The Differences Between Grappa and Italian Wine

Italian wine is made using grapes.

Grappa is also made using grapes.

So, does that mean they’re the same drink?

Not at all! Though both are Italian specialities made using grapes and containing alcohol, grappa and Italian wine are two very different drinks. And that’s a good thing for you as a wine lover because it means you have something else to explore as you search for more drinks to add to your growing collection.

Of course, now that we know wine and grappa are different, we have one big question to answer:

How are they different?

This article answers that question while also highlighting some similarities between how Italian wine and grappa are made.

Difference No. 1 – Alcohol Content

As mentioned, both Italian wine and grappa are alcoholic beverages. However, there is a considerable difference between the two in terms of alcohol volume.

A bottle of wine has an alcohol content of approximately 12%. Some bottles have lower volumes and others have higher. But it’s very rare to see a bottle of Italian wine that is more than 15%.

Grappa is more like a spirit than a wine. Though it’s generally much sweeter, a bottle of grappa usually has an alcohol volume of between 35% and 60%, with most having a volume of 37.5%. For comparison’s sake, vodka and tequila are only slightly more alcoholic, with most of those drinks clocking in at about 40%.

That means you can’t drink grappa like you would drink wine. Where you might have a large glass of wine, you will usually only have a shot of grappa that you sip so the high alcohol content doesn’t get the best of you.

Difference No. 2 – The Production Method

The fact that wine and grappa are made using grapes is the main similarity between the two. But the parts of the grape that are used are very different.

If you’re familiar with the standard wine-making process, you know that producers predominantly use the grape’s juices to make their wines. There is some variation to this. For example, the grape skins are vital to giving reds their colours. However, it’s mostly the juice you’re getting with wine.

Grappa is made using what’s called the pomace.

The pomace is what many winemakers would consider the leftovers of their process. It’s a collective term for all of the skins, seeds, stems, and other “waste” products that aren’t used in Italian wine production. In fact, most grappa producers are also wine producers, meaning they have easy access to pomace for making their grappa.

Don’t for a second think that pomace is waste though.

Many producers will tell you the skin is the most important part of a grape. As well as giving a wine its colour, it’s also responsible for many of the flavours you taste. So, think of grappa as that wine flavour distilled into something that’s even more intense.

Difference No. 3 – The Glass

We already know that wine glasses are very important. Using the wrong glasses means you don’t get the most out of your wine. For example, a champagne flute isn’t going to allow the air that a red wine needs to express itself properly. By contrast, pouring Prosecco into a wide red wine glass means you’ll end up with flat Prosecco in no time.

Glasses play an important role with grappa as well.

Instead of a traditional wine glass, you will serve grappa in a tall and narrow glass that widens out slightly at the top to allow you to experience the drink’s aroma. Serving is also a little different. You should only fill a grappa glass up to a third of its volume, in addition to serving the drink at room temperature. This allows the aromas to fully reveal themselves while also keeping the drink far enough away from your nose that those aromas don’t create a burning sensation when you inhale them.

Difference No. 4 – All Grappa Drinks are Digestifs

Some wines are digestifs, which means you drink them after a hearty meal. Others are aperitifs, which are wines you drink as a starter or simply to enjoy the wine. And it’s fair to say that most Italian wines are table wines in the sense that you drink them with dinner.

Grappa is much narrower than that.

The drink is called “healthy water” in some parts of Italy because it is considered the ultimate digestif. Many people will sip a glass of grappa after a heavy meal because it is a neutral spirit with strong aromas. Mixing it in a cocktail is also a good idea because it relieves the slightly heavy bite that you’ll experience if you drink grappa straight.

Difference No. 5 – Less Anger with Cocktails

Speaking of cocktails, you can use both wine and grappa in these wonderful mixed drinks. But let’s face it. Using wine in a cocktail is frowned upon in some parts of Italy. Purists will turn their noses up at the idea because they believe that an Italian wine should be enjoyed for its own qualities, rather than diluted with other drinks.

That’s not the case with grappa.

Though many people enjoy drinking grappa straight, nobody is going to begrudge a decision to use it in a cocktail. In fact, there are many Italian cocktails made using grappa that give you a chance to experience the drink in many different ways.

The Final Word

Italian wine and grappa have plenty of similarities. Both are made using grapes and both are alcoholic drinks. However, that’s where the similarities end. Grappa is a much strong drink in terms of its alcoholic content. It’s also made using very different parts of the grape, which contribute to its strong flavours.

Grappa is also served differently in terms of the glass, temperature, and ways you can drink it. Think of grappa as a complement to a good bottle of Italian wine and you’re not too far off. And as lovers of all great Italian drinks, we offer a wide range of grappas to go along with the many wines in the Xtrawine collection.