Editing Grappa (section)

==PGI status==
Grappa is a [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union#Protected geographical indication (PGI)|protected name (PGI)]] in the [[European Union]]. To be called grappa, the following criteria must be met:<ref>Regulation (EC) No. 110/2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1552085245556&uri=CELEX:32008R0110 Regulation (EC) No 110/2008.], Annex II paragraph 6 (grape marc spirit) and Annex III (geographical indications)</ref>

# Produced in Italy, or in the Italian part of [[Switzerland]], or in [[San Marino]]
# Produced from [[pomace]]
# Fermentation and distillation must occur on the pomace—no added water

Criterion 2 rules out the direct fermentation of pure grape juice, which is the method used to produce [[brandy]].

Criterion 3 has two important implications. First, the distillation must occur on solids. Thus, it is carried out not with a direct flame but with a [[bain-marie]] or [[steam distillation]]; otherwise, the pomace may burn. Second, the woody parts of the grapes (the stems and seeds) are co-fermented with the sugar-rich juice; this produces a very small amount of [[methanol]], which is much more toxic than ethanol. Unlike in the similar process of making red wine, in grappa the methanol must be carefully removed during distillation. That is why there is an Italian law requiring winemakers to sell their pomace to grappa makers; this is a measure that was taken against [[moonshine]] operations, which are now very rare in Italy.

Use of the word grappa for product distilled in the United States is still allowed and falls under the Class definition of brandy further classified type as pomace, specifically grappa or grappa brandy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=5ea7acdd54dff93dbce97e668013dfd8;rgn=div8;view=text;node=27%3A1.0.1.1.3.3.25.2;idno=27;cc=ecfr|title=eCFR – Code of Federal Regulations|access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref>