Prünent is a black grape variety, a clone of Nebbiolo. It is native to the Ossola Valley, which produces one of the DOC Valli Ossolane wines.
A look at the origins of Prünent
The name “Prünent” derives from the Latin “pruina” (frost), referring to the harvest period (late October–November), when the ground is still covered with frost in the morning. This word may also derive from “prunum” (plum tree), as it was traditional to grow the vine alongside wild plum trees.
It is an ancient vine: it was mentioned in a document dating back to around 1309, written by Dumino di Pello from Trontano, who left an annual donation of nine bushels (about 200 litres) to the convent of San Francesco in Domodossola. He specified that the wine had to be entirely Prünent and used solely for the celebration of Mass.
In the past, Prünent was a perpetual vintage wine aged in a single barrel, known and appreciated even beyond the borders of Ossola. In the second half of the 1800s, phylloxera began attacking vines throughout Europe, sparing not even Prünent. Consequently, winegrowers were forced to graft European varieties onto American rootstocks to protect the vines, including Prünent, from phylloxera.
Prünent today
Nowadays, it is still possible to find some ungrafted Prünent vines that are more than 200 years old.
Since 1990, the recovery of this ancient vine has been underway: wineries have succeeded in producing a wine of quality and structure, appreciated by critics, which competes on par with the other great Piedmontese Nebbiolo.
Prünent is grown on the sunny hills of Domodossola, Villadossola,Trontano, Masera and Montecrestese.
How is Prünent made?
This vine needs dry soil and good sun exposure. When cultivated using the Guyot method, budding is early, and its fertility is medium-low, thus ensuring production of excellent quality.
The harvest takes place at the end of September/mid-October. Fermentation lasts about a month in steel tanks, where the wine is stored until spring and then aged in French oak barrels for at least one year. The ageing in the bottle, on the other hand, lasts for a few months.
The typical characteristics of Prünent are due to changes in temperature between day and night: intense ruby red, full-bodied and tannic, alcoholic with floral notes. It pairs perfectly with risotto, game, and savoury cheeses.
Discover the Prünent Stella 2018 of the Azienda Agricola Edoardo Patrone, which was awarded as one of the 100 best wines in Italy by Golosaria:
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