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Italy's Native Wine Grapes Guide

Dolcetto

Grape's Data Sheet

The Dolcetto Wine Grape in Italy

Dolcetto - The Grape and the Wines

The Dolcetto grape variety has origins disputed between Piedmont, particularly Monferrato, and Liguria, where it is known as Ormeasco. The first certain records date back to the 18th century and note its presence in Acqui and Alessandria. The origin of the name is also uncertain: the prevailing hypothesis is that it derives from the high sweetness of the ripe grape. Indeed, while Barbera tends to be more acidic and Nebbiolo is harsher due to its tannins, Dolcetto has low acidity and a seductive bouquet, making it much softer on the palate. A second theory suggests that its name comes from the Piedmontese expression for a hill or knoll (dosset).

The Dolcetto grape has small leaves and clusters with a typical elongated and winged shape. Its berries are medium-sized, rich in bloom, and have an intense black-blue hue. Dolcetto is quite demanding regarding exposure and soil cultivation, with inconsistent productivity and reduced vigor. The most suitable soil type for Dolcetto is calcareous-marl, deep and well-drained, capable of retaining the right amount of water. Dolcetto is particularly sensitive to climatic fluctuations and thus prefers a mild, well-ventilated climate with hilly exposure, just like that found in the hills of Langhe and Monferrato. Vinified in purity, Dolcetto produces a wine with an intense ruby red color and violet hues. On the nose, it is vinous, with intense fruity and floral notes of cherries, blackberries, plums, cyclamen, and violets. On the palate, Dolcetto reveals great drinkability, freshness, and delicate tannins, with medium structure and moderate alcohol content. It is a red wine with moderate softness and a persistence primarily characterized by pronounced notes of fresh red fruits.

dolcetto a native wine grape of Italy

Dolcetto - General Info Table

Dolcetto is one of the  Local Grapes with Black berry widespread mainly in Piedmont, Liguria, officially listed in the “Catalogo nazionale varietà di vite” since 1970. Its surface under vines in Italy is 6128 ha.
Berry colorBlack berry
Grape CategoryLocal Grapes
Main RegionPiedmont, Liguria
Surface under Vines in Italy6128 ha
Synonym(s)Ormeasco
Year of listing1970

Dolcetto - Ampelographic Data

Each grape variety is characterized by Ampelographic Descriptors that define the appearance of its main elements. The ampelographic features of the Dolcetto grape variety are:
Leaf Features
The leaf of the Dolcetto grape variety is medium-sized, with five lobes.
Bunch Features
The bunch of the Dolcetto grape variety is sparse, long, cone-shaped.
Berry Features
The berries of the Dolcetto grape variety are medium-sized, of spheroidal shape and with Buccia pruinosa, thin and black-bluish colored skin.

Dolcetto - Wine Features

The Varietal Wine obtained from each and every Grape Variety, features precisely defined organoleptic characteristics. Referred to Dolcetto grapes, they are as follows:
Varietal Wine's features
The wine obtained from Dolcetto grapes is . On the palate the wine is dry, soft, fruity.

Dolcetto - Agricultural & Productive Features

Each and every grape variety features very specific agricultural and productive characteristics, such as productivity, yield, ripening time, the ideal type of climate or pruning system, sensitivity to adversities, varying degrees of disease resistance and many others. For the Dolcetto grape variety, the main characteristics are:
Ripening timeearly, medium
Vegetative vigormedium vigor
Productivityfair

Dolcetto - Appellations of Origin

The Quattrocalici Grape Varieties Database collects data on all grape varieties that are explicitly mentioned in at least one Italian PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) or PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) denomination. The Dolcetto grape variety is mentioned in the regulations of the following denominations:
DenominationTypeRegion
Barbera del Monferrato DOCDOCPiedmont
Colli Tortonesi DOCDOCPiedmont
Dogliani DOCGDOCGPiedmont
Dolcetto d’Acqui DOCDOCPiedmont
Dolcetto d’Alba DOCDOCPiedmont
Dolcetto d’Asti DOCDOCPiedmont
Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba o Diano d’Alba DOCGDOCGPiedmont
Dolcetto di Ovada DOCDOCPiedmont
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore o Ovada DOCGDOCGPiedmont
Golfo del Tigullio-Portofino o Portofino DOCDOCLiguria
Golfo del Tigullio-Portofino o Portofino DOC sottozona Costa dei FieschiSottozona DOCLiguria
Langhe DOCDOCPiedmont
Monferrato DOCDOCPiedmont
Piemonte DOCDOCPiedmont
Pinerolese DOCDOCPiedmont
Pornassio o Ormeasco di Pornassio DOCDOCLiguria
Provincia di Pavia IGTIGTLombardy
Val Polcevera DOCDOCLiguria
Val Polcevera DOC sottozona CoronataSottozona DOCLiguria
Valsusa DOCDOCPiedmont