About 8 years ago a group of our friends rented an airbnb outside of Alba. This beautiful property had breathtaking views of the Italian Alps & was surrounded by Dolcetto vineyards that produced a significant number of bottles for the property’s wine cellar. The owner gave us permission to purchase bottles from the cellar for 2 Euros a bottle & leave the money in the mason jar on the top step into the cellar. Needless to say we needed a bigger mason jar!

My fondness for Dolcetto -- the little sweet one! -- started on that memorable trip. Dolcetto is all about fun. The wine is simply delicious without pomp or pretension.

Piero Benevelli, and now his son Massimo, preside over their small family estate in the town of Ravera, in the southeast of the Barolo zone. Dolcetto is often under-appreciated in the shadow of Nebbiolo but the smooth texture, bouquet, & grapey notes along with its gentle acidity makes the wine perfect by itself or incredibly food friendly. For a simple wine there’s lots of complexity here as well -- aromas of violets with flavors of juicy berries, a touch of black licorice, & a hint of almond!