GAJA - DISTILLERIA DEL BARBARESCO SPERSS GRAPPA

Gaja distills this grappa from Nebbiolo pomace sourced from the 30-acre Sperss vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba's Marenca-Rivette subzone, where 50-year-old vines grow at 1,210 feet elevation on compact calcareous-clay marl soils arranged in an amphitheater with south and southwest exposure. The 45% ABV spirit ages 30 months in oak—extended barrel maturation rare for grappa—transforming the raw distillate into a golden-hued spirit with aromas of dried apricot, toasted hazelnut, and raisin, substantial body from concentrated Nebbiolo phenolics, and a rounded finish where oak tannins soften the spirit's natural bite.

Serralunga's compact clay-marl terroir produces Nebbiolo with muscular tannin structure that translates into fuller-bodied grappa with more extract and texture compared to distillates from sandier Barolo communes, while the calcareous component contributes mineral undertones beneath the fruit and nut character. The subzone's elevation and exposure create dramatic temperature swings that preserve acidity in the base wine, carrying through to freshness in the final distillate.