Dolcetto is a black wine grape variety. The name means "little sweet one," though it is nearly always a dry wine. Dolcetto wines can be tannic and fruit driven with moderate levels of acidity. They are typically meant to be consumed one to two years after release but can be consumed immeaditly.

Dolcetto wines are known for black cherry and licorice flavors with some prunes and a characteristically bitter finish reminiscent of almonds. While relatively high in residual sugars the wines are normally always dry. The tannic nature of the grape contributes to a characteristic bitter finish. The dark purple skin of Dolcetto grapes have high amounts of anthocyanins in them which require only a short maceration time with the skin to produce a dark colored wine. The amount of skin contact affects the resulting tannin levels in the wine with most winemakers preferring to limit maceration time to as short as possible. During fermentation the wine is prone to the wine fault of reduction.

Dolcetto is a fruit driven wine with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums. A direct, Zinfandel-like fruitiness combined with Merlot-like soft tannins make Dolcetto charmingly seductive. While often compared to Beaujolais Nouveau, Dolcetto tends to have a fuller body with more complex taste.