Grappa · Explainer
What is grappa?
Grappa is a spirit made from fermented grape pomace: the skins, seeds and stalks left over after pressing. In the European Union the name is reserved for Italy. Each distillation takes place below 86 per cent, the bottle contains at least 37.5 per cent alcohol, and the grapes must be grown and processed in Italy.
In brief
The key figures
| Raw material | fermented grape pomace, in Italian vinaccia |
|---|---|
| European category | category 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787 |
| Alcohol in the bottle | minimum 37.5 per cent |
| Distillation | each distillation below 86 per cent, the first in the presence of the pomace |
| Wine lees | at most 25 kilos per 100 kilos of pomace, and at most 35 per cent of the alcohol |
| Methanol | at most 1,000 grams per hectolitre of 100 per cent alcohol |
| Origin | grapes from Italy, distillation and bottling in Italy |
| Wood ageing | vecchia or invecchiata from 12 months, riserva or stravecchia from 18 months |
What is grappa made from?
Grappa is made from fermented grape pomace: the skins, seeds and stalks left over after the grapes have been pressed for wine.
The regulation allows wine lees to be added to the pomace, up to 25 kilos per 100 kilos of pomace, with at most 35 per cent of the alcohol in the final product allowed to come from those lees. The first distillation must take place in the presence of the pomace itself and, like every subsequent one, stays below 86 per cent.
Why may only Italy use the name grappa?
Grappa is a protected geographical indication of Italy. The Italian technical file requires grapes from Italy, vinification in Italy and distillation on Italian territory.
Ministerial decree no. 5389 of 1 August 2011 laid down that file and also made bottling in Italy compulsory, from 1 January 2013. A grape pomace spirit from another country may exist and be sold, but may not call itself grappa.
What do invecchiata and riserva mean on the label?
Vecchia or invecchiata stands for at least twelve months of ageing in wood. Riserva or stravecchia stands for at least eighteen months.
Unaged grappa is clear and is called giovane or bianca. Aged grappa gets its colour from the cask, usually oak, sometimes cherry or acacia. Colouring with caramel is the only permitted correction, and sweetening is limited to 20 grams of sugar per litre.
What is the difference from marc and Tresterbrand?
Marc from France and Tresterbrand from Germany and Austria fall under the same European category as grappa. The distinction lies in the origin and the national rules.
Category 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787 sets the same minimum for all three: at least 37.5 per cent alcohol, distillation below 86 per cent, at least 140 grams of volatile substances and at most 1,000 grams of methanol per hectolitre of 100 per cent alcohol. On top of that, the name grappa is reserved for Italy.
How does grappa compare with brandy?
Grappa is made from grape pomace, brandy from wine. The raw material differs, and so does the category in which the European regulation places each of them.
Brandy falls under category 5, must be made from wine spirit, contain at least 36 per cent alcohol and must age in oak. Grappa falls under category 6, has no compulsory wood ageing and must contain at least 37.5 per cent.
What limits does the law set for a bottle of grappa?
Grappa must contain at least 37.5 per cent alcohol, each distillation stays below 86 per cent, and it may contain at most 1,000 grams of methanol per hectolitre of 100 per cent alcohol.
The regulation also requires at least 140 grams of volatile substances per hectolitre of 100 per cent alcohol. That minimum keeps the character of the pomace in the distillate: the cleaner the distillation, the less of the raw material remains.
Sweetening is allowed up to 20 grams of sugar per litre, only to round off the taste. Colouring is only allowed with caramel. For the wine lees that may go in with the pomace, there is a double limit: at most 25 kilos per 100 kilos of pomace, and at most 35 per cent of the alcohol in the final product.
From the shop in Bathmen
Grappa in the shop in Bathmen
The shop in Bathmen has 39 grappas from 13 different brands. The alcohol percentage ranges from 38% to 43%.
- Bottega Grappa Riserva Privata Barricata 43% · 70 cl · Italy
- Bottega Grappa Tardiva Vendemmia 38% · 50 cl · Italy
- Caffo Grappa Morbida 40% · 70 cl · Italy
- Caffo Vecchia Grappa 40% · 70 cl · Italy
- Castello Grappa Bianca 40% · 70 cl · Italy
- Francoli Grappa 88 Barriques Riserva 42.5% · 70 cl · Italy
- Francoli Grappa Barolo Cask Finish 40% · 50 cl · Italy
- Francoli Grappa Bourbon Cask Finish 40% · 50 cl · Italy
- Francoli Grappa Chardonnay 41.5% · 70 cl · Italy
- Francoli Grappa l'Ambra Moscato Riserva 42.5% · 70 cl · Italy
Related questions
How do you drink grappa?What is a digestif?What is a grappa riserva?
Short answer
Short answers to related questions
- What does grappa monovitigno mean?
- A grappa from the pomace of a single grape variety, for example moscato or nebbiolo. The variety is then stated on the label.
- Are there regional grappa designations?
- Yes. Besides grappa there are protected regional designations such as Grappa friulana and Grappa trentina.
- How do you serve grappa?
- Young, clear grappa is served lightly chilled in a small glass with a narrow opening. Aged grappa is served at room temperature.
- Is grappa much stronger than wine?
- Yes. Wine is usually around 12 per cent alcohol; by law grappa must contain at least 37.5 per cent.
The reasoning
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, EUR-Lex (accessed 4 September 2026)
- Decreto n. 5389 del 1 agosto 2011, scheda tecnica della Grappa, Ministero delle politiche agricole, via WIPO Lex (accessed 4 September 2026)
- Technical file Grappa friulana, European Commission, eAmbrosia register (accessed 4 September 2026)
Deze pagina is geschreven en gecontroleerd door ’t Bockje Bathmen, slijterij aan de Brink 2 in Bathmen. Laatst bijgewerkt op 26 oktober 2026.
Verkoop van alcohol onder de 18 jaar is verboden. NIX18.