Drinks of the Month

Dappa Grape Marc Spirit

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on May 31 2014 at 18:25

I confess it was the name that hooked me on this week’s drink of the week, Dappa being Devon’s answer to grappa.

It’s a grape marc spirit made by the recently founded Devon Distillery from the skins of fruit from a number of different vineyards including Sharpham in Devon, Three Choirs in Gloucestershire, Bolney in West Sussex and Biddenden in Kent.

The grapes that have been used - Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Précoce, Rondo, Dornfelder and Regent - are all red wine varieties which, along with its 43% ABV - gives Dappa a robust, spicy, earthy flavour. If you’ve never tried grappa before you may find it a bit fiery. If you have and like it it it should be right up your street.

Grappa is generally drunk as an aperitif or with coffee but there are apparently cocktail ideas to come. I must admit I quite enjoyed it with a couple of ice cubes though that's not traditional.

If you’re visiting Sharpham vineyard for English Wine Week this weekend you may meet its founder, the splendidly named Cosmo Caddy, in person. You can also taste it at Pollen Street Social and Hix in London.

The only downside is that at £50 for a 35cl bottle it’s really quite expensive though you can buy a miniature for £9.50. But with Father’s Day coming up it would make an intriguing gift for the man who has everything . . .

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