The new axis in distilling

Who knew that a secret axis runs through the globe connecting Italy and Mexico? I always suspected that grappa and mezcal had plenty in common. This great interview from the excellent wine blog Hawk Wakawaka with Giannola Nonino who, along with her daughters, has really made Nonino Grappa what it is today. The interview makes it clear that grappa and small producers like the Nonino family have much in common with many mezcaleros. It starts with the family, check out this cool illustration of the Nonino family tree and this history, because families tend to maintain product values rather than industrializing them. It extends right through all the critical elements in craft distilling, carving out a brand in marketplaces that have never encountered your product, working with the right distributors, innovating, and maintaining your values. The fact that Nonino is one of the most prized and well known grappa brands speaks well to those points and provides a great example for the mezcal world.