Pignoletto: characteristics and pairings

In continuous expansion, production of this grape variety has been extended to foothill and plain areas in other zones across Emilia-Romagna.
Humble tradition, that of Pignoletto: a table wine, the wine par excellence. The grapes, supported on the shoulders by brentatori (barrel carriers, full of wine or water in case of fires) were transported to the city to then be worked and transformed into wine directly at home. Essential, Pignoletto has always sustained great family tables: during holiday periods but also in working days of the week, Pignoletto has always accompanied Emilian gastronomic culture.

Cantine Leonardo da Vinci has included Pignoletto in the 1502 Da Vinci in Romagna collection: a tribute to Leonardo’s journey through the main Romagna cities, particularly in Imola where he drew the city map which is shown on the label.

Historical descriptions that have emerged provide a possible etymological overview from which various conclusions can be drawn to support the current name. Above all, the oldest, cited by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia in which he describes a ‘pinus laeto’: not sweet enough to be appreciated and therefore not consumed at that time. Or again, it seems that Vincenzo Tanara in his Economia del Cittadino in Villa from 1674 alluded to pignole grapes because they were not suitable for winemaking; or, more simply, the name could refer to the pine-cone shape of the berry, thus ‘pignoletto’.

The Pignoletto grape variety is the one that best represents this territory, highly influenced by international influences: a unique product that can be expressed in different shades. Produced in various styles: still, with typical and unaltered characteristics of the variety; frizzante with natural fermentation; sparkling with Charmat method or classical method.
In classic still version or in frizzante and sparkling versions, pignoletto is the most versatile grape variety of the Emilian area. Pignoletto is controlled by regulations that require almost total purity, no less than 85% of grapes of the same variety. From bunches of medium size, compact and oblong, the berries show the same appearance, elliptical shapes and a mature yellow colour towards green, tending to gold during full ripeness. From aromatic notes, the wine presents itself pale straw-yellow with notes of white pepper, wisteria, citron, chamomile and ginger. With constant and abundant productivity, germination occurs prematurely, already in the second part of April: for frizzante pignoletto and sparkling pignoletto, harvest begins after the second half of August while for classic Pignoletto at the end of September.
To obtain a classic Pignoletto it is necessary to use more than 80% of grapes from the same vineyard and in addition grapes from Pinot Bianco, Riesling Italico and Trebbiano Romagnolo varieties from surrounding areas can contribute. Forcing practices are prohibited and emergency irrigation is allowed for no more than twice during the same year.