I Forestieri
イ・フォレスティエーリ
Two young growers reviving forgotten old vines high in Tuscany's Alta Maremma.
Agricola I Forestieri is a natural wine project founded in 2019 by Dario Marinari, from Pisa, and Ezequiel Allassia, an Argentine who settled in Tuscany. The two met while working at the biodynamic estate Ampeleia in the Alta Maremma, and Dario had previously trained under Stefano Amerighi in Cortona as well as at Mas de Daumas Gassac. The project's name, 'Forestieri' ('outsiders' or 'strangers' in Italian), plays on the fact that neither founder is originally from the area — locals in the bars of Roccatederighi call newcomers 'forestieri'. Together they have pieced back together roughly 3.5-4 hectares of old, often-abandoned vineyard parcels scattered across the hills of Roccatederighi and Roccastrada (province of Grosseto), at elevations of 250-600 metres on mixed soils of galestro (schist), sand, clay and marl. Farming follows organic and biodynamic principles with no chemical inputs, and winemaking is strictly non-interventionist: fermentation with native yeasts in concrete vats or amphorae, reds frequently made with whole-cluster maceration, and only minimal sulphur added when necessary. The resulting wines, mostly bottled as Toscana IGT, are vibrant, food-friendly and comparatively low in alcohol for the region, and have drawn attention from natural wine specialists such as RAW WINE, Les Caves de Pyrene and Jancis Robinson's team.
Cuvées
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Who Is This For?
For drinkers who love vibrant, low-intervention natural wines and the story of two outsiders reviving forgotten old-vine sites in inland Tuscany.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the name 'I Forestieri' mean?
- It means 'the outsiders' or 'the strangers' in Italian — a nod to the fact that neither founder, Dario Marinari (from Pisa) nor Ezequiel Allassia (from Argentina), is originally from the Maremma area where they make wine.
- Where are I Forestieri's vineyards located?
- Their roughly 3.5-4 hectares of old, once-abandoned vines are scattered across the hills of Roccatederighi and Roccastrada in the Alta Maremma, province of Grosseto, Tuscany, at elevations between 250 and 600 metres.
- What is their winemaking philosophy?
- A strictly natural, low-intervention approach: organic and biodynamic farming with no chemical inputs, fermentation with indigenous yeasts in concrete or amphora, whole-cluster maceration for many reds, and only minimal sulphur added when truly necessary.
- What appellation do I Forestieri wines carry?
- Most bottlings are labelled Toscana IGT rather than a stricter DOC/DOCG, giving the founders freedom to blend historic local varieties such as Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo and Trebbiano from their mixed-planted (agricoltura promiscua) old vines.
- Do I Forestieri wines pair well with Japanese food?
- Yes — their wines' vibrant acidity, moderate alcohol and mineral character make them a natural match for grilled fish, vegetable tempura and soy-based simmered dishes.