Vicente “Nonoy” Quimbo pioneered the concept of a wine brand made “by Filipinos, for Filipinos” with the help of Knutt’s Place winery’s Kynan Shu Too and Mary Uy of MarketReach Distributors.

Opening with top-of-the-line equipment comparable to cutting-edge wineries abroad, The Knutt’s Place Winery in Valenzuela City, Bulacan, became the home of Novellino wines.

Sweet, Fruity and Chilled for the Filipino Taste

Novellino was formally launched to the media on November 26, 1999. It came in four variants: red and white Vivace, and red and white Classico; all made using Vitis Vinifera grapes from northern Italy’s noble vineyards.

Tie-ups with 24-hr convenience stores were forged to increase the brand’s visibility.

Fresh Off the Shelf

Bel Mondo Italia introduced casual fruit-blended wines in Peach, Strawberry and Blackberry - all blended with natural fruit extract that enhanced its fruity character, giving it a refreshing finish.

Delightfully semi-dry and slightly effervescent, Novellino’s Rosso Tradizionale was launched as Bel Mondo Italia’s entry to the semi-dry wine category.

Made from the choicest Venetto grapes in the tradition of Denominazione di Origine Controllata or Denomination of Controlled Origin (DOC), a certification of compliance to strict winemaking standards of the region. Full-bodied Novellino dry wine variants include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rosso Dell Azienda.

In response to the growing demand of Filipinos abroad, four containers of Rosso Classico were shipped to California for Simex International and LB imports to distribute.

Novellino wines penetrated the wine market in The Emirates - a strategic move to cater to over 2M Filipinos in the Middle East.

Bel Mondo Italia moved to a new state-of-the-art 1.3 hectare-land facility in Canlubang. It boasts as one of the largest and most modern winery in Asia.

Nonoy Quimbo officially handed over governance to his son Christopher. Bel Mondo Italia welcomed a new president who ushered a new decade of excellence while serving as the new face of the Novellino brand.

Chris went on full rebrand mode and unveiled new labels and a new Novellino Sangria variant.

Boosting Digital Presence

Chris led a digital takeover that had Novellino’s online presence soar to a staggering extent, with over 1M likes, making Novellino the 4th wine brand worldwide with the most number of Facebook likes.

Nonoy Quimbo held the honor of becoming a recipient of the UP Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship and Employment Creation.

Decorated with Accolades

Novellino won in two categories at the 2015 ASEAN Business Awards: The ASEAN SME Excellence Award for Innovation and The ASEAN Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Christopher Quimbo.

Euromonitor published a research listing Novellino wines as the #1 wine brand in the Philippines.

Bel Mondo Italia teamed up with GK Skaggs for the exclusive distribution of Novellino Wines in the US. GK Skaggs was instrumental in expanding the brand’s US distribution, bringing wines to the households.

The Ateneo de Manila University, through its Family Business Development Center, and Union Bank of the Philippines honored the Quimbo family as of the 10 families whose businesses have shown excellence in effective governance, commitment to quality and strong family relations.

To be launched at partner outlets later this year, mobile wine kegs are set to bring accessibility and ease to Filipinos who want to try the spirits without buying a whole bottle.

To cater to Filipino customers who prefer alcohol-free options for their celebrations. Sparkling Red was launched, made from premium Vitis Vinifera grapes. It contains no alcohol and has no added sugar.

Launched Sparkling Strawberry to meet growing demand for alcohol-free beverages. This is crafted from Premium Vitis Vinifera grapes, blended with natural strawberry extracts imported from Italy.

Novellino has invested in new state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure from Italy to ensure the consistent production of high-quality wine, promoting innovation and sustainability in the industry.