France has its Brandy, Russia has its Vodka, and Italy... it's "Grappa". To many visitors, grappa is something they have heard about, but know very little about. For most who have tasted it, they are quick to think of nothing less than Rocket Fuel. But there is so much more to grappa than just some super-strong-distilled spirit, and this is a great place to get to know it. The Montanaro distillery is the go-to place for all of the local wineries (Barolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato, etc) to take their grape pressings after they have made their wine. Here, those pressings get distilled into premium grappa the old fashioned way, in 19th century copper pot stills. But they don't just make run of the mill grappa. They separate the pressings to make single varietal distillates, such as Barolo Grappa, Moscato Grappa, etc. They have an aging cellar where they age many of their spirits in various wood casks, creating a very brandy-like product, and so much more. They offer guided tours, taking you through the entire process, as well as a free tasting room, where you can sample all sorts of grappa produced here. It makes for a wonderful way to spend an hour in an area of the company that is otherwise all about wine. Whatever you do, come with a designated driver ;-) read more

Distilleria DR. Mario Montanaro - Alba, CN

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