🥃 Nonino
Italian family distillery and grappa brand from Percoto (Friuli); history from 1897; in 1973 it created the first single-varietal grappa; also makes Ùe and Amaro Nonino.
Nonino is an Italian family distillery and grappa brand from Percoto in Friuli. According to the family's history, in 1897 Orazio Nonino started distilling with a mobile still on wheels before setting up a permanent distillery in Ronchi; in 1928 the distillery moved to Percoto. On 1 December 1973 Benito and Giannola Nonino created the first single-varietal (Monovitigno) grappa, made from Picolit grapes. Today the business is run by their daughters Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta.
History. In 1928 Silvia Milocco, wife of Antonio Nonino, became the first woman in Italy to produce grappa; widowed, she later became the first woman to manage a distillery, in the 1940s–1950s. In 1975 the family founded the Nonino Risit d'Aur Prize to protect native Friulian vine varieties, which were officially authorised in 1977. In 2020 Nonino received Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Award as the first grappa brand to win it.
How it is made. According to the producer, the distillery uses small-batch copper steam stills.
The range. In 1984 the family began distilling whole grapes, creating the grape distillate Ùe. In 1992 they created Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, which uses aged Ùe instead of grappa.
Why this matters to you. Ùe is a distillate of whole grapes and Amaro Nonino is an amaro, so read the name on the label: they are different drinks from grappa. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for health.
Facts
| Year founded | 1897, Orazio Nonino (first a mobile still, then Ronchi); distillery in Percoto since 1928 |
|---|---|
| Distillation method | small batches in copper steam stills |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Nonino → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Pomace, 🍇 Picolit
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Grappa, 🥃 Pomace brandy
- Related to
- 🥃 Grappa friulana, 📍 Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Averna
Frequently asked questions
Did Nonino create the first single-varietal grappa?
According to the producer, yes: on 1 December 1973 Benito and Giannola Nonino created the first Monovitigno grappa, made from Picolit grapes.
Where is Nonino made?
In Percoto, in Friuli. According to the family, the distillery moved there in 1928.
What is Ùe?
A distillate of whole grapes that the Nonino family began making in 1984.
Is Amaro Nonino a grappa?
No. Amaro Nonino Quintessentia was created in 1992 and uses aged Ùe instead of grappa.
What is the Nonino prize?
The Risit d'Aur prize, founded by the family in 1975 to protect native Friulian vine varieties.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Pomace — Grape skins, seeds and stems left after pressing.
- 📍 Friuli-Venezia Giulia — North-east Italy between the Alps and the Adriatic: 30,574 ha of vineyards, with Collio, Isonzo, Grave and Carso zones.
- 🥃 Grappa friulana — Grappa from Friuli-Venezia Giulia: local pomace, bottled in the region, strength from 40% vol.
Similar
🥃 Hpnotiq · 🥃 Zwack · 🥃 Ginebra San Miguel · 🥃 Ratzeputz · 🥃 Jinro · 🥃 Gammel Dansk
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Nonino: Nonino family history (1897 Orazio Nonino; Percoto 1928; Monovitigno 1.12.1973; Risit d'Aur 1975; Ùe 1984; Amaro Nonino Quintessentia 1992; small-batch copper steam stills)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)