LOCK, STOCK AND WINE BARREL
Afew years ago words like Prosecco and Grappa weren’t part of the regular South African culinary vocabulary. It was something you spoke about after travels to Italy or after finding a special Italian restaurant serving these Italian favourites. Things have changed. Grappa is a buzzword now, and you can be considered selfish if you don’t have it on your menu or have a special bottle at home to share with friends.
The latest Grappa is Grappa Nonino, a world-renowned brand that shares the rich history of this unique distilled drink.
Traditionally, Grappa was part of rural culture in northern Italy where wine farmers would preserve their wines for themselves while giving the leftovers to farmworkers. The workers distilled this into the drink we know as grappa, which for decades was considered a cheap indulgence.
Nonino, with its 120 years of distillation, is still distilled in the same artisanal method since 1897 when Orazio Nonino began brewing it. The Nonino family takes care of the purchase of the primary products and follows the phases of distillation.
They have created a variety of grappas with unique notes. These include Grappa Monovitigno Merlot, Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, Grappa Monovitigno Chardonnay barriques, Grappa AnticaCuvée Riserva 5 Years, UE Riserva 14 Anni and Grappa Riserva 8 Years.
Check websites like Zomato for restaurants that serve these high-in-alcohol favourites.