Dolcetto D'Alba From A 5th Generation Winemaking Family

Alba is a beautiful region located in the infamous Piedmont region of Northern Italy. It is also Dolcetto’s (the grape variety) home. The name Dolcetto means “little sweet one.” The grape is indigenous to Piedmont, Italy.   It is the 3rd most planted grape in Piedmont. The top two grapes are Nebbiolo and Barbera. Nebbiolo is world famous, heavy hitter Barolo and Barbaresco red wines.  Alba is a very hilly region, encircled by the Alps. The climate is a hot growing season, misty autumn and cold, foggy winters. Soils are light, white, sandy, calcareous tufa. The cooler sites are used to grow Dolcetto because it needs sun exposure but not too much sun in order to retain high acidity and to ripen properly. The grape also ripens earlier than Nebbiolo and Barbera. Dolcetto is a dark colored grape that goes through a short maceration on the skins to get the color and lighter tannins.

Paolo Scavino winery is a 5th generation winemaking family who’s focus is viticulture - to love and respect the vineyard.  Founded in 1921, the estate transferred hands from Castiglione Falleto from Lorenzo Scavino and son Paolo. Always been a farming family with a strong tradition and love of the land.  Now Enrico and his daughters Enrica and Elisa run the estate. They grow Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo. Their focus is care, love and respect the vineyards, and to promote natural expression of the grape with minimal winemaking intervention Their wines are a natural expression of the winery.  

This 2018 Dolcetto has a light and bright structure, purple color, medium tannins and medium acidity. The flavors and aromas of blueberry, baked plum, cranberry, licorice, blackberry jam, black cherry, cocoa, black pepper, violets, bitter almond.

Perfect charcuterie, roasted tomato sauce, sausages, beef ragu, grilled eggplant, roasted mushrooms, white truffle pasta.

My video review is available on Instagram: Paolo Scavino Dolcetto D’Alba