Cards of Wine

Dolcetto (Italy)

Dolcetto is a red wine grape from Piemonte in Italy.

Typical Flavors


Cherry
Cherry
Raspberry
Raspberry
Blueberry
Blueberry
Cherry
Black
Cherry

Violets
Violets
Rose
Roses
Plum
Plum
Licorice
Licorice

Red Berries and Violet flavors are typical for Dolcetto.

Profile

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

BODYMedium - Light
TANNINSMedium
FRUITMedium
ACIDITYMedium - Low
Serving temperature:
14-15°C (57-59°F)

Food Pairing


Tapas
Antipasti
Pizza
Pizza
Hamburger
Hamburger
Sandwitch
Sandwitch

Pasta
Pasta
Mushroom
Mushroom
Sausages
Sausages
Salami
Salami

Ham
Ham
Chicken
Chicken
Lamb
Lamb
Pork
Pork

Dolcetto is easy drinking and very food friendly.

It pairs well with Italian Pasta and Pizza dishes.

Pairing Suggestions

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.

Cheese:
Soft Cheese. Mozzarella di Bufala.
Goat Cheese. Feta. Robiola.

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.

If You Like Dolcetto

You Might Also Like:

Barbera (Italy)
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (Italy)
Dolcetto (Italy)
Frappato (Italy)
Gamay Noir (USA)
Garnacha (Spain)
GSM Wines (France)
Schiava (Italy)
Teroldego (Italy)

The Ideal Glass

The Bordeaux glass is perfect for a bodied red wine.

It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.

The large size of the glass allows the bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.

The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.

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.

Piemonte (Piedmont)

Piemonte has been an important wine province since Roman times. The area is influenced both culturally and climatically by the Alps in the north, and the Ligurian coast in the south.

Piemonte

Nebbiolo (the power of the Barolo and Barbaresco) is the most famous grape of Piemonte, followed by the red grapes Barbera and Dolcetto.

For whites, Cortese and Arneis are the most popular grapes.

For dessert, the off-dry, sparkling Moscato d'Asti is the queen.

The most important wine regions are:

  • Asti (Barbera d'Asti)
  • Langhe (Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera di Alba, Dolcetto, Roero)
  • Monferrato (Barbera del Monferrat, Nizza, Cortese di Gavi)
  • North (Gattinara, Ghemme)

Piemonte's DOCG regions:

Alcohol can be addictive. Drink in moderation.

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