A tribute to Pignolo

This month we honor Pignolo, which celebrated its World Day on March 20. For us, it is not just a celebration, but a story we feel is deeply our own.
Pignolo, a native Friulian vine variety documented since the 14th century, was at risk of extinction in the 1970s: it had not been included among the authorized Friulian vine varieties.
It was our parents, Giannola and Benito Nonino, who, while researching ancient grape varieties to distill their pomace, recognized their value. In the years when they revolutionized Grappa with Monovitigno®, they discovered that the cultivation of extraordinary native vines such as Pignolo, Schioppettino and Tazzelenghe had been prohibited. With their determination, in 1975 they established the Nonino Risit d’Aur Prize (Gold Vine Shoot Prize) with the aim of “stimulating, rewarding and having officially recognized the ancient native Friulian vine varieties” and started the bureaucratic process for the official recognition of these vines, a recognition which they obtained in 1978. A gesture that was not just a business choice, but an act of love towards our land.
Today, Pignolo, thanks also to the Pignolo Association FVG, established by Ben Little in 2023, is again one of the great protagonists of Friuli’s red grapes, and continues to live also in our Grappa Cru Monovitigno® Pignolo, an authentic expression of this unique vine variety. Elegant and soft grappa, with notes of green pepper, spices, and small red fruits, which reveal its intense soul and its history. On this day, we want to celebrate not only Pignolo, but all those who daily preserve it, study it, and make it known to the world. For us, it means continuing what we have learned:
protecting our roots to give value to the future.
Let’s raise our glasses together.