What is Grappa?  Grappa is brandy made from pomace.  Pomace is the pressed skins and seeds of grapes - a winemaker's leftovers.  Grappa is a traditional Italian brandy that was initially made to prevent wastage at the end of winemaking season.  Its old reputation was as a harsh peasant's drink and very macho, but there are some beautiful sophisticated grappas made these days. Like wine, grappa can vary widely depending on the quality and variety of grape and the techniques used to make it.  Italians serve grappa as a "digestivo", to aid in digestion at the end of a meal, or in a "caffe corretto" which is grappa in espresso.

Grappa from Oregon?  Yes indeed.  We have very nice wine here in Oregon -- partly because we have good grapes -- and talented winemakers.  And Grappa follows as naturally as night follows day.  What follows is a brief description of each of the six Grappas that we currently make.  When you taste them you will discover quality that is equal to the finest from Italy, at about half the price.

Grappa Moscato

Our most popular grappa, the easiest to like, and perfect for someone who has never had grappa before. Grappa Moscato is made from the pressed skins and seeds of Muscat grapes.  It has a very floral, easy to like aroma, is smooth and pleasant to taste, and has a clean finish. Try this one first and then move up to the more "advanced" grappas.

"...extremely aromatic, and appealing, character.  It has a floral spiciness in aroma and flavor, good concentration and balance on the palate, and a very long spicy finish.  Exceptional quality,"

Restaurant Wine, Issue #12, 1990

Marc de Gewürztraminer

This is the classic Alsatian marc.  In the progression from floral to "earthy" the marc is a fairly big jump.  The Gewürz nose is good but a little woodier than the Muscat.  There is a little more jolt in the initial taste, but the finish is clean, not hot. Like all our marc or grappa this one is made in the most traditional style-pure pomace from the winemaker's press.  In recent years we have been getting our pomace from Tyee Winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley.  We like their Gewürztraminer wine a lot.

              375 ml bottle          $24.95*

Grappa of Oregon Pinot Noir

Interesting grappa.   Ordinarily it is very hard to make decent grappa from red wine grapes that are fermented on the skins.  When the winemaker presses the completely fermented must often there isn't much left in the pomace to distill. So we need to search carefully for very good pinot noir fermentations with a winemaker who has a light touch at the press.  This grappa is made from pomace from Lemelson winery.  The result is a very clean grappa with good pinot noir character, a good jolt when you taste it, and a very clean finish.   Maybe the best grappa we have ever made.

Grappa of Pinot Grigio

This grappa is made from the pomace of pinot grigio, also known as pinot gris,  grapes directly after press, before inoculation.  We inoculate the fresh pomace here at the distillery.  This grappa is difficult to make because the winemakers here press their pinot grigio pretty hard.  The pomace is so dry that it is difficult to ferment, and when it does ferment the distillation process produces very little grappa. This grappa is intense, earthy, and not for the faint of heart. But it is a sound, nicely knit together grappa that opens up beautifully in a glass. It has a surprisingly clean finish for so robust a spirit.

In Bon Appetite Magazine (February 2003), Anthony Diaz Blue wrote, "Clear Creek Grappa of Pinot Grigio is earthy and intense."

Cavatappi Grappas: Nebbiolo and Sangiovese

Red wine grapes distilled after having been fermented on the skins, and after press- a difficult way of making grappa, made in partnership with Peter Dow from Cavatappi winery in Seattle. Peter brings his Nebbiolo and Sangiovese pomace after fermentation and a long time on the skins to the distillery. The grapes are from Red Willow Vineyard in eastern Washington.

Nebbiolo

Because this pomace is fermented on the skins and distilled after pressing it results in a very small quantity of grappa. We bottle the Nebbiolo and the Sangiovese at a higher proof than any other grappa. Very much like a traditional Northern Italian grappa.

OUT OF STOCK UNTIL NOVEMBER 2010

        375 ml bottle          $29.30*

Sangiovese

This is an earthy and complex grappa lover's grappa.  Bottled at around 90 proof it is also the highest in alcohol content.

        375 ml bottle          $29.30*

*Note that these are suggested retail prices and that actual retail prices can vary from state to state and sometimes from store to store.

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