Dolcetto

Dolcetto is a red wine grape that is grown in Italy. For the meaning of the name, there are several variants. Frequently there is the variant would mean Dolcetto translates as " the little sweet one " and will also known as Douce noir. In various wine guides but also finds the explanation, Dolcetto derive rather from the dialect word dusset from, mean what back or hill and it notes that the Dolcetto often grow up the same hills as Nebbiolo, but then on the shadow and not on the sunny side, as the Dolcetto ripens faster.

Dolcetto provide an intense ruby ​​red wine with a slight tendency to garnet tones in aging. Balanced dry and soft he captivates with a pleasant, slightly bitter almond note. Ideal to enjoy the wines are mostly from a year of aging.

Some experts suggest the origin of the grape in France, but more likely is its origin in Monferrato to the year 1000. Systematic cultivation may be accepted in the Middle Ages. So Dolcetto is first mentioned by Count Nuvolone end of the 18th century, there still called " Dosset ". From the Monferrato species found quickly spread to the west, so among other things, Liguria (where the variety is often called Ormeasco ) and in the areas around Milan and Piacenza.

After California (→ Viticulture in California, 105 acres = 42 acres ) the variety came about Italian emigrants. It is spread in Mendocino County and Santa Barbara County, as well as in the Russian River Valley AVA appellations, Napa Valley AVA, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA and Sta. Rita Hills AVA grown. Smaller plantings are found in the vineyards of Umpqua Valley AVA and Southern Oregon AVA ( in Oregon ) as well as in New Mexico and Pennsylvania.

Experts had identified four types of Dolcetto until 1924, it became clear in the following decades that seven varieties can be distinguished. Among the Dolcetto di Ovada, designated as Controlled Denomination of Origin since 1972. Dolcetto di Ovada is primarily grown in the region along the river Orba in the southern part of the province of Alessandria. In the past this was considered extreme eastern limit for the cultivation of the Dolcetto grape. Ovada is the center of this hilly area, with its 22 municipalities.

The list of seven DOC or DOCG regions are:

• Dolcetto d' Acqui
• Dolcetto d' Alba
• Dolcetto d' Asti
• Dolcetto di Diano d' Alba
• Dolcetto di Dogliani
• Dolcetto d' Ovada
• Dolcetto delle Langhe Monregalesi ( almost obsolete)

Synonyms

Dolcetto is also known under the name of Acqui, Barbirono, Beina, Bignona, Bignonina, Charbonneau, Charbono, Chasselas Noir Corbeau Dolcetto a Raspo rosso, Dolchetto, Dolsin or Dolsin Raro, Dosset, Douce Noire, Mauvais Noir, Nebbiolone, Dolce Nera, Orincasca, Ormeasca, Ormeasco, Plant de Savoie, Plant de Turin, Premasto, Primatice, Primativo, Primitivo, Nero, Promotico, Ravanellino, Refork, Refork Debeli, Refork times Refosk Debeli, Rotstieliger Dolcedo, Savoyard, Turin, Turino, Uva d ' Acquia, Uva del Monferrato, Uva di Ovada and Uva di Roccagrimalda known.