Foradori 'Lezèr'

Tucked into the Dolomites of Northern Italy, Elisabetta Foradori makes some of the region's most exciting wines. She farms biodynamically and is now raising cows, among other animals, to further lean into looking at the land as its own complete ecosystem with all its living inhabitants. 'Lezèr' was the result of problem solving. During the height of the 2017 vintage a heavy hail storm ravaged Elisabetta's vineyards leaving the majority of the fruit damaged beyond hope. In order to have something to sell for the year, she chose to harvest what little fruit was untouched. Both red and white clusters were chucked into the vat together and what came out was a dark rosé or light red, depending on the eyes of the beholder. Upon release, the wine was surprisingly well received, so much so that she has since recreated it every year -- luckily without the pressure of hail. This vintage is like drinking a strawberry rhubarb pie infused with the stony soils of the Dolomites. Chill this one down (like fully, in your food fridge) and experience it as it warms over time.

We love it with… aged cheeses, smoked Speck, roasted pork tenderloin

Type: Red
Vintage: 2025
Size: 750mL
ABV: 12.5%
Grape: 82% Teroldego, 18% other red grape varieties
Region: Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Trentino - Alto Adige, Italy
Vinification: They experiment with the varietal mix though it is always Teroldego-heavy. They also change up the proportion of whole bunches and the aging vessels. The fruit comes from across 4 hectares of parcels on the sandy, gravelly alluvial soils. Spontaneous fermentation, 24-hour maceration (maximum) and 4 months of aging in a combination of cement, old wood, and terracotta amphora. The wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined, minimal SO2.
For the nerds: Lezèr means "light" in the local dialect. The label changes with each vintage. Been collecting? We'd love to see which ones you've had!