Vines from Seeds Project

In 2014 Ian D’Agata wrote that  “Elisabetta Foradori, the best producer of Teroldego wines, detests clones and points out that she has been working for more than twenty-five years with massal selections”.  

Flattering as that may be, it is only part of a much bigger and botanically more complex story. In fact, since 2000 Foradori has worked on the “Vines from Seeds Project”.  At its core lies the importance of adaptability as a reproductive strategy in nature. Quoting Darwin,  “it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” By planting grape seeds obtained through self-pollination, Foradori aims to reveal the “hidden” variability of the vine, creating plants better able to adapt to changes in the environment such as disease and climate.  

How? 

First, the grape flowers are covered with a bag, forcing the plant to self-pollinate. The plants are then raised from the seeds in the greenhouse located at the entrance to the estate. The resulting plants are all vastly different; some are even white, but display traits closer to the character of Teroldego and are selected for propagation.  After more than twenty years of experimentation, Foradori can now use these plants to replace diseased or injured ones in the vineyards.