Clear Creek Moscato is an American grappa distilled from Muscat (Moscato) pomace, and we are proud to pour it as a digestif at Grappa in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Made by Clear Creek Distillery in Oregon, it honors the Italian tradition of grappa using fruit grown close to home, a fitting bridge between the Pacific Northwest and our family’s Mediterranean table.

About the Distillery

Clear Creek Distillery was founded in 1985 by Stephen McCarthy, whose family had farmed Oregon orchards for generations. Inspired by the eau-de-vie traditions he encountered on travels through Europe, McCarthy became the first American distiller to make grappa. The distillery, now based in Hood River, Oregon, is celebrated for its fruit brandies and its small-batch, European-style craft.

Style & Production

Grappa is made by distilling the pomace, the grape skins and seeds left after pressing for wine. This single-variety bottling uses the pomace of Muscat, the same intensely aromatic grape family behind Italy’s beloved Moscato. Distilled in the artisanal Italian manner and bottled clear and unaged, it captures the grape’s perfume in an American expression of a classic Italian spirit.

Tasting Notes

Expect a lifted, aromatic nose driven by the Muscat grape, with floral and orchard-fruit perfume of blossom, pear and a hint of citrus. The palate is fragrant and grape-forward, brightly aromatic and warming, with the clean intensity grappa is loved for. The finish is dry, perfumed and lingering.

What to Pair It With

Its floral lift suits a sweet close to the meal. Enjoy it with our Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta, a scoop of gelato or sorbet, or our Mama’s Tiramisu. See the full dine-in menu for more.

How It’s Served at Grappa

We serve Clear Creek Moscato neat as a digestif, poured at $20, to be sipped slowly after dinner.

FAQ

Where is it from?

It is made by Clear Creek Distillery in Hood River, Oregon, an American producer crafting grappa in the Italian tradition from Muscat pomace.

What does it taste like?

It is aromatic and grape-forward, with floral, orchard-fruit and citrus perfume from the Muscat grape and a clean, dry, lingering finish.

Is this a real grappa if it’s American?

Yes. Grappa is a style of pomace brandy, and Clear Creek’s founder was the first American distiller to make it, following the same artisanal Italian method with Oregon-grown grapes.

Let Clear Creek Moscato round off your evening: book a table, browse the cocktail & spirits list, and explore the dine-in menu.