Teroldego is an ancient red grape variety from Trentino. At its best, it produces dark, intense, fruit-driven, and powerful wines with excellent aging potential. Its family tree is quite distinguished: Syrah is most likely a nephew, Pinot Noir either an uncle or grandfather, and Marzemino and Lagrein are considered its offspring. After enjoying widespread popularity in the 18th century—when it received its current name (Teroldego = "Tyrolean Gold")—the variety largely disappeared from view throughout the 19th and much of the 20th century.
Though its deep color, rich fruit aromas, and soft tannins made it a favored blending partner, Teroldego was rarely treated as a standalone variety—and when it was, it was mostly used for simple, young wines or rosés. That changed when Elisabetta Foradori emerged on the Trentino wine scene in 1985 and single-handedly reshaped the grape’s future.
With each new vintage and wine, the quality potential of the variety became increasingly evident. The first vintage of Granato caused a sensation. Teroldego experienced a well-deserved revival—one that extended beyond Trentino. Winemakers in Tuscany and Sicily, as well as in California and Australia, began to take interest in the grape.
Still, the finest expressions continue to come from the Foradori vineyards in the Campo Rotaliano, the sandy, gravelly plain surrounding Mezzolombardo, where Elisabetta is now joined by her children. The family continues to explore every facet and nuance of the variety and, despite the greatness of Granato and their flagship Teroldego, they don’t shy away from alternative interpretations—such as carbonic maceration or aging in amphorae.
