Italian Wine - Dolcetto d'Alba

With Ciro Pirone

The town of Alba was founded by the Romans, and it is located in the heart of the Langhe area, birthplace of some of the top Italian wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco.
Dolcetto is a black grape variety widely grown in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. The Italian word dolcetto means 'little sweet one', but it is not certain that the name originally carried any reference to the grape's sugar levels: it is possible that it derives from the name of the hills where the vine is cultivated. In any case the wines produced are nearly always dry. They can be tannic and fruity with moderate, or decidedly low, levels of acidity and are typically meant to be consumed one to two years after release. Dolcetto wines are known for black cherry and licorice flavors with some prunes and a characteristically bitter finish reminiscent of almonds. The vineyard, Gianni Gagliardo’s, approach is very minimal. They like to let the variety express itself. They use stainless steel in the wine process and then a short period of time in the bottle before hitting the market. On the nose the 2009 showcases lots of black fruit and floral aromas. The palate is just beautifully clean with spices and licorice to complement the vibrant fruitiness. This wine is a perfect accompaniment to a cheese plate or pizza.

Since graduating from the Istituto Alberghiero (Hotel and Restaurant Management school) di Salerno in 1994, Ciro has traveled and worked in Italy, England and the US. Wine is always been an incredible passion for him, especially because growing up in Italy, wine was always a very important part of  family meals, and it was there he learned to respect and love it.Although Italy is always in his heart, in 1999 he moved to the USA permanently.  In Boston he continued his wine studies at Boston University, the International Sommelier Guild and WSET.Currently he has the position of Director of Italian Wines for Horizon Beverage Group.