GAJA - DISTILLERIA DEL BARBARESCO GAIA & REY GRAPPA

Gaja distills this 45% ABV grappa from fresh Chardonnay pomace sourced from Gaia & Rey vineyards across Treiso and Serralunga d'Alba, where [calcareous marl soils in Piedmont's Langhe hills—traditionally Nebbiolo territory—provide the mineral backbone and acidity that made Gaja's 1983 Chardonnay planting controversial yet ultimately successful. Unlike Gaja's aged Nebbiolo and Cabernet grappas, this spirit distills in stainless steel alembic without barrel aging to preserve Chardonnay's delicate herbaceous character, varietal aromatics of white flowers and citrus peel, and the grape's natural spice notes of white pepper and ginger that intensify in the extended finish.

The crystal-clear appearance confirms no wood contact, while the full, round palate reflects Chardonnay's inherent richness and the concentrated sugars and phenolics extracted from fresh pomace distilled immediately after pressing, before oxidation can mute the fruit's brightness. Treiso's sandy-clay soils and Serralunga's compact marls create contrasting Chardonnay profiles that blend into complexity in the final distillate.