Pignoletto, Part 2: a Grechetto Gentile shopping list.

Part 1 of this article explained Pignoletto and its transformation. However, (as explained as a postscript in part 1), in 2023, the newly named Pignoletto DOC was renamed again as Emilia-Romagna DOC, while Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto DOCG continues to exist.

Part 2 is a companion piece focusing on examples of wines that are available in the UK.

Enologica exhibition 2017, Bologna

Tasting Pignoletto wines

In 2017, I tasted Pignoletto wines at various events, including the Consorzio Vini Colli Bolognesi, the Consorzio Pignoletto, Bologna Enologica, and the London Wine Fair. They were also tried at wineries plus restaurants in Bologna (including Barberé, Trattoria Amerigo 1934, Trattoria Bertozzi, Mastrosasso and Cantina Bentivoglio).

From those, here are six wines (in either spumante or frizzante style) that are available in the UK.

Villa Cialdini (Cleto Chiarli) Frizzante Brut, DOC Modena, 2015

100% Grechetto Gentile. Pears and apples are cut with fresh acidity. Just In Cases, £11.95

Gruppo Cevico Frizzante DOC Colli d’Imola, 2016

100% Grechetto Gentile. Soft and floral aromatics, lime fruit, residual sugar to balance the high acidity and heading towards off-dry. Vincognito, £10.50

Sentito Extra-Dry Spumante DOC Reno, 2015

Those preferring an off-dry style should try this. Well made, the balance of sugar and acidity is excellent. Great Wines Direct £10.98

Cavicchioli/GIV Spumante DOC Modena, NV

Full fizz, dry style. Dominated by green apples, with herb complexity on the finish to add interest and distinction. Drinkmonger, £9.95

Floriano Cinti, Frizzante, DOCG Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto, NV

100% Grechetto Gentile. Dry, citrus, green apples, pears and good length. Creamy, finishing clean and crisp. Stone Vine & Sun, £11.95.

Orsi, Vigneto San Vito, Frizzante Sui Lieviti, DOCG Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto, 2015

95% Grechetto Gentile. It’s a “natural” biodynamic wine made in the ancestrale (Pet’ Nat) style. There’s spontaneous fermentation of wild yeasts and long, cool fermentation to preserve the aromatics. The second fermentation is in the crown-capped clear bottle. There’s sediment, and this should be mixed and drunk with a cloudy appearance. Yellow colour, aromas and flavours of limes, bruised apple and apricot. With yeasty funkiness and baked bread, it’s very persistent. A superb artisanal wine, frizzante bubbles give it texture. Try this with truffles or parmesan. Tutto Wines £20.00.

Pignoletto in the Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto DOCG

And Finally

The majority of the UK available wines at present are Pignoletto DOC (Emilia-Romagna DOC) Spumante in style. Most of these are made by huge wineries that produce large volumes of fizz using the Charmat/Martinotti method for supermarkets. Look for those that state a subzone on the bottle label (Modena, Imola and Reno).

However, the real glory of Pignoletto comes from the artisanal DOCG Frizzante wines. I hope this style will become more widely available in the UK.

In the meantime, best get yourself to Bologna and try the wines for yourself. My advice is to bring back as much as you can carry!

Location

Consorzio Vini Colli Bolognesi
Consorzio Emilia-Romagna
Via Masini
11 – Villa Garagnani
40069 Zola Predosa
Bologna
Italy