Province of Udine
Established: 1897
Owner: Nonino family
Distillers: Benito and Cristina Nonino
In 1973, Benito & Giannola Nonino became the first distiller to create a single varietal grappa, using the indigenous Picolit grape, setting a trend which the rest of Italy’s distillers would follow. Nonino has tirelessly campaigned for the preservation of local varieties, establishing the ‘Risit d’Aur’ (Golden Rootstock) Award in 1975, awarded annually to Friulian growers who preserve and propagate native vines. In 1984 Nonino again set the standard with ÙE, distilling from whole grapes to preserve their unique aromas and flavours. In 1989 the family planted forty hectares of their own vineyards in Buttrio (in Friuli’s Colli Orientali) with Picolit, Ribolla Gialla, Fragolino, Schioppettino and Sauvignon for grappa and ÙE distillates. The most recent addition by Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta is Gioiello, a range of outstanding honey distillates.