LUXURIATE LIFE | Introducing Altamura Distilleries: a moment with Frank Grillo and Steve Acuna

“Vodka made from ancient Italian grains by an American’ read the subject line of an email all about the new Altamura Distilleries. It was already fascinating reading! Frank Grillo is an American businessman of Italian heritage, with a real passion for food and drink. Long story short, he moved to Italy to start a distillery that uses an ancient and famous wheat to create unique spirits. Altamura Bread has been produced for centuries in Altamura in Puglia and is the only bread to receive a PDO status meaning it has a protected designation of origin.

The bread must be made with high durum wheat from Altamura and a few surrounding communities. Frank wondered how the Altamura wheat would fare in producing spirits to supply the growing demand for high-quality vodka, gin, and whiskey. The answer is, yes it would be very well suited, thus Altamura Distilleries was born.”

Originally published by Mark Captain on Luxuriate Life