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375ml
Bottle:
$44.40
Floral nose. Waxy (candlewax, crayons), then spicy, fruity notes emerge, in particular raisin and plum, becomes more...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$7.12
Argentina’s signature white grape, Torrontes produces an aromatic wine with notes of citrus and flowers. On the...
750ml
Bottle:
$38.50
12 bottles:
$37.73
Pignolo is very late harvested and aged over two years in 100% new french oak barrels. It does need years to mellow...
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$10.93
On the nose, delicate aromas of oranges and white flowers. Refreshing notes of citrus fruits, grapefruit, and lemon...
700ml
Bottle:
$36.79
6 bottles:
$36.00
The nose is fragrant, delicate and harmonious. On the palate, this grappa is intense and complex, but with a smooth...
750ml
Bottle:
$82.39
4 bottles:
$81.60
Complex profile with multiple nuances attributable to spicy and fruity notes with hints of vanilla, morello cherry...
700ml - Case of 4
Bottle:
$82.50
Sweet oak and cereal on the nose. Enjoyably elegant on the palate, with rich nutty and floral notes. Richly textured...
![Caffo Grappa Vecchia [Barrique] 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/27/27b3f764d9c6078ff71534c6397be9ef.jpg)
750ml
Bottle:
$26.40
12 bottles:
$22.80
Aged in oak for 12 months, this golden grappa edges close to aged brandy territory—although one sip and that grappa...
750ml
Bottle:
$12.50
12 bottles:
$12.25
A bright, tangy white with sliced apples and lemon skin. Hints of stone and concrete. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean....
750ml
Bottle:
$13.87
$15.41
Such a floral nose with refreshing but subtle white fruit. Peaches, jasmine and lychee with a hint of lime and chalk....
750ml
Bottle:
$12.43
$13.01
12 bottles:
$12.36
The Torrontés, which is of Cafayate fame is fresh and 100% stainless steel-aged, allowing the unique aromas and...
750ml
Bottle:
$49.94
$75.94
Pretty, perfumed nose of white lavender, honeysuckle, peaches, orange blossom, white pears, lemon pith and blanched...
750ml
Bottle:
$15.00
12 bottles:
$14.70
Intense and bright yellow with gold edges. Delicate aromas where flowers presence, mainly roses are the most...
375ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$41.31
This is made by drying the grapes, just like Vin Santo but with torontel. Mango dessert, dried papaya, sticky rice,...
375ml
Bottle:
$29.94
Grappa is unaged pomace brandy made from highly aromatic Finger Lakes grapes. We crush and ferment the entire grape...
Grappa Mavrodaphne Other Italian Reds Torrontes
Like so many of the great spirits of Europe, Grappa was born from a need to make resources go that little bit further, to eke out the last drop of flavor and potential from the crops of winemakers. Indeed, Italian vintners invented Grappa as a way to make use of the pomace - leftover grape skins, stems, pulp and seeds - which remained after the juice was extracted from the fruit needed to make wine. Over the centuries, the process was refined, and the distillation of Grappa became an art in itself. Today, top Grappa producers use a range of state of the art equipment, from continuous stills to pot stills, to manufacture a wide variety of Grappas, each with their own distinct characteristics.
Most of us know Grappa from our local Italian restaurants, where it is commonly served as a digestif. However, in the twenty first century, there is a high interest in unique, boutique Grappas, which showcase the talent of the distillers through a range of interesting qualities. Grappa can be aged in oak, in which case it takes on a beautiful golden color, quite different from the clear Grappas we are most familiar with. The high end Grappas are a world away from the harsh spirit many of us have encountered, and have a smooth, gentle quality which can be nothing short of a revelation.
In the Archaea region, high in the Northern Peloponnese mountains, the predominant grape varietal grown is the prized Mavrodaphne. Meaning 'Black Laurel', the Mavrodaphne grapes have extremely dark skins, and ripen slowly under the Greek sunshine, helped by the mineral rich soils the vines thrive in. This grape varietal is mostly used to produce the opaque, inky fortified wine of the same name, which is popular all over Greece and elsewhere in the world. This fortified wine allows the grapes to really show off their complex and fascinating flavors, which range from a rich marzipan to flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet coffee, dried figs and prunes, as well as plenty of jammy fruit notes.
Mavrodaphne is produced in a traditional method which involves leaving the grape juice exposed to the sun in large vats, before having its fermentation halted by the addition of various distillates taken from previous successful vintages. This mixture contains plenty of residual sugar, which gives the end result its characteristic sticky sweetness, and also helps with the next fermentation process, which typically takes place in large underground cellars. The final product is a heady drink, absolutely bursting with unusual, rich and sweet flavors and carried in a dark and slightly viscous Port-like liquid.
Mavrodaphne grapes are also used for the production of still red wines, but are generally blended with varietals such as Agiorgitiko or imported grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. Mavrodaphne grapes are excellent for mellowing more acidic varieties, and producing deliciously rounded wines, which have taken the international market by storm in recent decades.
Additional Information on Greek Wines
Greek Wines
Ancient Greek Wines – A Brief History of Wine in Greece
The Myth of Dionysus, Greek God of Wine
What is Retsina?