Wine Grape in Italy: Dolcetto

Philippines wine supplier Manila wine shop discusses wine by the grape variety Dolcetto.

Date: October 11, 2010

Dolcetto is a red wine grape, probably native to the Monferrato area of Italy’s Piedmont region, although some say it’s originally from Liguria. Dolcetto first appears in writings from the late 1700s. Its name translates to ‘little sweet one’, referring to the sweet grapes that, being relatively low in acid, seem even sweeter. Dolcetto ripens relatively early, and does especially well where the temperature variations between night and day are more pronounced. In Liguria, Dolcetto goes by ‘Ormeasco’, from the Ormea region on the border between Liguria and Piedmont. Dolcetto usually makes wines that are relatively simple, fragrant, and to be enjoyed young.

Piedmont counts 7 different wines named after the grape. Dolcetto d’Alba DOC is probably the most produced and well known, and the Dolcetto grape gets some prime real estate here. Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba DOC is a similar wine, with less production. Dolcetto di Dogliani DOC is a little less structured, and especially the bubbly ones have fragrant notes of cherry, blackberry, and plum. Dolcetto delle Lange Monregalesi DOC is quite similar, harder to find, light and easy to drink, and has a slightly bitter finish.

Dolcetto d’Asti DOC usually has a little more body and elegance, Dolcetto d’Acqui DOC has a fruity softness, something like a Gamay, and Dolcetto di Ovada is probably the biggest of these last 3, with a little more tannin.

Source: http://www.insiderwinetours.com/resources/wine-grapes/wine-grapes-dolcetto.php