Dolcetto d'Alba DOC is a dry red wine from the Langhe hills around Alba in the province of Cuneo in Piemonte. The appellation stretches across some 36 municipalities, and the wines are made exclusively from the Dolcetto grape. Where Nebbiolo ripens late and demands patience, Dolcetto ripens about a month earlier and gives a wine that is ready to drink somewhat sooner. In many ways it is the everyday red of the Langhe, the bottle that comes to the table for the daily dinner rather than for the grand occasion.
In the glass, Dolcetto is deep ruby red with violet tones. On the nose you meet dark cherries and liquorice, and the wine typically rounds off with a characteristic touch of bitter almond in the finish. The grape gives a wine with low acidity but pronounced tannins, and it is precisely this combination that gives it its grip and structure. Most Dolcetto is made without barrel ageing, so the fruit and the grape's own character are allowed to stand clean and straightforward.
Within the DOC there are several expressions. The ordinary version requires a minimum of 11.5 percent alcohol and makes no demands on ageing, which underlines its role as a fresh and approachable everyday wine. If you choose a Superiore, the wine must have at least 12.5 percent alcohol and 14 months of ageing, which gives a little more body and depth. Single-vineyard bottlings with the designation Vigna under the ordinary title require at least 12 percent alcohol and highlight a particular piece of land.
Precisely because Dolcetto is uncomplicated and welcoming, it is a pleasure at the table. With its low acidity and soft fruit it pairs with everything from pasta and pizza to charcuteri, and it does fine for a quiet everyday dinner where the wine should not steal the attention but simply make the meal better. If you are fond of Piemontese wine but do not always want to wait for the heavy Nebbiolo-based bottles, Dolcetto d'Alba is an obvious place to begin. It gives you an honest taste of the Langhe in a format that suits most evenings.