Great and historic affirmation for the Nonino Gran Riserva 27 Years: it is the 1st Italian distillate to have received 100 points at the Falstaff Spirit Trophy leading magazine in the food and wine-tourism sector in German-speaking countries. In the history of the competition, only two other distillates have achieved the highest marks: the Rum Appleton Estate Aged 30 Years and the Cognac Remy Martin Louis XIII.
Aged on August 9, 1989 in the Nevers oak barrique n. 410 in the Nonino cellar n. 5 under seal and control of the customs agency and State Monopolies, the Nonino Gran Riserva was withdrawn on 17 March 2017, obtaining 505 ampoules of 700 ml. This is how Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler, the Falstaff experts, describe it: “Brilliant, very intense amber color with golden reflections. Slight hint of slightly balsamic fragrant cedar wood on the nose which initially recalls dried citrus fruits and dried figs, dates, tobacco and a hint of white chocolate. Intense on the palate, it is extremely complex and enveloping, of great finesse and elegant sapidity, very persistent".
There were over 770 bottles from all over the world in the competition and tasted by Falstaf experts. Since 1952, Nonino has made the natural and sealed aging of its distillates the founding philosophy of its production method. This means that the aging of its distillates takes place under the control of the Monopoly agency and the customs without the addition of caramel or dyes to artificially darken the colour. Nonino aged distillates clearly express the aging time on the label, using the terminology required by the relevant and legally binding legislation.
In 2020 the Wine Star Awards of Wine Enthusiast, the first Italian company
The important recognition of the «Spirit Trophy» by Falstaff magazine follows another important trophy for the Nonino family: On 27 January 2020, in the setting of the prestigious Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, Nonino Distillatori was the first brand of grappa and the first Italian distillery to be awarded with the most important recognition in the Wines&Spirit sector: the Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards.
The motivation was a tribute to Made in Italy. In fact, the award collected by Giannola Nonino on the stage of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco underlined how the company's "revolutionary vision" which led to the "ability to redesign a traditional distillate for the modern era [...] represents the Best of Made in Italy. A continuous commitment to excellence based on the pursuit of innovation, respecting the culture and identity of the territory”.
And quality, innovation and research were the watchwords that inspired the growth of Nonino in over one hundred years of life from the time of Orazio Nonino, the progenitor, who was succeeded by Luigi, Antonio, Benito with Giannola, Cristina, Antonella, Elisabetta and Francesca Nonino.
The beginnings: 1897, from the itinerant alembic to the Ronchi di Percoto distillery
1897 was the year in which Orazio Nonino established the headquarters of his distillery at the Ronchi di Percoto, which until then had existed only in the form of an itinerant alembic, mounted on wheels. In 1928 Antonio, son of Vigi, father of Benito, marries Silvia Milocco, who will be the first grappa maker in Italy. The distillery moves from Ronchi to Percoto. Five years later Antonio Nonino, in compliance with the law of 27.11.1933 Royal Decree N.1604 art.1, which obliges the bottling and packaging of the grappa in bottles with a regular label and state seal, creates the label reproducing the "fogolar furlan”, a large fireplace, always lit, the centerpiece of the ancient Friulian house around which the family gathered to work, chat and drink a good “bussul” of Grappa. 1933 is also the year in which Antonio Nonino, third generation of the family of distillers, thanks to an ancient knowledge kept for generations, starts the production of Nonino liqueurs. He creates Amaro Carnia, an infusion of herbs from the Friulian mountains, using the grappa he distilled as an alcoholic base.
In 1940 Silvia Nonino - Antonio's wife and excellent cook - left a widow becomes the first woman at the head of a distillery, her great knowledge of botanicals leads her to create "Aperitivo Bianco Nonino", a drink for the pleasure of the palate and the soul. It is the first time that the female touch in the art of liqueur and distillation has been experienced in the distillery. Silvia will be the first of a long series of Nonino women distillers. Still Silvia Nonino - Antonio's wife and excellent cook - widowed becomes the first woman at the head of a distillery and decides to enrich the recipe of Amaro Carnia, with carefully selected botanicals, to give the amaro greater personality. The Amaro del Friuli is born.
They arrive in more recent times in 1962 Benito marries Giannola Bulfoni: the research and the passionate struggle begins to bring Grappa from Cinderella to noble Acquavite. From their marriage will be born Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta. In 1967 the Noninos presented "Acquavite Optima", obtained from the distillation of the pomace of wineries chosen because they were more prestigious: on the label the indication of the year, the quintals distilled, the liters obtained and the number of the bottle. It was the first of a series of experiments that would lead to the creation of the “Monovitigno®”.
December 1, 1973 is a historical date:
The new era of grappa begins
In Percoto the new era of Grappa begins. Benito and Giannola, respecting tradition, revolutionize the system of producing and presenting Grappa in Italy and in the world. They create the single vine Grappa, the Monovitigno® Nonino, by distilling the pomace of the Picolit grape separately, followed the following year by the second distillation of Grappa Monovitigno® Picolit, first distillation of Grappa Monovitigno® Ribolla. In this innovative wake, by searching for the ancient autochthonous Friulian vines, to distill their pomace, the Noninos discover that the most representative ones, Schioppettino, Pignolo and Tazzelenghe, are on the verge of extinction, their cultivation being prohibited. To these is added Ribolla Gialla. With the aim of stimulating, rewarding and having the ancient native Friulian vines officially recognized by national and community bodies, and thus preserving the biodiversity of the area, they establish the Nonino Risit d'Aur Award (Golden Barbatella) to be awarded annually to the winemaker who has planted the best planting of one or more of these vines and a scholarship, to be awarded annually to the best study of both a technical and historical nature, relating to the aforementioned vines.
The Jury is made up of Luigi Veronelli, Orfeo Salvador (President of the Regional Center for Viticulture and Oenology of Friuli-Venezia Giulia), Antonio Calò (Director of the Experimental Institute for Viticulture of Conegliano), Ruggero Forti (National and Regional President of nurserymen) , Amelio Tubaro (Director of Agricultural Production Department of Agriculture) and Ennio Nussi (Director of the Regional Center for Viticulture and Oenology of Friuli-Venezia Giulia).
In 1976 Giannola Nonino then started the bureaucratic process for the request for recognition of these vines by sending: official letter to the Regional center for viticulture of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the president Orfeo Salvador and stimulating the Experimental Institute for Viticulture of Conegliano whose director had in fact entered the Jury of the Prize. And on 14 June 1977, with Ministerial Decree 14.06.1977, the native Friulian vines previously prohibited were authorized and in 1983 the Nonino Risit d'Aur Award obtained EEC regulation no. 382 with which the vines authorized in 1977 even become recommended, today the flagship of Friulian viticulture.
A new turning point is recorded in 1984: the Noninos distill the whole grape and create the ÙE® Picolit Grape Distillate. The ministerial authorization for the production of Grape Distillate (DM 20 October 1984 gun 318 of 19 November 1984) is granted upon specific request of the Noninos.
And the story continues.
