W3 Wine School

Dolcetto (Italy)

Dolcetto is a red wine grape from Piemonte in Italy.

Dolcetto Flavors

Red and Blue Berries and Violets are typical Dolcetto flavors.

Cherry
Cherry
Raspberry
Raspberry
Blueberry
Blueberry
Cherry
Black
Cherry
Violets
Violets
Rose
Roses
Plum
Plum
Licorice
Licorice

Dolcetto Profile

Dolcetto is a medium wine with low acidity and medium-high tannins:

SUGAR:Dry (3 g/l)
BODY:Medium - Light
TANNINS:Medium
FRUIT:Medium
ACIDITY:Medium - Low
ACOHOL:11.5-13.5% ABV
Temperature Serving temperature:
14-15°C (57-59°F)

Dolcetto Food Pairing

Dolcetto is easy drinking and very food friendly.

It pairs well with Italian Pasta and Pizza dishes.

Tapas
Antipasti
Pizza
Pizza
Hamburger
Hamburger
Sandwitch
Sandwitch
Pasta
Pasta
Mushroom
Mushroom
Sausages
Sausages
Salami
Salami
Ham
Ham
Chicken
Chicken
Lamb
Lamb
Pork
Pork

Excellent pairings

Antipasti. Pizza. Burgers.
Smoked Ham. Prosciutto. Salami.
Lasagna. Spagetti with Meatballs.
Pasta with Mushrooms or Truffles.
Grilled and Roasted Meat.
Chicken. Lamb. Pork.

Piemonte Spesialities

Carne Cruda (Veal Tartar).
Gnocci in red sauce with Mushrooms.
Acciughe al Verde (Anchovies with Parsley and Capers).
Aged Salami with Garlic and Black Pepper.


The Ideal Glass for Dolcetto

Pick a Burgundy Glass for swirling & releasing the wine aromas.

The shape of the glass captures and directs the delicate aromas to your nose and leads the wine to the tip of your tongue for a better reception of the tastes.

The Burgundy glass was designed for the delicate and aromatic red wine Bourgogne Rouge, made from Pinot Noir grapes in Bougogne (Burgundy).

Dolcetto Cheese Pairing

If You Like Dolcetto

You Might Also Like:

Barbera (Italy)
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (Italy)
Corvina (Italy)
Dolcetto (Italy)
Frappato (Italy)
Gamay Noir (USA)
Garnacha (Spain)
GSM Wines (France)
Pinot Noir (France)
Teroldego (Italy)
Valpolicella Superiore (Italy)

About Dolcetto

Dolcetto means "little sweet one", probably because the grapes ripen (become sweet = dolce) before other varieties. Or maybe Dolcetto derives from the local dialect "Dosset" or "hills", typical of Piedmontese wine landscape.

The people of Piemonte have always enjoyed their famous red wines (Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera), but their traditional everyday wine has been Dolcetto.

Dolcetto is light and soft and can be drunk young, due to low acidity and soft tannins.

Traditionally, Dolcetto is served in the middle of a meal, after the whites and before the heavier reds.

Dolcetto was the everyday wine (Vino da tavola) in Piemonte after World War II. Today, Barbera is beginning to overtake the everyday wine role in Piemonte. Barbera produces more fruit and the price of Barbera is now lower than the price of Dolcetto.

"Traditionally we pair Dolcetto with spicy features such as garlic or pepper. Outside Piemonte the wine is perfect with a classic pizza."
—Alfio Cavallotto, Cavallotto Winery.

Wine Region Piemonte

Piemonte

Black Grapes

White Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon

30% Barbera
15% Dolcetto
10% Nebbiolo
  1% Vespolina

Sauvignon

20% Moscato
  4% Cortese
  2% Arneis
  1% Timorasso


Red Wines

White Wines

Red Wine

Barbaresco
Barbera
Barbera Nizza
Barbera Superiore
Barolo
Brachetto
Dolcetto
Langhe Dolcetto
Dolcetto Dogliani
Freisa
Nebbiolo
Langhe Nebbiolo
Gattinara
Ruchè
Terre Alfieri
Vespolina
Nebbiolo Rosato

White Wine

Arneis
Cortese di Gavi
Favorita
Langhe Rossese
Roero Arneis
Terre Alfieri Arneis
Timorasso


Dessert Wines

Sparkling Wines

Aperol

Aperol
Campari
Cinzano Bianco
Cinzano Rosso
Brachetto d'Acqui
Martini Bianco
Martini Rosso

Sparkling Wine

Alta Langa
Asti Spumante
Moscato d'Asti
Barbera Frizzante
Brachetto Frizzante
Brachetto Spumante

Soil

Climate

Soil

Lime-Rich.
Calcareous Marl.

Soil

Cool/Mild Continental.
Hot and Dry Summers.
Cold and Wet Winters.
Rainy / Foggy Sping.


DOCG Regions in Piemonte


Alcohol can be addictive. Always drink in moderation.

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