Mauro Franchino
Gattinara, Alto Piemonte, Piedmont, Italy
Mauro Franchino is a traditional, small-scale winemaker based in Gattinara, in northern Piedmont. This is Nebbiolo country, although the grape is locally known as Spanna, and the wines have a very different character from the more famous Barolo and Barbaresco further south. Franchino has spent decades working with the vineyards and methods passed down through his family, building a reputation among those who appreciate a more understated, old-school expression of Nebbiolo.
The estate covers around three hectares, with vines planted on the steep, rocky hillsides around Gattinara. The soils are rich in volcanic porphyry and quartz, giving the wines a distinctive mineral character. Mauro has traditionally worked these vineyards himself, with his nephew Alberto Raviciotti now taking on an increasingly important role in the family business.
Franchino makes his wines exclusively from Nebbiolo, allowing the grape and the local terroir to take centre stage. Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks, with extended maceration to extract structure and flavour. The wines are then aged for several years in large, old Slavonian oak casks, which soften the tannins without adding much obvious oak flavour. It is a patient approach that prioritises the character of the vineyard over a polished, modern style.
The Gattinara DOCG is the flagship wine, combining red cherry, dried herbs, earthy notes and a distinctive mineral edge. It is typically firm and structured in its youth, with bright acidity and tannins that benefit from time in the cellar. The range also includes Gattinara Riserva and Coste della Sesia, offering different expressions of Nebbiolo from the surrounding area.
Mauro Franchino represents a traditional side of Italian winemaking that is becoming harder to find. Production is small, the methods are deliberately restrained, and the wines are made to reflect the character of Gattinara rather than follow fashion. If you enjoy Nebbiolo with freshness, savoury complexity and a more restrained profile than many wines from the Langhe, Franchino is a producer worth knowing.
