Nonino Grappa Chardonnay in Barriques (700 ml)

When Orazio Nonino's descendants coined the term Monovitigno® in 1973 — distilling single-varietal pomace separately for the first time — they created a legal category that had not previously existed in Italian spirits law. The Chardonnay expression applies that same logic to Burgundy's most travelled grape, sourcing 100% Chardonnay pomace pressed immediately after vinification and transported to the Percoto distillery within one hour of leaving the press. White pomace is held under vacuum in stainless-steel tanks at controlled temperature for up to 48 hours before distillation, arresting harmful secondary fermentations while preserving the variety's aromatic signature. Distillation proceeds in handcrafted copper steam discontinuous (bain-marie) stills with precise head-and-tail cuts, then aging follows in Nevers, Limousin, and Grésigne oak barriques — the same forest sources that define top Burgundy élevage — for a minimum of 12 months across Nonino's seven warehouses holding 2,620 small casks. No color additives are used at any stage. What separates this from any Chardonnay-based eau-de-vie is its legal identity: grappa IGP, meaning the raw material is pomace, not whole juice — the oak regime is borrowed from wine country, but the spirit's DNA is pure Friulian distillation craft. As a non-vintage blend, character is consistent across releases; drink now or hold short-term.