Fontanasanta Nosiola Amphora Foradori 2024

Fontanasanta Nosiola Amphora Foradori, rich, textured white wine, biodynamic. Nutty, complex white wine fermented on the skins in amphora.  The only white grape variety native to Trentino, Nosiola was once widespread throughout the region, particularly in the Valle dei Laghi, the hills of Trento, Pressano and Cembra Valley. These areas are still the most suitable areas for its cultivation.  The name ‘Nosiola’ seems to derive from a the word ‘nosiol’ which means wild hazlenut in the Trentino dialect.  In fact, the hazelnut grows in the same hilly and mild habitat as the grape and the colour of its fruit is similar to that of Nosiola’s ripe grape berries and branches.

The grape loves the clay/limestone soils of the region and the cool breezes which blow in over night after the heat of the day has burned off, giving the grape its good acidity levels.  Nosiola is fairly neatral so it is foten fermented with the skin.  It has great potential for quality and ageing.  In youth, it has citrus and lean, green notes alongside a tingling minerality but with age, a distinctive nuttiness, again perhaps reference to the name, develops.  This example is one of the best and it is a superb pairing for stuffed pork or nut roast.

The Campo Rotaliano is near San Michele all’Adige, on the right bank of the Adige River, a wide plain which unfolds beneath the mountains. It is a beautiful and majestic place at the heart of the cultural and linguistic melting pot which is the Trentino/Alto Adige. The vast region of Northern Italy is really two regions in one, covered with high mountains peaks, sweeping valleys and incredible vistas. There are plenty of vines all over the region with notable differences between the Trentino to the South and the Alto Adige further north. This central belt around the towns of Mezzolombardo and Mezzocorona is where the Teroldego grape has found its home. It is a grape that gives generous, full bodied and robust red wines which match perfectly the hearty foods of the region. This deep coloured grape is vigorous and needs heavy pruning to keep the yield down and quality up. It has been planted here probably since the 14th Century and is the cornerstone of Trentino wine.

In 1985 Elisabetta Foradori started her work to recover this ancient variety’s clonal diversity which had been lost due to the homogenisation of farming practises. Since then she has become the benchmark for quality in the area and in large part is responsible for the revival of Teroldego as a serious grape and wine. Her entry point Teroldego is a supple red of medium acidity, deep colour and strength. Balance and freshness back up the dark fruits and spice. The other reds raise the bar and are very wines which reward long ageing. The whites and orange are structured and full bodied. The Azienda is certified Biodynamic and purity runs through all the wines.