Unique, Appealing, and Delicious: I’m talking Nino Franco Primo Franco!

Hello Friends,

Today’s Quick Sip is an appealing Prosecco from quality pioneer Nino Franco. The winery was founded in 1919 by Antonio Franco and is located in northeast Italy within the prominent wine growing region of Valdobbiadene. Eponymously named for third-generation owner Primo Franco, this Prosecco is unique in the sense that year-after-year, it is 1) produced from the same single parcel in Valdobbiadene, 2) vintage dated, and 3) built to age. A tribute to family members before him—and a way to express the vintage and inherent site characteristics—it was the first wine Primo Franco made after taking over for his father, Nino Franco.

Nino Franco 2016 Primo Franco Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG 

The fruit for this wine is grown on steep hillside vineyards, which naturally limit yields and require manual harvesting—two factors said to bolster the quality of the finished wine. Primo Franco is made from 100% Glera, a high-acid native variety that is the principal grape used in making Prosecco. It has been made for 32 vintages, and a recent thirty-year vertical tasting of Primo Franco proved just how beautifully this wine matures. This is a special and distinct wine in the Nino Franco sparkling portfolio. Limited quantities are made each year, and the wine remains reasonably priced. For further information and where you can find this Prosecco, please check out my tasting notes below.

Nino Franco believes that a coupe—the glass pictured—is the perfect celebratory glass to enjoy Prosecco. Grab a bottle of Primo Franco, some glasses (preferably coupes), and sip the day with friends and an appetizing cheese & charcuterie platter. 

Nino Franco 2016 Primo Franco Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG (SRP $29): Fresh and refined in style, this sparkling wine boasts a seductively smooth and soft mousse, and nicely rounded texture. There are upfront racy flavors of orchard fruit graced by suggestions of sweet peach and apricot. An underpinning—just a wisp—of white flowers and almond paste add complexity. Juicy acidity provides balance as well as lift, and there is a pleasant combination of crispness and creaminess in the wine’s fruit-driven finish. This wine is highly enjoyable and very versatile, having the ability to pair with a wide array of foods. And it is affordable enough to toast the night away any day of the wine week. Region: Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy. Other info: ABV 10.5%, Cuve Close (Tank) method, natural cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.