WINE NEWS /
Quality Grappa Finds a New Home in Sicilia
Three Sicilian companies are convinced that their
island is equipped to produce top quality grappa, and they have formed
a new group called
Sicilia Acquaviti (Acquaviti being the Italian equivalent of ‘Eaux
de Vie’) to prove it. Fratelli Averna, Gedis di Pino Bianchi,
and Acquavite have put two million Euros into their new project,
which they see as a way to develop southern Italy’s appreciation
of a drink that has traditionally been more popular in the north.
Francesco
Averna has been interested in grappa since the late 80’s,
when he joined forces with Roberto Castagner, founding member of
the Academy of Grappa and owner of Acquavite in Treviso. Together
they created a lighter, smoother grappa that has now been on the
market for about fifteen years under the name Grappa Frattina and
is the leading pure varietal grappa in Italy. Their past and present
success has persuaded them to create another version that will convey
the unique character of Sicilia. To realize their dream, Fratelli
Averna and Acquavite sought a partner and found it in Gedis di Pino
Bianchi, a company that has been producing quality spirits for almost
thirty years. As part of the undertaking Sicilia
Acquaviti will open themselves to the community through public tasting
events and seminars for restaurateurs and buyers. The owners of the
three parent companies recognize the challenge they face in a climate
that does not naturally lend itself to gentle, expressive spirits
and
are excited to design a distillation process that will take this
unique atmosphere into account.
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