Grappa

Facts and Information about the Grappa Liqueur
The alcoholic drink Grappa is a liqueur. Grappa ( aka Grappa Wine) is an Italian brandy liqueur made by the fermentation and the distillation of pomace or Vinacce. Grape pomace is the pulpy material remaining after the juice has been pressed from grapes. Vinacce is the Italian term for the grape skins, seeds and pulp left after the must or fermented wine has been pressed. The flavor of grappa, like wine, varies according to the types and quality of the grapes used. Many grappas have added fruit syrup to sweeten and refine the flavor of the finished grappa. Liqueurs are sweet alcoholic drinks which are flavoured with a variety of different ingredients and come in a variety of different colors. The word 'liqueur' derives from the Latin word 'liquifacere' which means to melt or dissolve - the flavorings used to make liqueurs are dissolved.

List of Recipes which contain Grappa
Click any of the following links on the list for recipes which contain this famous liqueur:

Information about Grappa
Liqueurs are flavored with a whole variety of different ingredients! These ingredients include fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, seeds, nuts, roots, plants, barks, eggs and cream. The following list details the main ingredients of Grappa together with other info about this famous Italian liqueur.

• Main ingredients of Grappa - grapes and sugar. Often a flavoring is added

• Grappa is usually distilled in copper pot stills

• Country of origin - Italy

• Color - Clear

• The flavor of Grappa is dependant on the type of grape used in the recipe

• The name grappa is derived from the Latin word  `grappapolus' meaning bunch of grapes

• A type of wine similar to Grappa originated in Asia and the processes used in Asia, Greece and Egypt  were adopted by the Romans

• Grappas were once used as a cure all for all sorts of problems rangeing from toothache and stomach ache

• French grappas are known as mace 

History of Italian Grappa
Italian grappa dates back to the Romans. Grappa was originally developed to prevent wastage by using the leftovers at the end of the wine making season. Italian grappa was originally made with any available grape leftovers, seeds and pieces of stalks. The production of Grappa therefore started as a by-product of the Italian wine making trade. Italian Grappa has now evolved into a single grape with no seeds or stalks. Italian grappa is an aquavit from the Latin words 'aqua vitae' meaning "water of life". Italian Grappa can be described as a brandy rather than a wine.

Grappas
There are many different types of Italian Grappas. Some of the most famous producers of grappa include  Antinori, Castello Banfi, Paderno, Fattoria di Felsina, Gaja, Sibona, Nardini and Jacopo Poli and Nonino.

Nonino Grappa Fruili
Nonino Grappa Fruili is produced by the Italian Nonino family. The Nonino distillery was established by Orazio Nonino in Fruili's Ronchi di Pavia.  The Nonino distillery in Fruili was established 1897.

How to serve the Grappa Liqueur
Liqueurs are made in nearly every country of the world and come in a variety of different flavors and colors. This makes every liqueur drink, such as Grappa, an extremely versatile drink. Liqueurs can be served:

• Straight up - Perfect as after dinner drinks and usually served at room temperature

• On the rocks - If a cold drink is preferred liqueurs can be chilled and served over ice cubes or mixed with crushed ice

• Served with coffee

• Liqueurs can be mixed with cream or other mixers to create some really good and extremely colorful cocktails

Rainbow Liqueur Drinks - Floating Liqueurs
Ever wondered how bartenders create those unusual rainbow effects when making cocktails? They use a method called 'Floating liqueurs' which is achieved by 'floating' a measure of liqueur in a glass by pouring it slowly over an inverted spoon or down a glass rod on top of previous layers. This creates a rainbow effect in a glass when using different colored liqueurs or cordials. Liqueurs are sometimes referred to as Cordials, which causes some confusion. In America a cordial mean a sweet, syrup like alcoholic beverage. However, in the UK a cordial means a non-alcoholic, sweet, syrupy drink!

Quantities and Proportions of ingredients in Grappa cocktail drinks
Quantities of ingredients tend to cause confusion - no problem, just use the correct proportions of each ingredient to create the best authentic & original Grappa cocktail recipe! You can use a thimble, cup or even a pitcher ( if you are making this recipe for a group or a crowd ) when you make a cocktail! The following simple guidelines will also help with the different quantities referred to in other cocktail recipes:

• 1 oz (ounce) equals 2 tbsp (tablespoons) or 3 cl (centilitres)

• 30ml equals 1 oz

• 1 shot equals 3 tbsp (tablespoons) or 1½ oz (ounces) or 45 ml (millilitres)

• 1 cup equals 8 oz (ounces) or 24 cl (centilitres) or 240 ml (millilitres)