Interesting facts about Dolcetto

Dolcetto is a dark skin grape that ripens relatively early. This grape variety has low level of tannins, medium body and low acidity. Dolcetto makes a variety of soft and fruity wines. It is slightly spicy and usually described with black fruit flavors like blackberries.

Where is Dolcetto from?

Dolcetto is native to the Piedmont region, northwestern Italy. This grape variety is also found in the New World countries such as the USA and Australia. The vine was first brought to California by Italian immigrants and later expanded through the Napa Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Rita and reached as far as Pennsylvania and New Mexico. In Australia, the oldest Dolcetto plantations date back to the 1860s.

Interesting story about Dolcetto

Dolcetto is considered to be the poor cousin of Nebbiolo and Barbera. The name comes from the Italian word dolcetto which means "a little sweet". However, it doesn't refer to its sweetness but rather to the local name of the hills where this grape was originally grown.

Dolcetto grape characteristics

This grape variety benefits from high and cold altitudes which prevent premature ripening and in turn help the vine retain its acidity. Dolcetto is found in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, where they have the most suitable for this vine variety soil of silt-clay-sand components.

Dolcetto Wines

Although its name makes us think of something sweet, in general almost all of Dolcetto wines are dry. 100% Dolcetto DOC wines are divided into two levels: Standard with 11.5% alc. and Superiore with 12.5% alc. Some of the classic examples are Dolcetto di Dogliani, Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba, Dolcetto d'Ovada e Langhe Dolcetto (not Superiore), Dolcetto d'Asti, Dolcetto delle Langhe Monregalesi.