Zivania

Zivania or zivana is a Cypriot pomace brandy produced from the distillation of a mixture of grape pomace and local dry wines made from Xynisteri and Mavro grapes. The name of zivania is derived from zivana (Greek: ζίβανα) which means pomace in the Greek dialect of Cyprus. Zivania is colourless and alcoholic with a light aroma of raisins. Its alcohol content varies, with 45% by volume being the typical value. As defined by law, zivania cannot have more than 60% alcohol content. Zivania contains no sugar and has no acidity. It is unknown when zivania was first produced in Cyprus. Some believe that the method of producing zivania, which resembles that of producing tsipouro, was brought to Cyprus by monks of Mount Athos in the 15th century while others believe that zivania has been produced in Cyprus since the time the Republic of Venice ruled the island, around the end of the 15th century.[citation needed] Evidence of its continued production during Ottoman and British rule of the island comes from writers such as the British writer Samuel Baker who in 1879 reports: "...the refuse of skins and stalks is laid upon one side to ferment for the manufacture of raki, or spirit, by distillation...". According to the Cyprus law regarding the regulation and control of grape products of 1965 (52/1965) (Greek: Ο περί Ρυθμίσεως και Ελέγχου της Βιομηχανίας Αμπελουργικών Προϊόντων Νόμος του 1965 (52/1965) zivania is defined as "an alcoholic drink containing no more than 60% alcohol per volume which is produced exclusively from the first distillation of wine, grapes and pomace that went through fermentation or raisins or any other remains of the same" (Greek: "ζιβανία" σημαίνει οινοπνευματώδες ποτόν περιέχον ουχί πέραν των 60% οινόπνευμα παραγόμενον αποκλειστικώς και μόνον διά της πρώτης αποστάξεως οίνων, τρυγίας, σταφυλών αι οποίαι υπέστησαν ζύμωσιν ή σταφίδων ή οιωνδήποτε υπολειμμάτων τούτων).

Source: Wikipedia