People interested in Grappa got an education in the traditional Italian spirit at Hello Grappa! Days 2023 in New York from June 14 to 16.
Grappa is experiencing a resurgence of interest due to its sustainability (it’s made from grape pomace, which is a leftover of the winemaking process) and versatility as a sipping or cocktail spirit. As more people look for artisan products and get interested in creative cocktails, they’re finding that Grappa fits a variety of their needs. Hello Grappa! Days were an opportunity for them to learn more about this popular spirit and how to best consume it.
A highlight of the series of gatherings was the Grappa Cocktail Contest, designed to showcase that Grappa is great in cocktails. Eleven talented bartenders competed to create impressive Grappa-based cocktails. Nicolas Brimau, a highly regarded mixologist in New York City, won with the AMORE, a shaken cocktail with notes of passion fruit, aquafaba and chamomile.
In addition to the cocktail contest, approximately 150 spirit and wine professionals attended masterclasses and educational workshops. The sessions covered a wide range of topics including Grappa’s rich history, production process, aging regimen and its status as a sustainable product with diverse applications. Attendees had the opportunity to sample a variety of Grappas and meet producers and representatives from eleven Grappa brands from various parts of Italy.
“We made a significant impact during Hello Grappa! Days,” said Michael Wangbickler, president of Balzac Communications & Marketing, the organizers of the activities.
“Grappa is unfamiliar to many in the U.S., both trade and consumers. We took advantage of this opportunity to help educate and elevate this craft spirit during Hello Grappa! Days.”
Having had several conversations with attendees at the events, there was unprecedented interest, with many walking away as new Grappa fans.
“The event with the Grappa Cocktail Contest was particularly effective,” Wangbickler added. “It showed everyone that Grappa is a versatile spirit, great in cocktails or drunk straight. Attendees were very engaged, having a chance to try all the bartenders’ creations. I’m grateful to everyone who participated in the week’s activities and the warm reception we received everywhere we went. I’m looking forward to seeing Grappa import numbers going up and having greater access to this special spirit.”
Some fun facts about Grappa
Grappa is a spirit distilled from pomace (grape skins and seeds) after wine fermentation. First, distillers select the pomace of only the finest Italian wines for the distillation process. Though any grape can be used, the skins and seeds used to produce Moscato, Barolo and Brunello are among the most common products selected.
The pomace is carefully heated to produce steam, which captures both the alcohol and aromatic compounds that remain in the grapes. The steam wafts into a separate chamber and is condensed back into a liquid.
Lowering the alcohol content of the distillate is critical. The Grappa is diluted with pure water until the desired alcohol content is reached. It is then filtered at low temperature to remove any impurities. Grappa can be unaged or aged, depending on the producer’s end goal.
It’s common to serve Grappa on its own in a chalice, tulip or balloon glass. Serve unaged Grappa slightly chilled (47˚F if possible) and aged Grappa at cool room temperature (around 60˚F). Fill the glass only one-quarter full and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the aromas time to develop.
Grappa also tastes great in a variety of cocktails. Substitute it as the spirit of choice in many classic cocktails or experiment to find an enjoyable and original combination. The VE.N.TO cocktail, the first mixed drink developed specifically to showcase Grappa, is another option.
The Hello Grappa! is a three-year informational and promotional campaign designed to increase Americans’ understanding of Grappa GI. The project was sponsored by AssoDistil and cofunded by the European Union according to Reg. 1144/2014. Get more details about the campaign and about Grappa at www.hellograppa.com or on Facebook and Instagram.
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Source: Mixology News
