World Pignolo Day: Friuli Venezia Guilia's Finest!

Friuli Venezia Giulia's producers of Pignolo gathered in Udine for an exceptional tasting, surprising the audience with a historic first, with the exclusive category "Pignolo Raro," a selection of wines aged at least ten years, making its debut. To enrich the experience, famed local distiller Nonino proposed a special grappa made from the pomace of this noble grape variety.

The Pignolo Association: custodians of an onological treasure

The Pignolo Association of Friuli Venezia Giulia is a dynamic network of winemakers united by a passion for this rare grape variety. Founded in 2023 by Ben Little, an Irishman in love with Pignolo, the association has seen rapid and steady growth. As the author of the book "Pignolo - Cultivating the Invisible," Little helped spread awareness of this local variety. Starting out small, today the association has 34 members, mainly in the Eastern Hills of the province, but also in the Collio and Isonzo areas.

For the first time, Pignolo producers gathered for a constructive discussion about their wines and terroir, infecting the audience with their contagious enthusiasm. Nota bene: Pignolo is not for everyone. Its high acidity and pronounced tannic structure require time and respect. With just 60 hectares of vines worldwide – all in Friuli Venezia Giulia – Pignolo is a rare oenological jewel. Already appreciated in the Middle Ages, the grape varietal had almost disappeared due to its difficult cultivation, until its rediscovery in the 1980s thanks to the efforts of Walter Filiputti and Girolamo Dorigo.

Sensitive and rare

The "Pignolo Raro" tasting was held under the motto "Rare and Unexpected." The initial hypothesis was clear: prolonged aging should soften Pignolo's famously robust tannins. However, a surprise was in store: wines from the 2009-2014 vintages still proved to be intense and characterized by a powerful structure. The following day's big tasting, however, proved that the younger vintages had a more accessible profile, with a better balance of fruit and structure. Among the producers who stood out were Specogna, Gigante and Butussi.

Pignolo's best known characteristic is its strong personality: while the market prefers soft, round wines, this wine remains proud of its firm, tannic identity. Producers are refining techniques to manage Pignolo's intensity: an interesting case in point is Casasola's Pignolo, made from 100-year-old vines and aged exclusively in stainless steel vats, raising the question of whether barrique aging is really the best choice for this varietal.

A special toast with Nonino

To conclude the event, a toast was made with a signature Nonino grappa of Pignolo – after years of patience, sisters Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta Nonino were finally able to collect enough of the rare Pignolo pomace to distill this special delicacy.

Save the Date!

Going forward, "World Pignolo Day" will be celebrated every year on March 20, a perfect opportunity to discover not only the great wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia, but also the charm of Udine. An essential event for all wine enthusiasts and those wishing to explore a grape variety with a unique and fascinating character.