The Nonino Distillery was founded in 1879 in Friuli, Italy by Orazio Nonino founding the business on grappa–a distillation of the skins and seeds of wine grapes (usually left over after wine-making). The distillery is still family-owned to this day and a name that is well-known within grappa circles.

Quintessentia is an expression of the Italian Amaro liqueur: a sweetened herbal liqueur. It was launched in 1992. The liqueur is infused with a variety of spices and aged for 5 years in oak (some of which are French Limousin and ex-sherry casks often used for aging scotch). The distillate is grappa, which is based upon the seeds and skins of wine grapes and in this case the Ribolla, Traminer, and Verduzzo grapes. They suggest looking for flavors of orange and licorice and served as an after-dinner (digestif) drink.