vespaiolo grapes used for the sweet Breganze DOC wine Torcolato.

The partnership between Poli and the torcolato producers in Breganze dates back to 1984, when Jacopo Poli met winegrower Fausto Maculan and was allowed to collect the precious marc. The grapes, called "torcolati" after the twisted way they are bound, hang drying from the ceiling until December, letting water evaporate and sugar concentrate — often assisted by the noble rot botrytis cinerea.

After destemming and a carefully controlled fermentation of the sweet skins, the marc is distilled in small batches with a discontinuous copper still fitted with steam pots, yielding a spirit with complex, elegant aromas of raisins and dried fruit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisins, prunes and dried apricots, rounded out by figs and dates in a full, sweet bouquet.

Palate

Round and full with a distinct sense of sweetness, supported by the same dried fruit character found on the nose.

Finish

Long and soft, with a lingering aftertaste of prunes and dates that fades slowly.

Specifications

Name: Poli Amorosa di Dicembre Torcolato Grappa
Distillery: Poli Distillerie
Region/Country: Veneto, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 cl
Distillation method: Discontinuous copper still with steam pots
EAN no.: 8014115000291
Serving suggestion: 10-15°C in a tulip-shaped glass

Flavour profile

Raisins · Dried apricots · Prunes · Figs · Sweet

Did you know?

Torcolato grapes are traditionally bound into twisted braids — hence the name "torcolato" — and hang drying under the roof for several months, where the same botrytis mould known from Sauternes can develop new aromatic compounds in the skins.

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Five bottles in a row, like five siblings who look alike but are never quite the same. Baby Pack gathers the whole PO di Poli family and lets the young Sarpa Oro round the set off.

Expert description

Poli Baby Pack Grappa Tasting Set is a collection of five 10 cl bottles from Poli Distillerie in Schiavon, Veneto, with an alcohol content that varies between 30% and 40% depending on the individual bottle. The set comprises the four PO di Poli expressions Morbida, Aromatica, Elegante and Secca, plus Sarpa Oro.

The four PO di Poli bottles are all young grappas, but distilled and selected for their own character — soft, aromatic, elegant and dry — so in practice you taste just how much style can be drawn from the same craft and different grape varieties. Sarpa Oro adds a fuller, more cask-influenced finish to the set.

Because the five bottles span several grape varieties and styles, Baby Pack works as a small lesson in Poli's grappa philosophy — an exercise in tasting the difference between "dry" and "smooth" grappa, a distinction the distillery itself places great weight on.

Tasting notes

Nose

Freshly cut grass and red flowers in the drier styles, milder grape sweetness in the softer expressions, and finally toasted hazelnuts in the cask-influenced Sarpa Oro.

Palate

From the crisp, almost crackling fullness of Secca to the round, rounded structure of Morbida, with Aromatica and Elegante as intermediate stops in intensity.

Finish

Short and clean in the young styles, while Sarpa Oro closes warmer and longer with a touch of nuts.

Specifications

Name: Poli Baby Pack Grappa Tasting Set
Distillery: Poli Distillerie
Region/Country: Veneto, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 30-40%
Size: 5x10 cl
Serving suggestion: 10-18°C in a tulip-shaped glass, one style at a time

Flavour profile

Freshly cut grass · Red flowers · Grape sweetness · Toasted hazelnuts · Clean finish

Did you know?

Poli itself uses the terms "dry" and "smooth" to describe how a grappa is perceived in the mouth — a tactile sensation rather than an actual flavour — and Baby Pack is put together so you can feel the difference directly, bottle by bottle.

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Named after a Jewish alchemist from antiquity, whom the Poli family have made patron saint of a pot warmed by another pot. It sounds like a detour, yet that is exactly what makes this grappa so gentle.

Expert description

Poli Bagno Maria Organic Grappa is an Italian Grappa at 40% from Poli Distillerie in Schiavon, Veneto, distilled from the marc of organically grown Merlot, Cabernet and Amarone grapes.

The name "bagno maria" refers to the water-bath technique, where a pot is heated indirectly via another pot filled with hot water, named after Maria the Jewess — one of the earliest alchemists, said by tradition to have invented the method. Poli uses a variant of this technique in its stills, where steam gently warms the marc without direct contact with fire.

The spirit is made in small batches with a discontinuous bain-marie vacuum still and is, according to Poli itself, the distillery's first ever organic grappa, made with minimal intervention in the natural cultivation of the grapes.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh red berries and ripe red grapes, with a hint of freshly picked fruit from the vineyard.

Palate

Full and powerful, with a warming, almost robust structure carried by the character of the three grape varieties.

Finish

Medium length, clean and slightly tart, with an aftertaste of fresh grapes that lingers well.

Specifications

Name: Poli Bagno Maria Organic Grappa
Distillery: Poli Distillerie
Region/Country: Veneto, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: Discontinuous bain-marie vacuum still
EAN no.: 8014115001601
Serving suggestion: 10-15°C in a tulip-shaped glass

Flavour profile

Fresh red berries · Ripe grapes · Full structure · Slightly tart · Clean finish

Did you know?

Poli itself describes Bagno Maria as the distillery's first grappa made entirely according to the principles of organic farming, dedicated to "strong women and true men who hold fast to their ideals."

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Named after the Egyptian alchemist who, according to legend, built the very first still to turn base metals into gold. Poli has found its own way of doing so — by turning Amarone marc into liquid gold in a vacuum still called Crysopea.

Expert description

Poli Barrique Cleopatra Amarone Oro Grappa is an Italian Grappa at 40% from Poli Distillerie in Schiavon, Veneto, distilled from the marc of the grapes Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara — the same grapes used for the famous wine Amarone della Valpolicella.

The spirit is made using Crysopea, Poli's own bain-marie vacuum still developed together with the experimental centre in San Michele all'Adige and brought into use between 2005 and 2010. The method markedly lowers the boiling point of alcohol and other volatile compounds, preserving the delicate floral aromas that are normally lost at higher distillation temperatures.

After distillation, the grappa matures in oak barrels in the underground cellars in Schiavon, giving the spirit a fuller structure than the other expressions in the same line and adding notes of toasted wood and dried fruit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Freshly pressed ripe red grapes together with a basket of almonds and walnuts.

Palate

Full and sincere, with dried fruit, sweet spices and a hint of toasted wood from the cask maturation.

Finish

Long and warm, with a lingering nutty note that slowly gives way to a lightly spiced sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Poli Barrique Cleopatra Amarone Oro Grappa
Distillery: Poli Distillerie
Region/Country: Veneto, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 cl
Cask type: Oak barrels
Distillation method: Crysopea bain-marie vacuum still
EAN no.: 8014115001250
Serving suggestion: 18-20°C in a tulip-shaped glass

Flavour profile

Ripe red grapes · Almonds · Walnuts · Dried fruit · Toasted wood

Did you know?

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Freshly cut grass, geranium and a hint of violets — not a description of a spring garden, but of a grappa that insists on being crisp and direct rather than soft and round.

Expert description

Poli di Poli Merlot Secca Dry Grappa is an Italian Grappa at 40% from Poli Distillerie in Schiavon, Veneto, distilled from the marc of the Merlot grape.

"Secca" means dry, and the term refers to a tactile sensation in the mouth rather than an actual flavour — a slightly crisp, almost crackling sensation that arises when the marc is handled and distilled with a focus on preserving the grape's natural acids. The Merlot grape contributes a characteristic note of freshly cut grass and red flowers, judged by the distillery's technical staff as distinctly "dry" compared with the softer PO di Poli expressions.

After harvest, the marc is distilled in small batches with a discontinuous copper still fitted with steam pots, yielding a well-structured grappa without roughness or aggressiveness, yet with a warming, almost crackling sensation on the tongue.

Tasting notes

Nose

Red grapes, strawberries, blackberries and blackcurrants, supported by freshly cut grass and red flowers such as geranium, rose and violets.

Palate

Dry and direct with a slightly crackling warmth, giving a distinct dry sensation rather than sweetness.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and fresh, with a lingering hint of red flowers.

Specifications

Name: Poli di Poli Merlot Secca Dry Grappa
Distillery: Poli Distillerie
Region/Country: Veneto, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: Discontinuous copper still with steam pots
Serving suggestion: 10-15°C in a tulip-shaped glass

Flavour profile

Freshly cut grass · Red flowers · Red berries · Dry · Crackling warmth

Did you know?

Poli itself distinguishes technically between "dry" and "smooth" grappa purely by the tactile sensation in the mouth, not by sweetness, and Secca is the distillery's own definition of how a dry Merlot grappa should be experienced.

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