Foradori 'Lezer' Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Wild strawberry, raspberry, and bright cherry give 2025 Foradori 'Lezer' Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT an immediately vivid, lightly drawn character. Led by Teroldego with smaller proportions of Schiava, Lagrein, and Merlot, the wine undergoes only brief skin contact before spontaneous fermentation and maturation across cement, old wood, and terracotta amphora. First conceived after the difficult 2017 harvest, Lezèr has evolved into Foradori’s deliberately agile expression of its red varieties, carrying the estate’s biodynamic farming and experimental cellar work into a wine built around freshness and immediacy.

Product Details:

• Winemaker: Emilio Zierock
• Farming Lead: Myrtha Zierock
• Grapes: Teroldego, Schiava, Lagrein, Merlot
• Blend: 84% Teroldego, 16% Schiava, Lagrein, and Merlot
• Farming: Biodynamic, Demeter and ICEA certified estate
• Vine Age: Approximately 30 years average
• Vine Training: Trentino pergola
• Planting Density: Approximately 3,000 vines per hectare
• Soil: Sandy, gravelly alluvial soils
• Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation in a combination of cement, old wood, and terracotta amphora
• Maceration: Brief skin contact, maximum approximately 24 hours
• Aging: 4 months using cement and other cellar vessels
• Filtration: Unfiltered
• Total SO2: 24 mg/L
• ABV: 12.5%

Sensory Description:

Translucent red in appearance, the wine opens with raspberry, wild strawberry, and fresh cherry, joined by subtle violet and a darker touch of plum. The palate is light and energetic, with bright acidity carrying juicy red fruit through a supple, minimally tannic frame. A gentle mineral and savory quality adds definition beneath the fruit, while the brief maceration keeps the texture nimble and refreshing. The finish remains clean, lively, and fruit-driven, emphasizing freshness over extraction or weight.

Winemaker's Background:

Foradori traces its history to 1901 and became closely associated with the revival of Trentino’s native Teroldego through the work of Elisabetta Foradori and Rainer Zierock. The estate began mass selection of Teroldego in 1985, preserving and expanding the grape’s genetic diversity at a time when much of the region was moving toward more commercially familiar varieties. Foradori converted to biodynamic farming in 2002 and achieved Demeter and ICEA certification in 2009. Today the fourth generation leads the estate: Emilio Zierock manages wine production, Theo Zierock oversees business and commerce, and Myrtha Zierock directs farming and agricultural diversification, with Elisabetta continuing to support their work. Lezèr first appeared in 2017 after hail damaged the Teroldego crop, prompting a series of short-maceration cellar experiments. Its name means “light” in local dialect, and the wine has continued as an evolving blend whose varieties, whole-bunch proportions, and vessels can change with the vintage.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve lightly chilled at 12 to 14 degrees Celsius in a medium-sized red wine glass to emphasize the wine’s red fruit, floral detail, and lively acidity. Pair with charcuterie, pizza, vegetable antipasti, fresh pasta, grilled chicken, pork, soft cheeses, or a mixed summer grill. Its light structure and refreshing profile also make it well suited to dishes normally served with fuller-bodied rosé or lighter red wines.