Franzosi cuts the milestone of the eightieth anniversary of activity by launching the new Valtènesi Chiaretto: a kind of debut for the Puegnago del Garda winery, which has chosen to convert the entire production of rosé to the new Doc.
“An important choice for us, which stems from the desire to give a new connotation to a historic product – says Giovanni Franzosi, sales manager of the company -. A significant decision was also made to report only Valtènesi on the label, reserving all the other words on the back: our contribution to the collective action of the Consortium, which aims to promote the most typical product of this micro-zone by calling it with the name of the territory. The repercussions of these identifications are very positive: this change was immediately supported by all our customers, as well as by the foreign ones also contacted during our recent participation in Prowein “.
The new Valtènesi by Franzosi originates from the grapes of vineyards located in Puegnago and Polpenazze: in addition to 60% of Groppello, the grape variety also sees Barbera (about 30%) in addition to a minimal amount of Sangiovese and Marzemino. The production, about 200 hectoliters, has doubled compared to just five years ago.
“Things have changed – explains Giovanni -. Once the Chiaretto was a product partcularly linked to the territory of production, it started well at the beginning of the year but ran out by the summer: today it is chosen as an aperitif, it attracts young people, it sells all year long maybe also with the previous vintage, it is also appreciated outside the national borders because there is an ever stronger identification of Garda as a land of great rosé wines “.
The 2017 vintage presents qualities of freshness and acidity particularly pronounced, sapidity, classic territorial characteristics of salinity. “We do not like a too sweet Chiaretto, we believe this is the right profile to reflect the characteristics of tradition”, explains Giovanni. Which, for the 80 years of the company, also announces a gem for the next Vinitaly.
“A small production of red, 1938 bottles just like the start date of the winery, all numbered, to which will be added 80 magnums as our years: it will be a red IGP from overripe grapes, wine of great structure, with a year of aging in barrique “.
This is how the activity founded by grandfather Giovanni Franzosi in the locality of Palude will be celebrated: the company then moved to Monte Aullo in 1970 in the spectacular current location by his son Bruno, still active in the winery. Twenty years ago the third generation took over, under the motto of transition, passion and innovation. “We have worked in the wake of what Dad taught us, without upsetting but always bringing something new, in line with the needs of the modern consumer”.
Today Franzosi is a 35-hectare, 20-hectare vineyard reality, the rest of olive grove with about 3000 plants: the production exceeds 200 thousand bottles, plus 100 thousand of Lugana vinified in the production area, bottled in the company. The oil is divided into three labels: the Casaliva and Leccino monocultivars and the Fiore blend, to which a “basic” extra virgin oil is added.
Direct sales (about 30% of the global business) and hospitality in the cellar are the strong point: many foreign tourists climb up to Monte Aullo every summer to visit the farm, taste the wines, enjoy the magnificent panorama. About 60% of customers who buy directly in the cellar are tourists and are constantly growing. To increase an export that with the only shipments is worth 25% of the turnover.
Leave a Comment