Grappas, Marcs and Eaux de Vie

      The French term, “eau de vie” is from the universal Latin term “aqua vitae,” or literally translated, “water of life”.  In modern day France, “eau de vie”, or its plural, “eaux de vie”, is a general term for spirits.  This is a curious coinage for a concoction that many have maintained as dangerous to this life, and perhaps, the hereafter.

     On a historic note, “aqua vitae” was probably itself a translation from the Gaelic “uisce(or uisge) beathe”, an acknowledgement of the early Celtic involvement in distillation, when Irish missionary monks went out into Europe to proselytize, taking with them the knowledge to make “strong water”.

Within the general category of spirits are brandies, which are distillates made from fruit.  A type of brandy is called “pomace brandy”, which is made using the skins and seeds of pressed grapes, whose juice was used in making wine.  Both the words “grappa” and “marc” refer to this pomace brandy, with “grappa” being the Italian word, and “marc” being the French word.

     At Brandy Peak, our grappas and marcs are made with fresh, whole grapes, which allows their full varietal characteristics to come through.