Wines from Friuli

Moscato Giallo was one of the first grape varieties chosen by Nonino for its exclusive cru line of grape brandy – and for good reason. This golden yellow variety of the Muscat family has an aromatic potential that comes to full fruition in the distillate. The grapes come from Besenello in the Lagrein Valley, the southern tip of Trentino, where the Vallagarina combines an Alpine climate with Mediterranean influences. Harvested at perfect ripeness and processed immediately, they undergo the ÙE method: the skin, pulp and juice are distilled together, slowly, in Benito's copper steam stills.

Of all the grapes that Nonino distils for its cru line, none is as closely associated with the family as Fragolino. It grows on the company's own vineyard in Buttrio – the 40-hectare experimental garden in the heart of Friuli, which the Noninos planted with almost forgotten indigenous grape varieties. The name reveals the secret: Fragola means strawberry. This rare hybrid vine carries the flavour of wild wild strawberries – a flavour that is banned for wine production in the EU, but is fully justified in distillates. What is not allowed in wine becomes a revelation in ÙE. The whole grape – skin, pulp and juice – passes through Benito's copper steam still.

No grape variety bears its origin as confidently in its name as Traminer. Whether it really comes from the South Tyrolean village of Tramin or is actually older – its aromatic signature is recognised worldwide. It is one of the founding members of the Nonino cru line: Moscato Giallo, Verduzzo and Traminer were the first to be selected by Benito and Giannola for the ÙE experiment. The grapes grow in Cà Viola in Friuli, at an altitude of 500 metres, where cool nights concentrate the aromas. Harvested at perfect ripeness and processed immediately, they undergo the characteristic ÙE process: skin, pulp and juice distilled together.

The brilliantly clear Grappa Cru Monovitigno Pignolo was produced in very limited quantities and bottled in 150 numbered decanters with a vintage label, exclusively available only at SUPERIORE.DE It is a single-varietal grappa made from marc of the rare Pignolo grape from the Nonino vineyard in Buttrio in Friuli. It is rich, elegant and velvety smooth with a pronounced wild berry flavour.

When Benito and Giannola Nonino distilled the first single-varietal grappa on 1 December 1973, they had no idea that they were starting a revolution. The simple farmer's brandy became a cultivated distillate – and the Riserva line epitomises this claim to perfection. For the "3 anni", selected vinacce of white and red grapes from Friuli are distilled in the house's characteristic copper steam stills – discontinuously, separating the first and last run, so that only the centrepiece reaches the barrel. There, the distillate matures for 36 months in Limousin and Nevers barriques and former sherry casks, under customs seal and permanent monitoring.

These are the rare moments when a wine combines everything: origin, character and that depth that is difficult to explain. "Titut Ros" is just such a wine - a single-varietal Merlot that is only made in very small quantities and exclusively from the oldest vines on the steep plots of Ronc di Vico. The deep roots of the vines, anchored in the barren Ponca soil of the Colli Orientali, characterise a fruit of rare intensity and clarity. Thanks to stable weather conditions, the 2022 vintage offered perfect ripeness with impeccable health - the grapes were hand-picked, meticulously selected and vinified with a long maceration period. The wine then matured for 18 months in new and used French barriques before finding its inner balance in the bottle.

Ronc di Vico's Refosco dal Peduncolo is a wine with rough edges - which is precisely why it is so fascinating. The autochthonous grape variety naturally brings depth, structure and an unmistakable flavour. The grapes come from old plots in the Colli Orientali, whose Ponca soils of marl and sandstone provide clarity and tension. The 2022 vintage offered ideal conditions for fully ripe, healthy harvest. After strict manual harvesting and a long maceration period, the wine matured for around 20 months in French barriques.

The winery's flagship white wine is called Studio di Bianco and is a blend of 40% Friulano, 35% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Riesling, aged for 10 months in large barrels. It is an exceptional white wine, certainly one of the best in Italy, with a unique energy and tension that is reflected in a complex bouquet. A cornucopia of floral aromas, stone fruit, peach cake, honey and vanilla cream explode in the glass. The medium-bodied texture of the wine finishes smooth and very defined, revealing a unique complexity and elegance. The total production per vintage is just 1,900 bottles and anyone who has had this wine in their glass at least once in their life should consider themselves lucky. SUPERIORE.DE

Amber-coloured grappa made from the marc of selected grapes from Friuli with an ageing period of eight years in small barrels of various woods. Soft, elegant bouquet, complex, velvety and persistent on the palate. We discover fruity and floral notes, vanilla and almonds, dried fruit and grapes. Serve this fine Riserva at room temperature in balloon-shaped glasses and allow the distillate to rest in the glass for a few minutes to allow the flavours to come into their own in full harmony. No added colourings. SUPERIORE.DE

On 27 November 1984, Benito and Giannola Nonino created something that had never existed before: ÙE, a grape brandy distilled together from the skin, pulp and juice. Not grappa, not brandy – something unique that combines the elegance of one with the character of the other. They had to fight for ministerial authorisation; today, half the distilling world follows their model. This Gran Riserva continues the legacy: exclusively Monovitigno Merlot from Friuli, harvested at optimum ripeness and processed immediately. Fermentation takes place anaerobically in stainless steel, distillation slowly in Benito's specially designed copper steam stills. Then the journey begins in the sherry casks from Jerez de la Frontera – for twelve years under customs seal, without a drop of colouring.

There is one vineyard in Buttrio that carries the essential tension of this place like no other. Nine hectares, embedded in the larger Zitelle parcel, where the chalk colours the soil white and the Sauvignon develops a minerality that is reminiscent of the Loire and yet surpasses it – and yet surpasses it. This place is called Saurint, named after a family who once cultivated their vines here long before Enzo Pontoni arrived. The name remains as a reminder of those who laid the foundation stone. What Enzo produces from this site is considered by many to be Friuli's greatest Sauvignon, a statement that would sound like hubris elsewhere. Here it is simply the truth. The chalk veins in the subsoil give the wine that trembling tension, that electrifying minerality that cannot be created with any trick in the cellar. Fermented in French barriques, around 40 per cent of which are new, without malolactic fermentation in order to preserve the natural acidity. And like the other 2023s, Saurint is released a full year later than usual – enzo's clear answer to a world that wants to drink faster and faster.

The Rosso della Centa is a 100% Merlot that comes from a small vineyard on the south-western slopes of the hills of San Giorgio in Brazzano. Red grapes are grown on this one-hectare plot of land, most of them Merlot. The soil of this marvellous field is typical of the Collio, as it was formed by the fragmentation of the alternating layers of marl and sandstone that form the foundation of the hills. The slopes are very steep, which is why the field was terraced and stabilised with dry stone walls.

Four grape varieties, one principle: uncompromising. While other winegrowers compose their cuvées according to formulas, Enzo Pontoni decides anew each year what proportions the vintage requires. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and the autochthonous Refosco (Tazzelenghe) – are combined in varying proportions, but always with the same signature. The vinification follows the rhythm of the decades. Merlot provides the dark fruit, Cabernet Sauvignon the structure, Cabernet Franc the vegetal finesse – and Refosco the indomitable acidity that gives the wine its backbone. The components rest for twenty-four months in French barriques before Enzo marries them to create a cuvée that is more than the sum of its parts.

Aristocratic! The whole world regards Picolit as "la Regina delle Grappe" due to its character, harmony and the emotions it evokes with every sip. Pure and crystalline, its nose is reminiscent of full honeycombs, acacia flowers, ripe quinces, fresh Moscato and freshly picked figs. In the mouth, the sensations of the nose are confirmed with the additional flavour of bread crust. Very persistent aftertaste. SUPERIORE.DE

It is reported that the hermit Alemanno chose the hill of Rosazzo as his spiritual retreat in the year 800. Around 200 years later, the Augustinians taught the local population the principles of agriculture here. The Pignolo grape variety can also be traced back to this place until the end of the 18th century. Sensitive and low-yielding, it had almost disappeared by the end of the 19th century and was rediscovered and re-cultivated in Rosazzo.

There are wines that you like to drink. And there are wines that make you fall silent. Two vineyards engage in a silent dialogue here: Buri in Buttrio and Filip in Rosazzo – vineyards that are bottled separately in great years but combine their voices here in the 2022 vintage. Buri brings structure and those smoky, creamy notes of cocoa and coffee reduction that Antonio Galloni once praised as "one of the most profound expressions of Merlot on the planet". Filip responds with immediacy and flinty-fresh elegance, with violets and delicate finesse. The result is more than just addition: it is synthesis. The vinification follows Enzo's credo of consistent restraint. Spontaneous fermentation without temperature control, ageing in French barriques – only a quarter of them new so as not to mask the fruit. No filtration. The wine decides for itself when it is ready.

"Calvari" Refosco is Paolo Meroi's masterpiece - a wine that explores the potential of the autochthonous Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso to its limits and is only produced 2-3 times per decade. The grapes come from ancient, tiny, low-yielding vines in a tiny, south-west-facing plot above Buttrio. The barren Ponca soil, strict selection and uncompromising manual labour make this wine a true rarity. The 2020 vintage, characterised by a harmonious vegetation cycle with a balanced sun and rainfall profile, produced perfectly ripe, concentrated berries with exceptional aromatic tension. After manual harvesting and gentle mash fermentation, "Calvari" matured for 24 months in French barriques before maturing for a further two years in the bottle.

A name like a riddle, a label like an echo of pop culture and poetry – but in the glass, "W... Dreams ..." reveals a Chardonnay of remarkable clarity and depth. What began as an experiment in 1987 has long since developed into an icon. The grapes come from selected plots near Dolegna del Collio and Farra d'Isonzo, on calcareous marl soils with excellent drainage. The 2022 vintage was characterised by a hot, dry summer, but cooler nights from mid-August ensured aromatic precision and a fine acid structure.

Vintage Tunina is predominantly made from Sauvignon and Chardonnay. There are also small amounts of Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana and Picolit. Bright golden yellow in colour, the intense, very elegant bouquet shows notes of honey and meadow flowers. Dry, soft, very fruity flavour with excellent persistence, fine spiciness and full body. SUPERIORE.DE

On 27 November 1984, Benito and Giannola Nonino created something that had never existed before: ÙE, a grape brandy distilled together from the skin, pulp and juice. Not grappa, not brandy – something unique that combines the elegance of one with the character of the other. They had to fight for ministerial authorisation; today, half the distilling world follows their model. This Gran Riserva continues the legacy: exclusively Monovitigno Merlot from Friuli, harvested at optimum ripeness and processed immediately. Fermentation takes place anaerobically in stainless steel, distillation slowly in Benito's specially designed copper steam stills. Then the journey begins in the sherry casks from Jerez de la Frontera – for twelve years under customs seal, without a drop of colouring.

Picolit is an old, autochthonous vine from Friuli with white, loose-berried grapes that suffer severely from trickling. Only some of the flowers are fertilised and only a few, very small berries ripen, in which the full expressive power of the vine is concentrated. Due to its rarity and exceptional characteristics, the vine was known throughout the imperial courts of Europe.

The 2021 "L'Arcione" vintage is currently somewhat younger, but already has a promising structure. The cuvée of Merlot and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso comes from selected vineyards in the Colli Orientali, characterised by mineral marl rock and careful hand-picking. The wine is matured separately in barriques as usual, followed by ageing in large wooden barrels. In 2021, a balanced climate with cool nights and a warm ripening phase ensured precision and freshness.

2020 was a challenging year in Collio, characterised by a warm spring, extreme weather at times and a hot, dry summer. The harvest required precision and patience - and that is exactly what the "M" has in its blood. The estate's top-quality Friulano comes from old vines in the best locations around Capriva, which combine low yields with an intense concentration of flavours. The vinification process is purist as usual: slow fermentation in stainless steel, long contact with the lees and plenty of time for internal clarification.

Refosco from the smallest vineyard "La Mont di Zuc" impresses on the palate with a complex potpourri of plums, sour cherries, graphite, flowers and minerals. This towering, massive wine remains extraordinarily pristine: in fact, it tastes like biting into a perfectly ripened grape from this very special site! As it progresses, a deep, complex register develops, composed precisely to retain the famous Miani elegance and freshness that can only be achieved with the utmost care in the vineyard and cellar. SUPERIORE.DE