Legendary Mauro Franchino and his nephew Alberto Raviciotti farm a scant three hectares practicing sustainable viticulture. They select only their best Nebbiolo to make their wines in their tiny winery in the center of Gattinara. On a typical year, they use only 50% of their crop, while the remaining 50% is sold to other producers.
Nestled in the pre-Alpi hills north of Novara and Vercelli, Gattinara has for centuries been known for austere, age-worthy Nebbiolo, locally known as Spanna, Gattinara’s reputation pre-dates even Barolo and Barbaresco, but the cultivation of vines here was progressively abandoned after the arrival of Phylloxera, remaining in the hands of a small group of producers. The volcanic soils rich in porphyry rocks allow for red wines of uncommon elegance and aromatic detail alongside serious power. Old school in the truest sense, Franchino’s Gattinara is 100% Nebbiolo and aged in large neutral botti for 24 months followed by an additional 11 in bottle. It exhibits all the classic notes of graphite, red rose and earthy truffle, with whispers of candied citrus, sumac and clove.