It is an ancient vine particularly common in north-eastern Italy, whose name comes from the compact shape of the clusters, which look like pine cones. There have been many vines in the past called by this name, all sharing the characteristic shape and, among these, Pignoletto (grown mainly in Emilia Romagna) and Pignolo (present in Friuli Venezia Giulia). Because of this overlap in terminology, however, it is difficult to figure out which is the variety some historical documents refer to, although the first clear evidence of the presence of the Pignola black grape in Valtellina date back to 1500.
