Fine, Marc and Grappa

Thrifty wine growers in France, Italy and elsewhere could never bear to let anything go to waste. Unsatisfactory wine in marginal regions such as Burgundy was distilled to produce a brandy called fine, which is often aged in oak for ten years or more. The lees could also be distilled to give marc, which is also wood-aged for many years. You can find excellent marc in Burgundy, Alsace and the Rhône. The famous Italian grappa is marc in a fancy bottle and often carries a terrifying price tag. But the best grappas can be delicious, with aromas reminiscent of the grape variety from which they are made.