🍇 Dolcetto
A red wine grape from Piedmont that makes soft, fruity wines.
Dolcetto is a red wine grape from Piedmont in north-west Italy. The name means “little sweet one”, but the wines are dry. It was the berries that were called sweet: they are sweet enough to eat fresh. The variety ripens earlier than many of its neighbours, so it is planted on less favoured slopes.
Dolcetto grows mostly in the Langhe hills. There it is used for several protected wines, such as Dolcetto d’Alba, Dolcetto d’Asti and Dolcetto di Ovada. Piedmont is its home, but it is also grown in Liguria.
The wine is usually dark, fruity and soft, with low acidity and modest tannins. It is drunk young and suits simple food: pasta, cured meats and cheese. It is not usually aged for decades.
Dolcetto is seen as a local grape, and people in Piedmont drink it every day. It is a parent of several Piedmontese varieties, such as Valentino Nero and Passus. As with any wine, it is best enjoyed in moderation.
Links
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ Italian wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Piedmont, 📍 Liguria, 📍 Langhe
- Main grape in
- 📜 Dogliani, 📜 Dolcetto d'Asti, 📜 Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore, 📍 Langhe, 📍 Piedmont, 📜 Pornassio, 📜 Dolcetto d'Acqui, 📜 Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba, 📜 Dolcetto d'Alba, 📜 Dolcetto di Ovada
- Parents
- 🍇 Moissan
Frequently asked questions
Is Dolcetto a sweet wine?
No. The name means “little sweet one”, but the wine is dry. It was the berries that were sweet.
Where does Dolcetto come from?
From Piedmont in north-west Italy, especially the Langhe hills.
What goes with Dolcetto?
Pasta, cured meats, cheese and simple dishes. The wine is soft with modest acidity.
Similar
🍇 Rossese Bianco · 🍇 Doux d'Henry · 🍇 Arneis · 🍇 Baratuciat · 🍇 Favorita · 🍇 Barbera Bianca