What does grappa mean?
Grappa is a strong, clear Italian spirit made from grape pomace, the skins, seeds, stems and other residue left after grapes are pressed and fermented. Rather than distilling wine itself, producers distil the residue of winemaking, sometimes with added water to adjust its strength. The result is usually colourless, robust and faintly fruity, with a substantial alcoholic bite. Grappa is traditionally poured in small measures as an after-dinner digestif; it is also added to espresso to make grappa coffee, a practice associated with northern Italian cafés. In English, the word usually names this Italian category of grape-pomace brandy, while grape brandy is a broader description. Grappa is especially associated with northern Italy, where winemaking traditionally leaves abundant pomace for distillation. The word is culturally revealing because it names not the refined wine but the by-product transformed into a valued spirit, turning the apparent remainder of the harvest into a distinctly regional drink.
nounA strong, clear Italian grape-pomace brandy, made by distilling the skins, seeds, stems and other residue left after grapes have been pressed and fermented. It is usually served neat as an after-dinner digestif and is also used in coffee cocktails.
- A clear, strong Italian spirit distilled from fermented grape pomace and generally served as an after-dinner drink or mixed into coffee.
"After dinner, they shared a small glass of grappa."
"The bartender poured grappa into a small cup of espresso to make grappa coffee."
"A bottle of grappa was waiting beside the freshly baked bread."
Grappa is normally treated as a mass noun, but grappas can be used rarely for separate servings or quantities.
"The tasting included four grappas from different producers."
Grappa is what Italian winemaking does with what the wine leaves behind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of grappa
English borrowed grappa from Italian during the 19th century. The Italian word's ultimate origin is not securely established, but it is commonly connected with grappo and grappolo, words associated with a stalk, cluster or bunch of grapes, and thus with the wider vocabulary of grape and grapnel. The name of the spirit refers to the grape pomace from which it is distilled.
Related word forms
How grappa is actually used
Grappa is an Italian loanword and normally identifies the specific Italian pomace spirit, while grape brandy is a broader description. In English it has a largely neutral culinary register, although words such as rustic and old-fashioned may emphasize its traditional image.
Easily confused with grappa
A grape is the fruit used to make wine, whereas grappa is the strong spirit distilled from the residue left after the grapes have been processed.