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Grappa Chocolates: Ultimate After Dinner Treat

L.M. Archer

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Grappa Chocolates: the Ultimate After Dinner Treat

by L.M. Archer

Grappa is a beguiling Italian distilled spirit that is somewhat difficult to categorize. Italians drink it in coffee and more recently add it to cocktails, but it is most commonly enjoyed as a digestif after meals. So it should come as no surprise that it can be paired with another after dinner treat, chocolate. Inspired by this combination, some distillers have collaborated with chocolatiers to create grappa filled chocolate.

WHAT IS GRAPPA?

Grappa is made by distilling pomace (grape skins and seeds leftover from winemaking), as opposed to brandy, which is made by distilling fermented grapes. Some grappa has flavors reminiscent of grapes, while some doesn’t. Traditionally grappa was not aged, but these days distillers are experimenting and aging it and even putting it in amphora. Grappa is produced from many different grape varieties. If any specific variety exceeds 15% it must be listed on the label in ascending order.

There are several different styles of grappa. Grappa Giovane (Unaged) is literally young grappa, a crystal clear product bottled after a short rest in steel tanks. Grappa Invecchiata (Aged) is matured in oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, light golden color and a more rounded character picking up spice notes from the barrel. Grappa Barricata is grappa also aged for 12 to 18 months, but in small wooden casks called barriques. The resulting product is a deep golden color has richer flavors such as tobacco, butter and cream. Finally, Grappa Stravecchia (Very Old) is aged in oak barrels for more than 18 months. It takes on a golden amber color and has even more intense flavors from the barrel.

GRAPPA FILLED CHOCOLATES

While grappa is an original Italian spirit, it is also very popular with German, Austrian and Swiss visitors to Italy and distillers have created a variety of grappa infused products to enjoy including cakes and candies. Many distillers produce chocolate filled with grappa. Here are a few. READ MORE HERE.

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