Age and Storage

• Grappas vary according to age and storage. Young, or "giovane," and refined, or "affinata," grappas are stored for less than 12 months in stainless steel and wooden barrels, respectively, before being bottled. Aged grappa -- also called "invecchiata" or "vecchia" -- spends 12 to 18 months aging in wooden barrels before being bottled. Very old grappa -- also called "riserva" or "stravecchia" -- ages more than 18 months in wooden barrels before it's bottled.

Grape Variety

• Grappa varieties can also be classified according to how many types of grapes are used during production. As the name implies, single-variety, or "monovitigno," grappa is made from a single type of grape. Multiple-variety, or "polivitigno," grappa is made from multiple grape types that differ according to ripening period, harvest time, vinification method and provenance.

Aromas and Infusions

• Grappa types can be further classified according to aroma and flavor. Aromatic -- or "aromatica" -- grappa is made from aromatic or semi-aromatic grapes, such as Muscat or Malvasia. Flavored, also known as "aromatizzata," grappa is infused with vegetable substances and enriched with herbal or fruit properties. In addition, the barrel may be made of one of many types of wood, such as oak, chestnut, ash or cherry, and the wood type influences the flavor of the resulting grappa.