Since we have been all immersed in vino Italiano this season, I thought it would be fun to revisit this episode while I’m , let’s just say, out of the cellar this month: Getting Our Grappa On (S10E3)

A deep dive into grappa—the bold Italian spirit made from pomace, with anecdotes on its enduring appeal across centuries .

As summer transitions to harvest season, grappa’s rustic, artisanal character resonates with end-of-season flavors.

Originally Released: June 10, 2022

Grappa: Not just for breakfast (you laugh)! This pomace brandy, like many spirits, has ancient roots. With over 130 producers in Italy, some dating back hundreds of years, what is it about this drink made from, oh, I don’t know, chunky winemaking leftovers, that is so enchanting and beloved amongst connoisseurs?

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide, Nickles, J. (2020)

The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails [Kindle Edition], Wondrich, D & Rothbaum, N., (2022)

Websites:

Difford’s Guide: Grappa’s Origins and History, Difford, S., (nd) https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/979/bws/grappas-origins-and-history

EUR-Lex (Access to European Union Law): Regulation (EC) 787/2019 (Definition, designation, presentation, and labeling of spirit drinks in the presentation and in the labeling of other food products, as well as the protection of geographical indications for spirit drinks and the use of ethyl alcohol and distillates of agricultural origins) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32019R0787&from=IT

Istituto Nazionale Grappa: http://www.istitutograppa.org/

Italian Tribune: Italian Grappa’s History and Cocktails to Drink it In (9 June 2021) https://italiantribune.com/italian-grappas-history-and-cocktails-to-drink-it-in/

National Institutes of Health - Pub Med: The “Scola Medica Salernitana”: The Forerunner of the Modern University Medical Schools, De Divitiis, E., Cappabianca, P., & De Divitiis, O. (October 2004) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15458581/

Poli Museo Della Grappa: La Produzione della Grappa https://www.grappa.com/eng/index.php

World History Encyclopedia: Feudalism, Cartwright, M. (22 November 2018), https://www.worldhistory.org/Feudalism/

Glass in Session® Episodes Mentioned in this Session:

S5E5: Grape Brandy Escape https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s5e5-grape-brandy-escape

S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes

S1E3: Rosato - Wading into the (Italian) Pink https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s1e3-rosato-wading-into-the-italian-pink

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Since we’re between seasons where we’re exploring Italian wine and working our way down Italy’s boot, I thought we’d revisit the Rosato episode from way back in Season 1.

Rosato, Italian for rosé wine, it’s literally what’s in my glass right now. T

I hope you can find a glass of Italian rosé to help you wind down your summer while we take a lovely stroll back through our archives with “Rosato - Wading through the Italian Pink” - Perfect for warm summer evenings: they pair beautifully with al fresco dining, casual sipping, BBQ and friends.

Originally aired Jun 14, 2019

A quick dip into a couple of favorite rosé styles from Italy known as rosato takes us to the deep pink wines of Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo.

We also discuss Chiaretto (Bardolino) briefly, and check in on the rosé wine market for some figures and finds.

Resources from this episode:

AAWE http://www.wine-economics.org/aawe/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/5C-Roberta-Capitello-Consumer-preferences-and-perceptions-of-rose-wine-in-out-of-home-consumption-situations-in-Italy.pdf

Agroqualita.it http://www.agroqualita.it/_files/disciplinare_DOC_Cerasuolo_Abruzzo.pdf

Italian Wine Central italianwinecentral.com

Vinous https://www.vinous.com/articles/think-pink-italy-s-lively-2018-rosatos-may-2019

https://vinous.com/articles/think-pink-still-more-2018-italian-rosatos-may-2019

https://vinous.com/articles/looking-at-italy-through-rose-tinted-glasses-cerasuolo-rosato-ramato-and-chiaretto-jun-2015#

Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2018/05/27/exploring-the-world-of-italian-rose/#7454684d3406

OIV http://www.oiv.int/public/medias/3103/focus-2015-les-vins-roses-en.pdf

http://oiv.int/js/lib/pdfjs/web/viewer.html?file=/public/medias/6661/en-press-release-oiv-11042019.pdf

Wine Economist https://wineeconomist.com/2019/03/12/global-rose-market-qa/

Wine News (IT) https://winenews.it/en/10-of-still-wines-consumed-in-the-world-is-rose-a-strictly-french-affair_384945/

Wine Spectator https://www.winespectator.com/articles/vinitaly-2019-unites-italy-wine-world#

Glass in Session® is a trademark of Vino With Val LLC

Music: Addict Sound - Happy Acoustic - (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)