Nino Franco is among the most historically significant and critically respected producers in the Valdobbiadene appellation, the heartland of quality Prosecco production in the Veneto hills north of Treviso. The estate was founded in 1919 by the Franco family and is now in its third generation of family ownership under Primo Franco, who is widely credited with elevating the estate’s quality and international profile through a combination of traditional expertise and thoughtful modernisation. Nino Franco’s wines have been central to changing critical and consumer perceptions of Prosecco from an everyday commodity to a wine capable of genuine site and vintage expression.

The Rustico is Nino Franco’s entry-level Prosecco Superiore, a non-vintage blend produced from 100% Glera grapes, the indigenous Venetian variety responsible for Prosecco’s characteristic delicacy, floral aromatics and refreshing acidity. The wine is produced using the tank method (Charmat), as is standard for the appellation, with a secondary fermentation in pressurised stainless steel tanks preserving the bright, fresh, early-drinking character that distinguishes the Valdobbiadene house style from the more complex and structured Franciacorta sparkling wines produced further west in Lombardy. Nino Franco has consistently demonstrated that tank-method sparkling wine, when made with discipline and excellent base material, can achieve a level of elegance and precision that commands critical respect.

Nino Franco’s Rustico has received regular recognition from the world’s leading wine publications, including Wine Enthusiast, which has consistently named it among the finest value Prosecco Superiori available internationally. The estate’s Primo Franco Vintage bottling and the single-vineyard Rive di Colbertaldo have attracted even greater critical attention, demonstrating the depth of the Valdobbiadene appellation in the hands of a committed producer. The Rustico functions as the ideal introduction to this outstanding estate and to the appellation’s potential, combining immediate accessibility with the kind of underlying quality and provenance that distinguishes serious Prosecco from its commodity counterparts.