Spirit Style

What first sets Grappa trentina apart from other Grappas is its raw material: Trentino grows many native grape varieties, and their pomace yields single-varietal Grappas, such as those from Marzemino, alongside blends of several varieties. Single-varietal means the pomace comes from only one grape variety. A blend combines several and evens out differences between vintages.

In terms of flavor, Grappa trentina ranges from fresh and grapey in young, colorless bottlings to round, spicy notes after wood aging. On top of that comes the individual house's signature style, from Bertagnolli to Pilzer.

Williams trentino, like Kirsch Trentino, Aprikot trentino, and Sliwovitz trentino, carries a name that points to the province. The pear brandy has an aroma of ripe pear with a faint nutmeg undertone and a dry finish on the palate. The ripeness of the pear determines how soft and fruity it turns out.

Kirsch Trentino and Aprikot trentino are stone-fruit brandies in which the pits often contribute a fine note of almond. Sliwovitz trentino comes from plums, for which the EU regulation also permits the name Slibowitz. Distillato di mele trentino is the province's apple brandy, round and mild in aroma when made from ripe apples.

Genziana trentina stands apart from all the others most distinctly. Its description in the specification mentions dry grass and hay, juniper spice, musk, and damp earth. This is a bitter, earthy spirit that leans toward bitter herbs and has little in common with a fruit brandy.

On the label, the designation of origin separates the neighbors: South Tyrol also has its own protected names, including Südtiroler Grappa and Südtiroler Enzian; Grappa trentina and Genziana trentina specifically refer to the province of Trento. The difference from brandy is quickly explained: Grappa comes from pomace, while brandy comes from finished wine.