Region: Piemonte
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Dogliani DOCG, Ovada DOCG, Diano d’Alba DOCG, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Asti DOC, Dolcetto D’Acqui DOC.
Established: Dogliani DOCG was established in 2005 after being a DOC since 1974
Ovada DOCG was established in 2008 and continues to have a DOC and DOCG status covering the same area.
Diano d’Alba DOCG was established in 2010 after being a DOC since 1974
Primary Grape Varieties: Varietal Dolcetto 100% with Superiore versions
Pairs with: Whether you chose to dry a Dolcetto, all the DOC/G production zones produce great wines that marry well with local foods such as risotto dishes, salumi, and aged cheeses.
Characteristics: Think CHERRY.... Ripe black cherries dominate on the note and palate. The wine often finishes with a bitter cherry note that is very distinctive. Dolcetto wines differ from stereotypical Italian reds as they have lower acid while still having moderate to high tannin. Often, the wines suffer from lower ripeness levels and can have a rougher texture, cranberry flavors and a metallic chewiness with strong flavors of prune and licorice. Check the alcohol level and find one greater than 13%.
Serve: Room Temperature
Dolcetto is another of the great varieties and varietal wines that is directly associated with the Piemonte region. In Italian, the word translates to the “little sweet one” which describes the grape more than the resulting wine. Most experts believe the grape developed in the hills of Monferrato, not far from the Alba area. Today, the regions a bit further to the south are better known for Dolcetto wines and the DOC/DOCG areas are found there. Some researchers believe that the grape developed in Liguria and moved North during the Middle Ages because of commercial trade. Either way, the grape is grown mostly in Piemonte but extends into Luguria, Valle D’Aosta, Emilia Romagna and a few other regions.
There are no fewer that seven Piemontese DOC production areas for Dolcetto.
Dolcetto ripens earlier than Nebbiolo and Barbera and can be susceptible to spring frost and summer storms. The variety is very sensitive to weather and can suffer from significant vintage variation if the weather becomes too cold. Despite the difficult nature of the grape, most producers remain dedicated to growing all three of the main varieties with Dolcetto remaining in the mix.
The wines have a distinctive purple tone and have the lower acid but high tannin structure that tends to leave the wines a bit grapey. The wines are always dry, medium bodied and almost always 100% Dolcetto. Also look for a bit of lavender or orange peel and black tea to distinguish these wines.
Dolcetto wines have little need for oak and may see only a short time or no time on wood and all the regions produce wines of similar character and style. Dolcetto is considered to be the bottom rung of the Piemonte red wine ladder with Barbera next and Nebbiolo on the top. Regardless, Dogliani and the other regions are proud of their Dolcetto heritage.
It is normal for a bottle of Docetto from Diana to be labeled without the variety on the name and only listed as Diana D’Alba with or without the vineyard name. The wines are 100% Dolcetto and are produced and distributed in Rosso and Superiore versions. This DOCG alone has 72 menzioni geographiche aggiuntive – also known as Sori. these are smaller areas within the DOCG with particular and identifiable terror that expresses in the wines. The wines are elegantly perfumed and well structured wines. Normally aged for only a few months with 10 months for a superiore version, these wines are usually drunk young.
The largest Dolcetto production zone is Dolcetto D’Alba. The wines are round with definitive blackberry fruit flavors and the Superiore versions some with the longer aging requirement of one year.
Dolcetto D’ Dogliano tends to have fruity and fragrant wines with supple body and structure. One year is the minimum aging due to the DOCG rules and many are labeled Superiore. The area includes 21 “comuni” and 76 menzioni.
Ovada, aka Dolcetto D’Ovada, is the second largest planted denomination and includes 22 “comuni”. The well structured wines are age worthy and they distinguish themselves with aromas and flavors of violets and almonds. Aging of one year is required for base wines, 20 months for Superiore and 24 months for Riserva.
The Langhe DOC region, as with most other grapes, produces varietal Dolcetto wines that serve as everyday wine in the region.
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Dogliani DOCG, Ovada DOCG, Diano d’Alba DOCG, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Asti DOC, Dolcetto D’Acqui DOC.
Established: Dogliani DOCG was established in 2005 after being a DOC since 1974
Ovada DOCG was established in 2008 and continues to have a DOC and DOCG status covering the same area.
Diano d’Alba DOCG was established in 2010 after being a DOC since 1974
Primary Grape Varieties: Varietal Dolcetto 100% with Superiore versions
Pairs with: Whether you chose to dry a Dolcetto, all the DOC/G production zones produce great wines that marry well with local foods such as risotto dishes, salumi, and aged cheeses.
Characteristics: Think CHERRY.... Ripe black cherries dominate on the note and palate. The wine often finishes with a bitter cherry note that is very distinctive. Dolcetto wines differ from stereotypical Italian reds as they have lower acid while still having moderate to high tannin. Often, the wines suffer from lower ripeness levels and can have a rougher texture, cranberry flavors and a metallic chewiness with strong flavors of prune and licorice. Check the alcohol level and find one greater than 13%.
Serve: Room Temperature
Dolcetto is another of the great varieties and varietal wines that is directly associated with the Piemonte region. In Italian, the word translates to the “little sweet one” which describes the grape more than the resulting wine. Most experts believe the grape developed in the hills of Monferrato, not far from the Alba area. Today, the regions a bit further to the south are better known for Dolcetto wines and the DOC/DOCG areas are found there. Some researchers believe that the grape developed in Liguria and moved North during the Middle Ages because of commercial trade. Either way, the grape is grown mostly in Piemonte but extends into Luguria, Valle D’Aosta, Emilia Romagna and a few other regions.
There are no fewer that seven Piemontese DOC production areas for Dolcetto.
- Dolcetto D’Alba
- Dogliano
- Diano d’Alba
- Dolcetto D’Acqui
- Dolcetto d’Ovada
- Dolcetto D’Asti
- Langhe
Dolcetto ripens earlier than Nebbiolo and Barbera and can be susceptible to spring frost and summer storms. The variety is very sensitive to weather and can suffer from significant vintage variation if the weather becomes too cold. Despite the difficult nature of the grape, most producers remain dedicated to growing all three of the main varieties with Dolcetto remaining in the mix.
The wines have a distinctive purple tone and have the lower acid but high tannin structure that tends to leave the wines a bit grapey. The wines are always dry, medium bodied and almost always 100% Dolcetto. Also look for a bit of lavender or orange peel and black tea to distinguish these wines.
Dolcetto wines have little need for oak and may see only a short time or no time on wood and all the regions produce wines of similar character and style. Dolcetto is considered to be the bottom rung of the Piemonte red wine ladder with Barbera next and Nebbiolo on the top. Regardless, Dogliani and the other regions are proud of their Dolcetto heritage.
It is normal for a bottle of Docetto from Diana to be labeled without the variety on the name and only listed as Diana D’Alba with or without the vineyard name. The wines are 100% Dolcetto and are produced and distributed in Rosso and Superiore versions. This DOCG alone has 72 menzioni geographiche aggiuntive – also known as Sori. these are smaller areas within the DOCG with particular and identifiable terror that expresses in the wines. The wines are elegantly perfumed and well structured wines. Normally aged for only a few months with 10 months for a superiore version, these wines are usually drunk young.
The largest Dolcetto production zone is Dolcetto D’Alba. The wines are round with definitive blackberry fruit flavors and the Superiore versions some with the longer aging requirement of one year.
Dolcetto D’ Dogliano tends to have fruity and fragrant wines with supple body and structure. One year is the minimum aging due to the DOCG rules and many are labeled Superiore. The area includes 21 “comuni” and 76 menzioni.
Ovada, aka Dolcetto D’Ovada, is the second largest planted denomination and includes 22 “comuni”. The well structured wines are age worthy and they distinguish themselves with aromas and flavors of violets and almonds. Aging of one year is required for base wines, 20 months for Superiore and 24 months for Riserva.
The Langhe DOC region, as with most other grapes, produces varietal Dolcetto wines that serve as everyday wine in the region.
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