🥃 Tsipouro of Tyrnavos

Tsipouro of Tyrnavos (Τσίπουρο Τυρνάβου) is a regional EU geographical indication for tsipouro from the Tyrnavos area in Thessaly: the municipality of Tyrnavos and the municipal unit of Giannouli in the municipality of Larissa. It has been protected since 12 June 1989. At least half of the pomace comes from "moschato mavro Tyrnavou", the local name for Muscat of Hamburg.

According to the technical file, this variety grows in the area on 1,600 ha, against 1,000 ha for all others, at an altitude of 70-250 m, mostly on limestone soils. It retains the primary aromas of the grapes even after distillation: in the tsipouro these are fruity and floral notes and clove, and among the aromatic compounds of the grapes linalool predominates.

The pomace is kept for several days in steel vats, stirred regularly, then distilled in traditional batch stills of up to 1,500 l, discarding the "head" and "tail". The strength is from 37.5% vol., and methanol up to 1000 g/hl of pure alcohol. If aniseed, fennel or star anise is added, the label says "with aniseed". After 6 months in oak of up to 1000 l, "παλαιό" may be written.

According to the technical file, Zisis Misouras founded the first distillery and between 1852 and 1855 began officially selling Tyrnavos tsipouro. In 2013, 11 producers made 161,793 l of pure alcohol, 16.6% of Greek tsipouro, although the area covers only 0.43% of its territory. Tyrnavos has a Museum of Wine and Viticulture.

Why this matters to you. The name guarantees a Muscat base and Tyrnavos pomace; the words "with aniseed" tell you whether spice is present. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.