Pignoletto (“pee-yoh-LAY-toh”) is a dry and aromatic Italian white wine produced from the homonymous grape variety, also known as Grechetto Gentile, in the central region of Emilia-Romagna. Often produced in sparkling version, it is the most representative and popular wine of the Colli Bolognesi, the hilly area surrounding the city of Bologna.
Primary Flavors
White peach
Grapefruit
Jasmine
Pineapple
Lily of the valley
Grape Profile
TANNIN: Quite Soft, Barely Noticeable Tannins
ACIDITY: High Acidity, Tangy and Crisp
BODY: Light to Medium, Versatile
SUGAR: Completely Dry, No Residual Sugar
LEVEL OF ALCOHOL: Fairly Strong (12-14%)
Handling
Serve 6-8°C
Decant No
Glass Type Flute Glass
Period open1-3 days
Cellar Between 1 and 2 Years
Our Top selection
Fattoria Monticino Rosso Pignoletto Colli d’Imola
Feminine, fragrant bouquet with a balanced, slightly bitter taste. Perfect for everyday charm.
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Fattoria Monticino Rosso Tamburello Pignoletto Frizzante
Elegant, fine bubbles with citrus and almond hints. A subtle, fresh palate with floral notes.
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Cevico, Colli Imola, Emilia Romagna, Romandiola Pignoletto Frizzante
Delicately floral, crisp and refreshing; a sparkling blend reminiscent of Pinot Grigio and Prosecco.
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Pignoletto Regions
Food Parings
Starter: Mixed platter of cold cuts:
Mortadella, Salame Felino, Culatello and Parma ham are just a few of the many delicious cured meats produced in Emilia Romagna. With a glass of fizzy Pignoletto, it’s guaranteed success!
Main course: Tortellini soup
A real classic of Italian and more specifically Emilian cuisine. A dish that brings back memories of Italian grandmothers cooking for the whole family.
Second course: Baked codfish
Tasty, healthy and easy to make, this is the fish preparation that has it all! It’s perfectly paired with a chilled glass of Pignoletto after a long day in the office.
Pignoletto is an easy drinking white wine that demonstrates a certain versatility with food. The sparkling version is perfect as an aperitif and paired with appetizers in general. The delicate acidity of the still wines makes them perfect with all the dishes of the Emilian culinary tradition such as tigelle and fried dumplings with local cold cut It goes well with tortellini, seafood first courses, fish menus, fresh cheeses, white meats and vegetarian preparations.
FAQS
What kind of wine is Pignoletto?
Pignoletto is a pleasant, lively and light white wine, often found in ‘frizzante’ or ‘spumante’ versions. Not a complex or deep wine but rather delicate, aromatic and easy drinking.
What does Pignoletto taste like?
While on the nose Pignoletto offers a fair complexity of fruity, spices and floral hints. On the palate it is delicate, with a fresh and savory vein of white peach and pineapple, citrus notes of grapefruit, lily of the valley, jasmine, often on a grassy background of hay.
Is Pignoletto dry or sweet?
Pignoletto is generally a dry white wine. Some wineries also produce excellent dessert wines from Pignoletto, although, unfortunately, they rarely make it out of the Italian market.
Where is Pignoletto produced?
Pignoletto is produced in the Italian central region of Emilia Romagna, on the Bolognese Hills and in the area of Savignano sul Panaro, in the Modena municipality. Other production areas include the Imola Hills and the Rimini Hills, where the grape takes the dialectal name of Rebola.
What should I eat with Pignoletto?
Pignoletto is the classic convivial wine, excellent as aperitif but can be suitable throughout the whole meal. It is incredibly good with cured meats and many of the Emilian traditional dishes. It works very well with fish and vegetarian dishes.
Want to know it all?
Pignoletto Primary Flavours
Pignoletto has a straw-yellow color with an aromatic character. On the palate it is light, fresh and savory, with a nice complexity formed by delicate notes of stone fruits and flowers, including:
White Peach
Grapefruit
Lily Of The Valley
Jasmine
Pineapple
Liquorice
Handling of Pignoletto
Serving temperature:
6-8°C
Glass type:
Flute Glass (Sparkling)
Suggested time in Decanter:
Not needed
Lasting period once open:
1-3 days
Storing time in cellar:
1-2 years for still, 1 year for sparkling
Consumer info
Price average:
£10-12Best pairing with pasta:
Pasta with shellfishBest pairing with risotto & rice:
Seafood risottoBest pairing with meat:
Grilled white meatBest pairing with fish:
Battered codBest pairing with cheese:
Ricotta, stracchino or white goat cheeseTop 3 cuisines that pair well:
Italian, Spanish, Vegetarian
Wines made from Pignoletto
Pignoletto
Pignoletto is almost always produced in purity. The influence of the sea, on the wines produced in the coastal areas, adds iodized aromas to a vine which is already very aromatic.
Frizzante
‘Frizzante’ literally means fizzy wine. This definition is used in Italy for sparkling wines produced with the Charmat method, reaching a maximum pressure of 2.5 atmospheres, instead of the minimum 3 typical of ‘spumante’.
Spumante/Sparkling
Mostly produced through Charmat method, with a second fermentation in sealed tanks and a phase of maturation on its lees, sparkling Pignoletto is an excellent alternative to Prosecco.
History of Pignoletto
Pignoletto (also named Grechetto Gentile) is an ancient vine, already known by the Romans, but the latest genetic investigations show that Pignoletto and Grechetto di Todi have the same DNA, so it is assumed that this grape comes from Greece and arrived in Southern Italy with the first Greek colonizer.
The Prosecco boom, of the recent decade, has driven sales for this lesser known wine that can offer the same quality at a more accessible price. Numerous sparkling versions have recently begun to circulate, attracting the interest of some important producers and an increased attention to quality also in the still version especially after the introduction of the DOCG appellation in 201
Final overview
Nicknamed the ‘King of the Colli Bolognesi’ for its strong bond with its territory, Pignoletto is a young and fragrant white wine for everyday drinking. The sparkling wines offer a refined alternative to Prosecco.