Capovilla Grappa di Amarone

Grappa di Amarone captures the deeper, more concentrated side of Vittorio Capovilla’s distillation. Made from the pomace left after the production of Amarone, it carries the natural intensity of grapes shaped by appassimento, but without sweetness or heaviness.

Vittorio Capovilla opened his distillery in 1986 after more than a decade studying the great Central European traditions of distillation. His guiding principle is simple but uncompromising: the quality of the raw material comes first, and the distiller’s role is to preserve its identity rather than cover it.

The fresh red-grape pomace is distilled immediately through two slow passes in small copper stills heated by a bain-marie system. The spirit then rests in stainless steel for as long as necessary before being reduced to 41% with spring water from the Monte Grappa massif. There is no wood influence, allowing the character of Amarone pomace to remain clear and undistorted.

In the glass, it is crystalline and intensely aromatic. The nose opens with dried cherry, plum, raisin and red flowers, followed by cocoa, sweet spice, herbs and a subtle bitter-almond note. The palate is broad and powerful, yet remarkably clean, with ripe fruit, warming spice and a long, dry finish.

This is Amarone translated into pure distillation: concentrated and commanding, but controlled by Capovilla’s precision. A serious grappa for slow drinking, with the depth to satisfy whisky and aged-spirit drinkers while retaining the transparency of an unwooded spirit.