ÙE® is an alcoholic beverage similar to a Grappa, served as a digestif.
It is, however, classed more as an aquavit than a Grappa, because it is made from whole unpressed grapes, while Grappa is made from grape skins, stems and seeds.
ÙE is made by the Nonino company in Besenello in Vallagarina Valley, Trentino, Italy.
The white grapes used are:
- Cabernet Franc
- Fragola
- Moscato
- Müller Thurgau
- Traminer
- Verduzzo
The stalks are removed from the grapes, and the whole grapes are put into tanks. They are pressed there, and yeast is added, and they are allowed to ferment. The liquid is then given a single distillation using Grappa stills, then bottled. Most of bottles are hand-made. ÙE is not aged.
Nonino are makes several versions of ÙE based on single varieties of grapes.
43 % alcohol.
History Notes
1897 – Nonino company started by Orazio Nonino in Friuli
- 1962 – Benito Nonino and his new wife, Giannola, take over running the company
- 1973 made a single-grape variety grappa
- 1984 made a single-grape variety, single-vineyard, whole-grape grappa, branded it UE
Language Notes
Pronounced “Oo-ay”. Ue is Friulian dialect for grape.