Collection: Dolcetto

Dolcetto, the amiable grape of Piedmont

Dolcetto is a native red grape from Piedmont, in northwestern Italy. It is the third most important red grape in the region, after Nebbiolo and Barbera. The name means "little sweet one", though the wine is nearly always dry.

The Style. Dolcetto is the easy-going one. It is made for drinking youn: fresh, fruity, and approachable, with no need for long ageing or oak. Think of it as the wine you open on a Tuesday night, not the one you save for a special occasion. It is the everyday red of Piedmont, the one locals actually drink while their Barolos and Barbarescos take their time.

Colour. Dolcetto gives a deeply coloured wine, a dark, saturated ruby red, often with purple or violet reflections. The colour is more intense than you might expect from such a soft, friendly wine.

Aromas and Flavours. Dolcetto is fruit-forward and generous. Typical notes include blackberry, black cherry, plum, and raspberry, with a floral lift of violet and a distinctive peppery or spicy note on the finish. Some versions show a hint of cocoa or dark chocolate. There is often a gentle bitter almond note at the end, a signature of the grape that gives the wine a pleasant, food-friendly bitter twist.

Structure. Dolcetto is low in acidity and moderate in tannin. The tannins are gentle and soft rather than grippy, giving the wine a round, smooth mouthfeel. 

Where It Grows. Dolcetto is grown throughout the hills of Piedmont, with important zones in Alba, Asti, Acqui, Ovada, Diano d'Alba, and Dogliani. The grape is also grown in Lombardy, Liguria (where it is known as Ormeasco), and Sardinia, often under different local names.

In Short. Dolcetto is the friendly neighbour of Piedmont wines. It gives you ripe fruit, soft tannins, a gentle bitter finish, and a warm welcome. It is the grape that says: sit down, relax, and enjoy.