Le Diciotto Lune Grappa – 200ml

Le Diciotto Lune Grappa, the gift with a world champion title

The Le Diciotto Lune Grappa from Marzadro in the 200 ml bottle: a Grappa Stravecchia, aged for 18 months in cherry, ash, oak, and robinia wood, 41% vol. The small format for those who like to visit with open hands.

Le Diciotto Lune Grappa in 200 milliliters is the answer to an old question: What do you bring when you are invited? This Grappa Stravecchia from the Distilleria Marzadro fits into any bag and still carries weight – in 2016, it was named the best aged grappa in the world at the World Grappa Awards. Eighteen months of wood maturation are packed into the small bottle, just as they are in the large one.

In the glass, it glows amber; in the aroma, ripe fruit meets vanilla and fine wood. On the palate, it proves silky and warm; the 41% vol. remains in the background. A small format, a grand entrance.

Why the small bottle is a good gift

200 milliliters is enough for about ten glasses – enough for a lovely evening for two without having a whole bottle sitting on the shelf.

If you bring wine, you have to hit the hosts' taste. With an aged grappa, that is easier: it is opened after the meal, when everyone is full and satisfied, and it goes well with any espresso. On the table, the bottle makes more of an impression than when tucked away in the kitchen – an amber hue in the glass speaks for itself.

If you would rather give more as a gift right away, the Diciotto Lune is also available in the 500 ml bottle or as the Le Mignon tasting set with five miniatures. And in case you are the guest yourself and get caught pouring a second glass: the small bottle is intended for that, too.

Eighteen moons in four woods

Cherry, ash, oak, and robinia – four types of wood give this grappa its color, scent, and silky texture.

The barrels are small, and that is intentional: the more wood surface area meets a small amount of grappa, the more intensively the two work together. This takes eighteen full moons, hence the name. Afterwards, there is a brandy in the glass that is dry and soft at the same time – the art lies in bottling it at exactly this moment, neither too early nor too late.

What Sabina Marzadro began in 1949

The distillery was born out of necessity: in the post-war period, Sabina Marzadro learned to distill in order to feed her family.

In the Adige Valley near Nogaredo, not far from Lake Garda, she processed the pomace of the surrounding winegrowers – material that no one else wanted. From this necessity, a company has grown over three generations whose grappa is now tasted all over the world. Her brother Attila later took on the responsibility, and today Andrea, Anna, and Stefano Marzadro run the distillery, with their children already working alongside them.

Master distiller Andrea Marzadro still only selects the heart of the distillate and chooses the pomace personally to this day. If you are vacationing at Lake Garda, you can visit the distillery – and you can find all of Marzadro's grappas gathered here with us.

A glass that tapers at the top

Le Diciotto Lune Grappa should be served at room temperature in a glass that tapers at the top – that way, the aroma arrives exactly where it belongs. After a meal, it is a calm conclusion; with an espresso, it becomes a caffè corretto. And if the small bottle is empty and you want to keep going: the 700 ml bottle lasts significantly longer.