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.
