Dolcetto is an early ripening red grape variety mostly found in the northwest of Italy. It is dark skinned, but low in acidity and its wines are made for drinking young. In a ranking of grapes in Piedmont, Dolcetto would come behind Nebbiolo and Barbera, but good producers can still coax plenty of quality fruit from better sites. With black fruit flavours of dark plums and blackberries, violet and dark spice aromas, and nutty, earthy undertones of almonds and walnuts, Dolcetto works well when matched with darker meats and roasted vegetables. The variety is also to be found in Australia, New Zealand and California.
