The History of ÙE® Grape Distillate

Benito and Giannola Nonino mark a new turning point, they distil in a single operation grape skins, pulp and juice and create ÙE® Grape Distillate, which they dedicate to their daughters Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta.
ÙE means Grapes in the language of Friuli

ÙE® Grape Distillate contains the elegance of wine distillate and the temper of grappa.

The Ministerial Authorization for the production of the Grape Distillate (D.M. 20.10.84) is granted following a specific request by the Noninos, who had to fight against all sorts of bureaucratic and category obstacles.

To highlight the preciousness of this new Distillate, the Noninos ask Venini, Master Glassmaker in Murano, to flying hand blow a bottle with inserted a murrina depicting the cluster of grapes. This is the beginning of the precious NONINO COLLECTION ÙE^® GRAPE DISTILLATE CRU MONOVITIGNO^® PICOLIT which, year by year, will be preserved in dated bottles flying hand blown by Venini, Baccarat and Riedel.

Capital highlights the innovation made by the Noninos with an article with the iconic title:
‘Columbus’s Grapes. No one had thought of it before … Success was immediate’ by Claudio Gallone. In the opening photo ‘Giannola is portrayed in the restaurant of Gualtiero Marchesi in Milan, with the bottles of ÙE, the grape distillate obtained from the distillation of the whole fruit, rather than from pomace only’.

L’Uomo Vogue celebrates “the Aquavitae distillate from rare Picolit grapes, bottled in the Murrina by Venini it is an object for collection. Produced in limited quantity (650 bottles), it is now valued more than a million lire”.

In the cellars of Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta Nonino begins the aging of ÙE® in Limousin, Nevers and ex-Sherry barriques.

ÙE® Cru Monovitigno® Moscato giallo, Traminer and Verduzzo are created, later joined by Cabernet franc, Fragola (Fragola grapes from the hills of Cividale) and Müller Thurgau.

In Cortina’s iconic hotel, Hotel de la Poste, during the event Vinovip, a privileged space is reserved for Nonino. Giannola Nonino presents the cocktail made with ÙE® Grape Distillate by ‘guru’ Antonio Di Franco.
In the 1980s, other famous bartenders including Mauro Lotti and Salvatore Calabrese will dedicate to Giannola their creations with Grappa and ÙE® Grape Distillate.

To celebrate 10 years since the important date of the creation of the Grape Distillate, ÙE® Decennale is introduced, it is obtained from the distillation of selected white grapes and bears on the label ALTAN’s precious signature.

I Vigneti Nonino Grappa and ÙE® Monovitigno® are born, among them Malvasia and Fragolino, born to celebrate Hundred Years of distillation.
Obtained with the same exclusive technique of Cru Monovitigno® ÙE®, they are different for the origin of the primary product bound to several suitable areas.

To celebrate with our appreciative friends Hundred Years of Distillation, since 1998, year by year, from the cellars of Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta Nonino, are drawn 3-4 Barriques of ÙE® aged over 14 years in Oak barriques and small ex-Sherry casks under seal by the Customs: ÙE® LA RISERVA ‘DEI CENT’ANNI’

At Christie’s in London, at the most important auction of Italian wine and spirits ever held until then, some pieces of the Nonino Collection are up for auction and realize from £ 1,540 equal to € 2,531.00 / harvest 1990 to £ 1,595 equal to € 2,664.00 /harvest 1989.

Jewels and jewels. The Nonino Collection is presented in Rome in the world’s temple of jewels: Bulgari, via dei Condotti. At the presence of Paolo Bulgari, Eugenio Scalfari and many friends.

At Finarte in Milan ÙE® Cru Monovitigno® Picolit / harvest 1984 / La Murrina is up for auction, realization € 2,169.00

In Yokohama, within the exhibition “Italy in Japan 2001”, curated by Andrea Branzi for the Triennale of Milan, the Nonino Collection ÙE® Cru Monovitigno® Picolit is exhibited in the section Design as lifestyle.

The Triennale of Milan for Thirty Years of Monovitigno® Nonino dedicates the exhibition Story of a passion where also the Nonino Collection ÙE® Cru Monovitigno® Picolit is exhibited.

High “Spirit” Craftsmanship.
The Nonino Collection ÙE® Cru Monovitigno® Picolit joins the permanent Collection of Italian Design of the Triennale Design Museum and in the network of deposits of Italian Design.
The Collection represents one of the ultimate examples of high craftsmanship which joins the art of distillation of the Nonino Family with the ancient workings of the glass tradition of Venini in Murano and the greatest European traditions of Baccarat and Riedel Crystal.
Unique example in the world of the excellence of Made in Italy!

Nonino Gran Riserva 27 Years ÙE® Monovitigno® Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso Dated 1988 gains the first place – 100 points by Falstaff at the Spirit Competition 2021.
It is the first Italian distillate to receive the highest acknowledgement at this prestigious Competition and now it is in the Olympus of international distillates together with Remy Martin Louis XIII and Rum Appleton Estate Aged 30 years.