The Difference Between Grappa and Pomace Brandy: Who May Call It Grappa?

Is Grappa a Pomace Brandy?

Yes, without any qualification. Grappa meets every requirement of Category 6 under the EU Spirit Drinks Regulation: fermented grape pomace, first distillation carried out with the pomace present in the still, minimum 37.5% ABV. So what separates Grappa from a pomace brandy made in the Palatinate or along the Moselle isn't a different process or a different raw material—it's the origin.

In legal terms, Grappa is a protected geographical indication. For spirit drinks, the EU recognizes only this one type of protection, unlike wine, which has its designations of origin. "Grappa" is registered in the European eAmbrosia register for Italy. The pomace must be sourced and processed within Italy. This is laid out in the technical file that Italy revised through Ministerial Decree No. 747 of 28 January 2016.

One earlier rule has since fallen away. Until 2016, Grappa also had to be bottled in Italy. This requirement was removed following an objection from the European Commission and has no longer applied since 1 August 2016. Distillation must still take place in Italy, but bottling may now happen elsewhere.

Grappa from Ticino: The Swiss Exception

Vacationing in Ticino, you'll find Grappa there too—entirely legally. Under the agricultural agreement between the EU and Switzerland, signed in 1999 and in force since 2002, certain Swiss names bearing the word are protected: "Grappa del Ticino" or "Grappa ticinese", along with Grappa from Val Calanca, Bregaglia, Mesolcina, and Valle di Poschiavo. These are Italian-speaking valleys where pomace distilling shares the same history as across the border.

That Grappa is permitted outside Italy only in these specific cases makes the distinction clear. The name is tied to a linguistic and cultural landscape with a long distilling tradition, not to the raw material itself.

Grappa Regions with Their Own Protection

Within Italy, there are additional regional designations that specify more precisely where the pomace comes from. The register includes Grappa piemontese, Grappa lombarda, Grappa trentina, Grappa friulana, Grappa veneta, Südtiroler Grappa, Grappa siciliana, Grappa della Valle d'Aosta (since 2018), and, as the only designation named after a wine, Grappa di Barolo. For Barolo Grappa, the pomace comes from the production of this red wine from Piedmont.

Other well-known names, by contrast, are not protected designations in their own right. You may come across "Grappa di Bassano", "Grappa Toscana", or "Grappa del Brunello", but none of these are protected in the EU register. Bassano del Grappa in the Veneto remains a stronghold nonetheless: Nardini, considered the oldest Grappa distillery, has operated there since 1779, and in Bassano, the Poli distillery runs a Grappa museum.

Pomace Brandy from Germany: Why It Can't Be Called Grappa

A winemaker on the Moselle who distills their own pomace may only call the result pomace brandy, or simply Trester. Even additions like "Grappa-style" or "Grappa type" won't do, since protected names may not even be alluded to. That's why some labels instead carry a fanciful name or the grape variety, such as Riesling or Pinot Noir pomace brandy.

In terms of flavor, German pomace brandy has nothing to be ashamed of—it's distilled under the same EU rules. Anyone wanting to know exactly what's in the bottle should check the sales designation, the legally required name of the drink. If it says Grappa, the pomace comes from Italy or from the protected Swiss regions. If it says pomace brandy, it could come from any wine-producing country.