Description

Through years of biodynamic farming and observation, Foradori have been able to emphasize the character of each plot of land across their estate. Two separate vinifications of two Teroldego vineyards results in Morei and Sgarzon.

Fermented on skins for 8 months, in Spanish Tinajas from Villarrobledo, the clay amphora acts as a shield against the elements, allowing the grapes to progress with only the character of the earth and grape variety as their guidance. Morei means ‘moro’ or ‘dark’ in the Trentino dialect and the grapes cultivated in this vineyard are a firm echo of this. Their roots rest among the pebbles and the sand in the earth carried by the Noce River, resulting in a wine with great texture and clean minerality.

“Morei, the Cardinal, couldn’t be bothered less by this “little” desert-summer (3 months of drought on clay-less soil!). A wine for the Vatican: round, willing to agree and out of touch with reality. Straight from Cotes-du-Rhone to the gates of the Pope’s mansion. The nose talks of moss, humidity, and Syrah. Then it flows like a perfect bowl around the mouth, right before stretching out long like my grandmother’s lasagna. She loves Jesus by the way. Persistent, consistent and spice like ecclesiastic secrets; Morei shines, in a smooth and jazzy way.” – Theo Zierock, Azienda Agricola Foradori

Biodynamic conversion started in 2002 and Demeter
certification in 2007. The winery focuses on the
traditional Trentino varieties of Teroldego, Nosiola &
Manzoni with the former making up the majority of the
winery’s production. The grapes come from two distinct
areas within Trentino, firstly, the Campo Rotaliano, a
flood plain formed by the confluence of the Noce River
into the Adige River surrounded by massive cliffs. The
flooding has deposited huge quantities of limestone,
granite, porphyry and fine sand, perfect for growing
Teroldego. The second area is the hills east of the town
of Trento, located 25 kms south of Mezzolombardo. Here
the elevated Fontanasanta (holy water) estate is planted
to Nosiola and Incrocio Manzoni on the rich red clay and
white limestone soils.

Elisabetta Foradori is largely responsible for resurrecting
Trentino’s much forgotten Teroldego grape from the brink
of extinction, and producing some of Italy’s finest, most
age-worthy wines. The Foradori Granato is consistently
recognised as the international benchmark for Teroldego,
and Elisabetta’s commitment to creating terroir-driven
wines has made her a leading figure in biodynamics and
Italy’s natural wine movement.

From her first vintage as a 20 year-old graduate in 1984,
Elisabetta has sought to improve the quality and depth of
the family estate’s wines. From careful massale selection
of the estate’s Teroldego vines in 1985 in order to cultivate
15 clones in diverse microclimates, to the early adoption
of amphora as a way to enable extended skin contact,
to early conversion to biodynamics in 2002, Elisabetta
has constantly pushed boundaries. All wines are wild
fermented with indigenous yeast and Demeter certified.