Nino Franco

History

In 1919 Antonio Franco founded 'Cantine Franco Antonio, Produttore e negoziante in vini'.¹ In 1966 his son Giovanni, known as Nino, renamed the firm 'Nino Franco di Franco Giovanni' and added red and white wines to the range.¹ Nino's son Primo, a graduate of the Conegliano oenology school, joined his father in the cellar in 1971 and concentrated on Prosecco; he inherited the company in 1982.¹

Vintage on the label

In 1983 the wine 'Primo Franco' carried the vintage year and the producer's signature on the label; the winery describes it as the first Prosecco to do so.¹

This is the producer's own claim and is given here as such.

Grave di Stecca

In 1993 Primo's wife Annalisa joined him in the cellar and the couple started the Grave di Stecca project. In 2004 the family bought Villa Barberina, which stands inside the Grave di Stecca vineyard.¹

Today

Since 2006 Silvia Franco, the fourth generation, has run the winery, which celebrated its centenary in 2019.¹ The company is registered as a Società Benefit, Nino Franco Spumanti srl.¹ Valdobbiadene lies in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, where Prosecco Superiore is made mainly from Glera.² Another historic Prosecco house is Carpenè Malvolti in Conegliano.