Ep. 2290 Rebecca Severs IWA interviews Primo Franco of Nino Franco winery | Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner

Mar 20, 2025

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Welcome to Episode 2290 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Ambassadors’ Corner on Clubhouse. In this episode, Italian Wine Ambassador Rebecca Severs interviews Primo Franco of the renowned Nino Franco winery, located in the Prosecco-producing Valdobbiadene region of northern Italy.

Today’s learning objectives:

To spotlight Primo Franco and his remarkable achievements.
To introduce his book, The Prosecco Way of Life, published to celebrate Nino Franco’s 100th anniversary.
To explore Villa Barberina and its unique offerings.
To learn about single-vineyard Proseccos and what makes them truly special.

Co-Moderator – Rebecca Severs:

Rebecca Severs is the owner and general manager of Bari Ristorante e Enoteca, a distinguished Italian restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee, specializing in cuisine from the Puglia region. Her journey in the hospitality industry began at age 19, starting as a server to support her college education. After relocating to California and later returning to Memphis, Rebecca and her husband established Bari Ristorante, driven by her passion for Italian cuisine.

In 2024, Rebecca achieved the esteemed title of Italian Wine Ambassador through the Vinitaly International Academy.

Connect:

Website: https://barimemphis.com/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bariristorante/ https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_barimemphis/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-severs-08165016/

About the guest - Primo Franco:

Antonio Franco was a wine merchant. His son Giovanni, known as Nino, began producing sparkling wines. But it was the “quiet revolution” of Primo Franco, Antonio’s grandson, that brought the wind of change, opening the doors of the best restaurants in the world to his Valdobbiadene Prosecco wines.

Assuming leadership of the family-owned Nino Franco winery in 1982, he modernized winemaking techniques to craft wines characterized by exceptional energy, freshness, and harmony. Franco's innovative approach included experimenting with vineyard management and collaborating closely with local grape growers to enhance quality. His contributions have been pivotal in shaping Prosecco's global reputation.

Connect:

Website: https://www.ninofranco.it/it/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninofranco1919/

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