Blog: Dolcetto | Grape variety
Dolcetto - The typical Piedmontese variety is grown in the Langhe, in the hills of Monferrato and in the districts of Acqui and Ovada. Dolcetto finds expression in smooth, dry red wines of moderate acidity and medium tannin.
The Dolcetto family
We now enter the realm of the seven Dolcetti, all with controlled designation of origin and all made from the Dolcetto grape, typical of Piedmont. The name (dolce = sweet) would suggest a sweet wine, but this is not at all true, since it derives from the dialect term 'dosset', which means 'dosso', ridge of hills, since this grape variety prefers the crests of the undulating hillside of this fertile and panoramic extremely interesting zone.
Dolcetto d'Acqui
Dolcetto d'Acqui is produced in Acqui Terme and its surroundings. It has an intense ruby red color, a delicate vinous and fruity aroma, and a pleasantly bitter taste. Excellent with mixed cold meats and smoked meats, with savory pasta and rice dishes, and with various types of flesiches, also in juice. A wine that, like all Dolcetti, should be drunk above all young, when it also shows good resistance.
Dolcetto d'Alba
The same is true, therefore, of Dolcetto d'Alba, produced in Alba and about thirty surrounding municipalities. It is the best known and therefore the proudest among the Dolcetto's, and is considered the most original oenological expression of the Langhe area. It goes particularly well with the typical intermediate dishes of Piedmontese cuisine, such as 'raw meat Albi style', 'chicken à la Marengo' and the 'batsuà', boned and baked pig's feet.
Dolcetto d'Asti
More or less the same is true for Dolcetto d'Asti, vinified in a wide zone of the Asti hills, which is particularly favorable to this grape variety, since its vegetative vitality is somewhat below average due to its own climatic sensitivity. After one year of aging and a minimum alcohol content of 12 degrees, it becomes Dolcetto 'Superiore'.
Dolceto delle Langhe Monreagalesi
Dolcetto delle Langhe Monreagalesi is similar to Dolcetto delle Langhe Monreagalesi from the Alba area, whose vineyards extend over a characteristic zone of the province of Cuneo called 'Langhe'. The origin of the name 'Langhe' is controversial: it could mean both headland and fallow land, or even land of the Ligurians. Specifically, it is the set of peaked hills and deep parallel valleys deeply excavated by torrents.
Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba
Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba, produced in the territory of the homonymous municipality, is characterized by its lively intense ruby red color that tends to purple. At the table it is preferred with noble poultry and with roast veal and pork. The 'Superiore' has a minimum ageing of one year and 12.5 degrees alcohol.
Since Dolcetto ripens four weeks earlier than the majestic Nebbiolo, it offers winegrowers the opportunity to use less favorable sites and thus improve their income. Thus, in the valuable areas of Barolo and Barbaresco, Dolcetto is hardly ever planted in southern exposure. Winemakers in the Dolcetto d'Alba DOC area, where many of the finest Dolcetto wines grow, agree that the variety prefers the characteristic white marl on the right bank of the Tanaro River and cannot produce premium results on heavy soils." - The Oxford Wine Dictionary
The Dolcetto family
We now enter the realm of the seven Dolcetti, all with controlled designation of origin and all made from the Dolcetto grape, typical of Piedmont. The name (dolce = sweet) would suggest a sweet wine, but this is not at all true, since it derives from the dialect term 'dosset', which means 'dosso', ridge of hills, since this grape variety prefers the crests of the undulating hillside of this fertile and panoramic extremely interesting zone.
Dolcetto d'Acqui
Dolcetto d'Acqui is produced in Acqui Terme and its surroundings. It has an intense ruby red color, a delicate vinous and fruity aroma, and a pleasantly bitter taste. Excellent with mixed cold meats and smoked meats, with savory pasta and rice dishes, and with various types of flesiches, also in juice. A wine that, like all Dolcetti, should be drunk above all young, when it also shows good resistance.
Dolcetto d'Alba
The same is true, therefore, of Dolcetto d'Alba, produced in Alba and about thirty surrounding municipalities. It is the best known and therefore the proudest among the Dolcetto's, and is considered the most original oenological expression of the Langhe area. It goes particularly well with the typical intermediate dishes of Piedmontese cuisine, such as 'raw meat Albi style', 'chicken à la Marengo' and the 'batsuà', boned and baked pig's feet.
Dolcetto d'Asti
More or less the same is true for Dolcetto d'Asti, vinified in a wide zone of the Asti hills, which is particularly favorable to this grape variety, since its vegetative vitality is somewhat below average due to its own climatic sensitivity. After one year of aging and a minimum alcohol content of 12 degrees, it becomes Dolcetto 'Superiore'.
Dolceto delle Langhe Monreagalesi
Dolcetto delle Langhe Monreagalesi is similar to Dolcetto delle Langhe Monreagalesi from the Alba area, whose vineyards extend over a characteristic zone of the province of Cuneo called 'Langhe'. The origin of the name 'Langhe' is controversial: it could mean both headland and fallow land, or even land of the Ligurians. Specifically, it is the set of peaked hills and deep parallel valleys deeply excavated by torrents.
Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba
Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba, produced in the territory of the homonymous municipality, is characterized by its lively intense ruby red color that tends to purple. At the table it is preferred with noble poultry and with roast veal and pork. The 'Superiore' has a minimum ageing of one year and 12.5 degrees alcohol.
Since Dolcetto ripens four weeks earlier than the majestic Nebbiolo, it offers winegrowers the opportunity to use less favorable sites and thus improve their income. Thus, in the valuable areas of Barolo and Barbaresco, Dolcetto is hardly ever planted in southern exposure. Winemakers in the Dolcetto d'Alba DOC area, where many of the finest Dolcetto wines grow, agree that the variety prefers the characteristic white marl on the right bank of the Tanaro River and cannot produce premium results on heavy soils." - The Oxford Wine Dictionary
| Name | Dolcetto | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | Grape Variety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
