Grappa Pralines – 5 pcs.

Grappa Pralines, the dark Cuneesi from Piedmont

The Grappa pralines from Mandrile Melis are large Cuneesi from Piedmont, filled with a dark ganache of bittersweet chocolate and genuine grappa, and enrobed in bittersweet chocolate. Tart, warm, and anything but sugary, each praline is individually wrapped by hand.

The Grappa Pralines from Mandrile Melis, known in Italian as Cuneesi alla Grappa, are the classic large Piedmontese confection for sophisticated palates: a dark bittersweet chocolate ganache refined with genuine grappa, the Italian pomace brandy, and enrobed in tart bittersweet chocolate. Not a sugary treat, but a refined finale to a good meal. Long considered a minor classic by connoisseurs, they offer a pleasure that doesn't need to be loud.

Tart, dark, and pleasantly warm

First the crisp bittersweet chocolate, then the dark ganache, where the grappa emerges warm and clear. You immediately notice that a genuine spirit is at work here, not just a mere flavoring.

The Grappa Pralines are tart, dark, and long on the finish. The bittersweet chocolate provides roasted notes and little sweetness, while the ganache carries the clear, spicy warmth of the pomace brandy without being overpowering. This is chocolate for people who like it dark and mature, a pleasure that whispers rather than shouts. A single piece, enjoyed slowly and mindfully, is often enough. Anyone who has enjoyed a good grappa will immediately recognize its spicy clarity here, palpable yet pleasantly integrated.

Handcrafted in purple paper

Each Cuneese is created by hand: the ganache is placed on a thin sheet of chocolate and then dipped in bittersweet chocolate.

This gives each praline its own slightly irregular shape, which is far preferable to an industrial equivalent. The shiny purple paper sets them apart from the lighter varieties even while still in the bag. Each one weighs about 20 g and is wrapped by hand; we pack 5 pieces for you in a gift bag with a bow, perfect for gifting or as a little supply just for yourself.

From the Cioccolateria in Fossano

Giuseppe Mandrile and Maria Antonietta Melis founded their chocolate house in 1986 in Fossano, a small town in the province of Cuneo.

The house became famous for its Rum Cuneesi, but over nearly 40 years, it has grown into a manufactory with over 40 varieties, and the dark Grappa Cuneesi are among the most characterful of them all. This large praline has been a companion to Piedmont for about 100 years, and Mandrile Melis continues this tradition just as Giuseppe and Maria Antonietta began it: with good ingredients and plenty of manual labor.

Few spirits suit Piedmont as well as grappa, as this is where the vines grow from whose pomace it is distilled. In many families in the region, a bottle of grappa is placed on the table after a meal, and this praline translates that very gesture into a convenient form. Thus, a small piece of chocolate becomes a greeting from Piedmont—honest and without frills.

If you prefer rum, choose the Cuneesi al Rhum; if you like it sweet and salty, go for the Salted Caramel Cuneesi. You can find more pralines and truffles in our dedicated category, and the entire assortment under all Mandrile Melis pralines. To round off a meal, the Grappa Pralines pair perfectly with an espresso or a glass of grappa; a good finale needs nothing more.