Elisabetta Foradori

Elisabetta Foradori is undoubtedly one of the leading figures in Italian wine. Celebrated worldwide for, among other things, having enshrined her famous Teroldego —made from the rare and ancient eponymous grape variety that had long been forgotten—in the pantheon of great red wines; this wine is capable of producing distinguished wines with a longevity at least equal to that of the greatest Bordeaux wines.

In the heart of the Dolomites, on the right bank of the Adige River, Elisabetta took over the family estate at a very young age following the untimely death of her father. Over the course of 20 years, she has left her mark on these clay-limestone terroirs overlooking the city of Trento, developing a style imbued with immense respect for nature—a respect that her study of biodynamics has only reinforced.

Respect for the terroirs, then, respect for the vineyard’s place within its environment, and respect for the integrity of the grape and the messages it has to convey. Here, they seek and find authentic, genuine quality, using natural winemaking methods in concrete tanks, followed by ageing in old acacia vats with as little intervention as possible.

For white wines, Elisabetta has chosen to cultivate Manzoni Bianco on the hills of Fontanasanta, a genetic cousin of Rhine Riesling and Pinot Blanc. In addition to its excellent aging potential, it shares with the former that extraordinary ability to convey the nuances of the terroir and with the latter its highly aromatic fruitiness. Nosiola, also found on the hills of Fontanasanta, is an ancient Trentino grape variety that was once widespread throughout the region. It is a variety that expresses itself with finesse and produces wines with great longevity.

Among the reds, Teroldego dominates, with very distinct characteristics depending on the cuvée. The Morei vineyards are located in the heart of Campo Rotaliano on soil composed of alluvial deposits and pebbles. Fermentation takes place in amphorae on the skins for 8 months. It is a vibrant, mineral-driven wine of great elegance that asserts itself masterfully year after year. Sgarzon is a predominantly sandy terroir that reveals exceptional freshness; it produces cellar-worthy wines that express great complexity after 10 to 15 years of aging.