Pomace spirit (or pomace brandy) is a liquor distilled from pomace that is left over from winemaking, after the grapes are pressed. It is called marc in both English and French, "grappa" in Italian, "tsipouro" in Greek and "bagaço" in Portuguese. In Spanish it is called orujo or aguardiente. Alcohol derived from pomace is also used as the traditional base spirit of other liquors, such as some anise-flavored spirits. Unlike wine brandy, most pomace brandies are neither aged nor coloured.
Production
Pomace may be either fermented, semi-fermented, or unfermented. During red wine vinification, the pomace is left to soak in the must for the entire fermentation period and is thus fermented; fermented pomace is particularly suitable for the production of pomace brandy, as it is soft, dry, and has a high alcohol content. Semi-fermented pomace is produced during rosé wine vinification; the pomace is removed before fermentation is complete. Virgin pomace, which is produced during white wine vinification, is not fermented at all.
The pomace is then fermented to completion and the alcohol is then distilled off to produce the pomace brandy.
Varieties
France Marc d'Alsace Marc d’Auvergne Marc de Beaujolais Marc de Bourgogne Marc de Provence Marc de Savoie Marc d'Irouléguy Marc du Jura Marc des Côtes-du-Rhône Marc de Châteauneuf-du-Pape Marc de Gigondas Marc de muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise Marc du Bugey Marc de Champagne Marc de Lorraine Marc du Languedoc Grappa de Corse
In other countries Albania: Raki Bulgaria: Dzhibrovitsa (type of rakia) Chile: Aguardiente de Chillán Crete: Tsikoudia (also known as raki) Cyprus: Zivania Georgia: Chacha Germany: Tresterbrand Greece: Tsipouro Hungary: Törkölypálinka Italy: Grappa Portugal: Bagaceira Serbia and the Balkans: Komovica North Macedonia: Komova rakija Slovakia: Terkelica Slovenia: Tropinovec Spain: Orujo Switzerland: Marc, Grappa Romania: Rachiu Turkey: Rakı
References