The Doux d’Henry grape is a black grape variety from Piedmont that, despite its French name, is actually native to the Pinerolese region (Di Rovasenda, 1877), where it is still cultivated today. It is also known as Gros d’Henry and Doun d’Henry. It is predominantly cultivated in the province of Turin, particularly in the Pinerolese. The wine type Pinerolese Doux d’Henry of the eponymous DOC is dedicated to it. The fact that an Italian grape has a French name (which roughly translates to “Henry’s Sweet”) could be attributed to both political and historical reasons. It is likely that the Henry in question is one of the French kings, perhaps Henry II, King of France when Pinerolo first came under French control.

It is believed that Doux d’Henry originates from the Valle del Chisone, at the foot of which lies Pinerolo, a city that in the Middle Ages was strategically positioned between France and Italy. The city and the valley above were coveted by various powers, particularly the House of Savoy, as a main access route to the Alps. The Doux d’Henry vines are recognized by the white down on the spring shoots and the red tips of the leaves during summer. The grapes of Doux d’Henry have large berries and tend to produce large clusters. Like many large-berried and thin-skinned varieties, this makes them more susceptible to fungal diseases and rot, as well as to fruit set and shatter, necessitating its cultivation with other pollinating varieties. For this reason, Doux d’Henry is rarely found vinified in purity. Fortunately, the variety has a late flowering, which reduces the risk of rain that would diminish the harvest. Its maturation is relatively late and ideal for the cool and bright areas of Piedmont. As of today, the vineyards of Doux d’Henry cover only 17 hectares, almost exclusively in western Piedmont. Almost all the grapes are used to produce the delicate and fragrant wines with sour cherry notes of the Pinerolo Doux d’Henry DOC type.